Coalition for Equitable Water Flow

Water Level Forecast - Oct 1/19

To view the TSW two week water level forecast covering the period September 30 - October 14, 2019 - click here.

Water Level Forecast - Sep 24/19

To view the TSW two week water level forecast covering the period September 22 - October 6, 2019 - click here.

CEWF 2019 Annual Communications Meeting

Summary

On Saturday, September 14th, 2019, the CEWF held its Annual Communications Meeting at the Haliburton Highlands Outdoor Association site outside of the town of Haliburton. The event was attended by many representatives from our 32 member lake associations. The meeting agenda included administrative reports from the CEWF Executive Committee including the report on the CEWF 2019 Priorities and Work Plan Review for 2019 presented by our Vice-Chair Bruce McClennan. (for presentation slides – click here)

Jewel Cunningham, Executive Director, Ontario and Waterways Parks Canada, presented a report on the Parks Canada capital construction program in the reservoir area indicating the current status of the many projects. (for presentation slides – click here)

The Chair of CEWF, Ted Spence, presented a review of the CEWF perspective on the 2019 water management experience. (for presentation slides – click here)

A detailed review of 2019 water management experience and the impacts of precipitation, temperatures, and very high snowpack was presented by Anna Ciorap, the TSW Water Management Manager. (for presentation slides – click here)

The water management presentations were most appreciated by the attendees in further understanding the complexity of the TSW System, and the issues presented by an exceptional snowpack, a wet spring, and 12 weeks of spotty rainfall and drought conditions over the reservoirs.

The meeting concluded with questions and discussions among the representatives from Parks Canada, CEWF and the lake associations present.

Water Level Forecast - Sep 17/19

To view the TSW two week water level forecast covering the period September 16 - 30 - click here.

Water Level Forecast - Sep 9/19

To view the TSW Water Level Forecast for the period Sep 9 - 23 - click here

Water Level Forecast - Sep 4/19

In the absence of widespread significant rainfall, the drawdown will continue with many reservoirs falling below their normal levels for the date.

To view the full TSW Water Level Forecast covering the period September 3 - 17, 2019 - click here

 

 

Water Level Forecast - Aug 26/19

To view the TSW water level forecast for the period Aug 26 - Sep 9 - click here

Water Management + Level Forecast - Aug 20/19

To view the two week TSW water level forecast covering the period Aug 19 - Sep 2 - click here

To view the TSW Water Management Update dated Aug 20 - click here (and see below for summary)

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From the TSW:

Weather

Rainfall amounts for July have been at least 50-75 % below normal and spatially localized with the similar trends being observed for August. The 5 day forecast suggests that the above average temperatures will taper off near the end of the week and a small amount (5-10 mm) of precipitation is forecasted. Most of the rainfall which includes the recorded and forecasted is associated with thunderstorms and varies highly from one location to another.

Summary

The ongoing hot and dry conditions for the extended period of time have  resulted in lower than normal local inflows and enhanced the rates of evaporation. Persistent dryness especially in the areas that missed out on the localized precipitation continues and the overall system remains in below normal summer conditions.  Water management and operational activities are conducted to appropriately respond to the changes.

The Trent-Severn Water Management team will be actively monitoring the changing conditions. Any watershed condition updates will be released by your Conservation Authority. 

Haliburton and Northern Areas 

Most lakes are near or below long term average water levels.  Levels continue to decline at a steady rate due to the active drawdown and enhanced lake evaporation rates. The Gull River reservoirs are 67% full. The Gull River flows are on average as a result of active drawdown of reservoirs . Burnt River reservoirs are 67% full. The Burnt River flows are close to average. The Central Reservoirs are 72% full. The active drawdown will continue and the above average rate of decline should be expected to continue based on the current forecast. Read the most recent water level forecast.

Water Management Update - Aug 13/19

For the latest TSW Water Management Update - click here

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Weather

Rainfall amounts for July have been at least 50-75 % below normal and spatially localized with the similar trends being observed for August. The 5 day forecast suggests that above average temperatures will remain combined with minimal amounts of precipitation. Most of the rainfall which includes the recorded and forecasted is associated with thunderstorms and varies highly from one location to another.   

Summary

The ongoing hot and dry conditions for the extended period of time have  resulted in lower than normal local inflows and enhanced the rates of evaporation. Persistent dryness continues especially in the areas that missed out on the localized precipitation and the overall system remains in below normal summer conditions.  Water management and operational activities are conducted to appropriately respond to the changes.

The Trent-Severn Water Management team will be actively monitoring the changing conditions. Any watershed condition updates will be released by your Conservation Authority. 

Haliburton and Northern Areas

Most lakes are near or below long term average water levels.  Levels continue to decline at a steady rate due to the active drawdown and enhanced lake evaporation rates. The Gull River reservoirs are 74% full. The Gull River flows are on average as a result of active drawdown of reservoirs . Burnt River reservoirs are 73% full. The Burnt River flows are below average. The Central Reservoirs are 76% full. The active drawdown will continue and the above average rate of drop should be expected to continue based on the current forecast. The most recent water level forecast can be found here (https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/info/infonet/rabattement-drawdown-forecast).

Water Level Forecast - Aug 12/19

Some Reservoir Water Levels are Projected to drop fast. Many lakes are forecast to drop by between 20 and 50 cms over the next two weeks. To view the two week lake level forecast from TSW covering the period Aug 12 - 26 - click here

 

Over the last 6 to 8 weeks there has been very little rainfall over the northern half of the Trent Basin including the Kawartha Lakes and the Reservoir area. What rain there has been has been in the form spotty thunderstorms with no prolonged general rainfall.

 

The TSW has been managing the Canal at minimum flows in order to conserve available water. But the drought conditions and high temperatures causing evaporation have meant it is necessary to draw extra water from the reservoirs. In a few cases this has already resulted in below average levels for this date. However in the absence of significant general rainfall we are now facing the prospect of below average levels on many reservoir lakes.

 

In both 2016 and in 2018 we faced periods of drought across the basin. In 2016 the relief came with significant rainfall after August 15 while in 2018 the relief came in late July and in both cases extreme drawdown was not necessary. Now in 2019 we need significant rainfall to offset the risk of exceptionally low levels by later in the season.

 

All residents are reminded to monitor the weekly water level forecasts from TSW as well  as the Water Management Updates which are posted on the TSW Website and reposted here by CEWF. The conditions are changing constantly and water level management decisions are made on a daily basis reflecting current levels, flows and rainfall events.