Coalition for Equitable Water Flow

TSW Water Management Update - May14/21

From the TSW (to view on their website - click here):

Weather

The total precipitation during 2021 winter was 25% less than normal followed by 50% less than normal amounts of precipitation in March and April. Rainfall amounts for early May have been near normal. The 7 day forecast suggests a transition to high temperatures. There is 5 mm of rainfall forecasted for this week.

Outlook

The Trent-Severn Waterway watersheds including the reservoirs experienced an earlier than normal freshet, which in combination with sustained warmer air temperatures has resulted in the loss of winter snowpack and melt runoff recession towards early April. The result of early melt and exceedingly dry conditions were the minimal flows experienced in April until present across the system.  The most recent rain fall events (over the past 15 days) were spatially variable and currently, flows remain below average and receding across the Trent-Severn Watershed.

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

In general, water levels in the Haliburton Reservoirs are below average. The Gull River reservoirs are 88% full. Burnt River reservoirs are 96% full. The Gull River and Burnt River flows are below average for this time of the year. The Central Reservoirs are 96% full.  Levels are expected to gradually increase, and flows are expected to continue to recede with warmer temperatures and low precipitation.

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NOTE: for a more specific analysis of the current situation from CEWF - click here

TSW Water Management Update - Apr9/21

From the TSW:

Weather

The 7 day forecast is indicating temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius and a moderate precipitation amount of approximately 20 mm.

Outlook

The total precipitation for this past winter was 25 % less than normal values followed by 25-50% less than normal amounts of precipitation in March. The watersheds of the Haliburton reservoirs experienced an earlier than normal freshet, which in combination with sustained warmer air temperatures has resulted in the loss of winter snowpack during late March and melt runoff recession in early April. Presuming a normal amount of precipitation throughout the month of April, the public can expect the current lake levels to gradually rise during the month of May, achieving seasonal averages heading into summer. Currently, flows are well below to average and receding across the Trent-Severn Watershed.

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

In general, water levels in the Haliburton Reservoirs vary across the system. In the Gull, the reservoir levels are near or below average.  The Gull River flows are below average. The water levels in Burnt River reservoirs are near or above average . The Burnt River flows are below average and receding. Central Lakes levels are near and above average. Levels are expected to gradually increase, and flows are expected to continue to recede with warmer temperatures.

TSW Water Level Management Update - March 30/21

Weather

The five day forecast is predicting less than 5 mm. Air temperatures will fluctuate but approach double digits in Haliburtons and will remain positive overnight towards the weekend.

Outlook

With the ongoing snowmelt and significant amount of rain received over the course of last week, coupled with warm temperatures, flows and water levels are expected to increase at all locations as the impacts of the rain and melting snow work their way through the system.

The Trent Severn Water Management team will be active and the changing conditions will be closely monitored.   Any watershed conditions updates will be released by your Conservation Authority or local Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources district. 

Ice on shorelines

The temperature variations around and above the freezing mark makes ice weak along the shoreline which is then easily broken and moved by windy conditions. The areas subject to the greatest impact are those facing the primary wind direction. In the event of strong wind conditions the public should be aware of possible onshore ice movement leading to shoreline damage. The current forecast winds are not overly high. With the warmer temperatures persisting into next week, ice out should continue. 

Haliburton and Northern Areas 

With the ongoing snowmelt, water levels and flows are rising rapidly in the northern areas. Snow amounts are still remaining below the average for this time of the year in the most northern areas of the Gull River system. Most lakes on the Gull River and Burnt River systems are now above average and are rising due to the earlier than normal onset of the melt. Lake levels are monitored daily and assessed in relation to estimated runoff amounts. The flows on Gull River and Burnt River remain above average due to the snowmelt and operational activities. Flows on both rivers are anticipated to remain high. Most Central Lakes are rising due to the ongoing snowmelt and remain above average for this time of the year due to early snowmelt timing. 

Yes, our water levels are low

CEWF has been getting comments and questions from our member associations about the current lake levels. Yes, our reservoir levels are lower than normal for this time of year.

This situation is not the result of actions by the TSW water management team. TSW is actively replacing logs in all dams to capture the available runoff while maintaining minimum downstream flows. The TSW Water Management Update from March 24/21 which we posted below accurately describes
the situation earlier this week. (to continue reading - click here)

Water Management Update - Mar24/21

From the TSW:

Weather

The five-day forecast suggests 30-45 mm with air temperatures reaching double digits in the Haliburton areas.  

Outlook

With the onset of the snowmelt and forecasted amount of rain coupled with warm temperatures, flows and water levels are expected to increase at all locations as the impacts of the rain and melting snow work their way through the system.

The Trent Severn Water Management team will be active, and the changing conditions will be closely monitored.   Any watershed conditions updates will be released by your Conservation Authority or local Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry District. 

