Coalition for Equitable Water Flow

Start of 2010 Lake Level Forecasts

It's that time of year again - the TSW begins its annual draw down of the lakes. Parks Canada has kindly agreed to provide CEWF with their two-week forecasts of the reservoir lake levels. These will be updated weekly, and published on this site. Stay informed - be prepared.

Here is the forecast for July 26 - August 9:

http://cewf.typepad.com/LakeLevelForecastJul26.jpg

Hints for reading the forecast:

CEWF/ Parks Canada Meeting Summary

Earlier this month, the CEWF Advisory Committee met with Parks Canada TSW Senior Management. Following is the meeting summary:

http://cewf.typepad.com/2010_06_CEWF_Meeting_with_TSW.pdf

Parks Canada TSW Water Level Report

Parks Canada, in response to the many inquiries and concerns expressed by residents regarding the water levels this year, has issued the attached report - 2010 Water Level Conditions, TSW, Haliburton Area. It provides weather data from this past winter and spring that caused the problems, the current status of the system, and the planned actions for the remainder of the season. A report well worth reading.

http://cewf.typepad.com/Haliburton_Spring_2010_Water_Level_Conditions.pdf

The anger unabated...

The most recent Haliburton County Voice (June 10, 2010) has two articles reflecting the growing frustrations of our residents with the water levels - the cover story on Maple Lake, and the lead Letter to the Editor:

 http://ezread.ca/countyvoice/voice/voice-jun1010/index.html

TSW Infrastructure Progress

This past week, the TSW installed 4 more of its new automated water level gauges at Norland, Miskwabi, Loon and Gooderham. These will be made fully operational over the next couple of months. Here is a picture from the Norland installation:

Low water: province-wide implications

Stranded docks...boating hazards...and even power shortages and air quality. The Toronto Star recently ran a good article, and a thoughtful response:

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/813333--low-water-levels-threaten-power-supply

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/814285--holistic-approach-needed-to-fix-lake-levels

One crazy spring...

Our unusual weather has continued, and the TSW system's reservoir lakes have been struggling to recover. We have been hearing extensively from concerned CEWF members - some lakes are full and normal, while others are dramatically low (eg. see Maple Lake below).

 

The CEWF Advisory Committee has a formal meeting scheduled with the Parks Canada TSW senior management next week. We shall be presenting our serious concerns, and establishing with Parks Canada what plans are in place to rectify the situation - present and future. The meeting outcomes will be reported here.

Minden Times - Low Water!

Another good article on our record low water situation, this one from the Minden Times:

http://cewf.typepad.com/Minden_Times_April_14_2010_-_low_water_levels.pdf

Come on rain!

More - Where's the water?

The Haliburton County Voice has picked up on the chorus of residents' concerns over this spring's water levels - here is their article from the April 8/2010 publication:

http://cewf.typepad.com/County_Voice_2010_04_07.pdf

TSW- the story...

Ever find yourself wondering about the history of the Trent-Severn Waterway? Or how the water is managed? Or how things look for the future? Well, here is a great 4 page summary to bring you up to speed (thank you Parks Canada):

http://cewf.typepad.com/TSW_Story.pdf