Ice on shorelines

The temperature variations around and above the freezing mark makes ice weak along the shoreline, which is then easily broken and moved by windy conditions. The areas subject to the greatest impact are those facing the primary wind direction. In the event of strong wind conditions, the public should be aware of possible onshore ice movement leading to shoreline damage. The current forecast winds are not overly high. With the warmer temperatures persisting into next week, ice-out should continue. 

Haliburton and Northern Areas 

With the recent warm temperature event, water levels and flows conditions correspond to the onset of the melt and are rising in northern areas. Snow amounts still remain but are below average for this time of the year in the most northern areas of the Gull River system. Most lakes on the Gull River and Burnt River systems remain below average but are rising due to the onset of the melt. Lake levels are monitored daily and assessed in relation to estimated runoff amounts. The flows on Gull River and Burnt remain below average. Flows are on both rivers are anticipated to increase. 

Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River

Most Kawartha Lakes are below average. Levels on the Kawarthas are expected to rise due to increasing inflows from the Haliburton areas and the forecasted amounts of rainfall. Flows on the Otonabee River are below average for this time of year and will continue to increase. 

Rice Lake and the Lower Trent

Water levels on Rice Lake and the Lower Trent are anticipated to increase due to increased inflows from local creeks, the Otonabee River, Crowe River and the forecasted rainfall. 

TSW’s First Water Management Update of 2021

Trent-Severn Waterway Water Management Update

Friday, March 12, 2021

Weather

The 7-day forecast is indicating temperatures close to zero degrees Celsius and low precipitation amount. This week's weather event resulted in a small precipitation event of 5 mm combined with temperatures approaching above 10 degrees and above zero at night. The warm-up and cool-down period was estimated to be approximately 36 hours in length. The brief warm spell is followed by more seasonal temperatures.

Outlook

Rainfall and warm temperatures have, for the most part, primed the snow to be ready to run off and also resulted in the ongoing snowmelt in the southern watershed.  Water levels and outflows are expected to remain elevated at all locations due to the precipitation and snowmelt. Trent Severn Water Management team will be active, and the changing conditions will be closely monitored. Any watershed condition updates will be released by your Conservation Authority or local Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources district. 

Haliburton and Northern Areas 

Most of the reservoir lakes remain at their respective winter set dam configuration. Water levels on the lakes, in general, are below average and are levelling off after the recent event. Flows on the Gull and Burnt Rivers remain below average for this time of year and will likely stabilize with the onset of cold weather this weekend. The current snowpack is measured to vary from above average in some areas to average for this time of the year and is slowly receding with warm temperatures and localized melt.

Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River

Water levels on the Kawartha Lakes are below average but are levelling off due to the recent rain and ongoing snowmelt. Water flows on the Otonabee River are below average for this time of year. Flows will likely rise as a result of the mild temperatures and precipitation.

Rice Lake and the Lower Trent

Rice Lake's water level is above the long-term average and is rising as a result of the snowmelt. Water flows on the Lower Trent River are below average and expected to rise as a result of the recent event.

Current TSW Update & CEWF 2021 Priorities

Since our Annual Communications meeting, your CEWF Executive Committee has held monthly meetings, as well as discussions with the management of the TSW.  The major discussions with TSW have been with respect to the amounts and form of precipitation, water flow levels on the Gull and Burnt Rivers, current lake levels, and possible action plans with respect to log manipulation. And above all, using this year’s data and comparing with prior years.   

As you will recall, the late 2020 fall was fairly dry with a below normal amount of rain.  The ground then froze, and since then, there has been a significant amount of snow and an absence of winter rain or winter thaw events until very recently.  The TSW water management team continuously monitors conditions using their networks of water level and flow gauges, weather stations and snow water equivalent gauges. Based on their analysis and weather forecasts they may soon begin to replace logs in dams on headwater lakes that can be difficult to fill. Given our experience with extreme spring rainfall events in many recent years, it is expected that with the  snowmelt they will bring lake levels up to below the full level and maintain some storage capacity as insurance against extreme events. The goal will be to fill the reservoirs and the Kawartha Lakes before the end of May.

When more specific TSW water management action plans are made available to us, the CEWF will pass along the message to you.

One of the Executive Committee’s actions has been to establish our priorities for 2021. To view the Summary click here. (and it can always be viewed on our home page left side)

If you have any questions or comments, we would be pleased to hear from you – cewfca@gmail.com.

2020 TSW Water Levels Summary

At the end of December each year, the TSW resets its online water levels charts. To have a record of the 2020 water levels for all the reservoir and canal lakes CEWF is making available screen shots from the TSW site as of the end of December 2020. These include the actual 2020 water level data as well as the multi-year average and historic extremes. The summary charts are organized alphabetically within each sub-watershed as per the Key Map - click here.

(for the permanent record as well as the data for other years, see under 'TSW Water Levels’ on right hand side of the CEWF website homepage).

 

Water Level Forecast - Oct 6/20

To view the TSW Water Level Forecast covering the period Oct 4 - Oct 18, 2020 - click here

Water Level Forecast - Sept 29/20

To view the TSW Water Level Forecast covering the period Sept 28 - Oct 12, 2020 - click here