Coalition for Equitable Water Flow

Reservoir water levels remain high

Reservoir water levels remain higher than normal on most lakes as TSW deals with too much water in the entire waterway system.

Over the past three weeks we have experienced significantly more than double our normal rainfall with Haliburton seeing a full month’s rainfall in just over two weeks and rainfall totals over the entire Trent basin have been well above normal. Because this is the time of year when the system is already at its highest levels this has resulted in higher than normal levels throughout the system from the reservoirs, through the Kawartha Lakes and down the Otonabee and Trent Rivers all the way to Lake Ontario.

As of Monday, TSW closed navigation on the canal from Young’s Point to Trenton on Lake Ontario until Friday June 24, in order to be able to pass higher than normal flows downstream and bring the Kawartha Lakes down to their normal navigation levels so the navigation channel can reopen. This is the first time in 20 years that navigation has been curtailed in June.

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TSW Water Management Update - June 16/22

FROM THE TSW:

Trent-Severn Waterway - Water Level Management Update – Thursday, June 16, 2022

Weather and Outlook

Over the past 15 days, the Trent-Severn’s watersheds have received significant amounts of precipitation, the equivalent of 100 - 200% above the normal amount expected for this time. Residents and visitors should exercise extreme caution around and on the water.

Isolated thunderstorm activity is expected today and early next week with 5 days totals of potentially 10-30 mm across the Trent-Severn Waterway. Soil conditions across the watershed are saturated and lakes are over- full. Please check the website of your local conservation authority or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for the most up to date watershed conditions.

Haliburton and Northern Areas

Levels on the Gull River, Burnt River and Central Lakes are above average and expected to increase with the forecasted rainfall. Flows on the Gull River have stabilized but will remain high.  Flows on the Burnt River are receding but rate of recession is subject to the amount of forecasted rain.

Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River

The Kawartha Lakes levels are above average, increasing and expected to stabilize over the weekend. Flows on Otonabee River are high and will be further increased during navigation shutdown to provide some relief for Kawartha Lakes system. The flows and levels are subject to forecasted rain. Caution should be exercised on or near the river and especially near dams.

Rice Lake and the Lower Trent

Water levels on Rice Lake and the Lower Trent are high and are expected to increase with the forecasted rain. The Lower Trent is navigable however flow is high and will remain high. Caution should be exercised on or near the river and especially near dams.

Severn River

Lake Simcoe is high and with the rain forecast it is expected to increase. Black River flow is receding but subject to the forecasted rain. Flows will remain high on the Severn River. Please exercise caution when travelling on the River and around dams.

Navigation Outside of Operation Hours

Please exercise caution when travelling on the River and around dams. Flows at Swift Rapids and the Lower Trent will increase during the night to continue to reduce levels and flows. Residents are advised to exercise caution if travelling outside Parks Canada hours of operation.

TSW High Water Levels

Most Reservoirs Now Well Above Normal Levels

 

The extreme rainfall totals over the last two weeks have left the entire Trent-Severn Waterway system above full including the reservoir area. The TSW water management team is monitoring conditions and operating dams to pass as much water downstream as possible while managing the flood risk in communities like Minden and Peterborough.

 

For the last several days they have been increasing flows on the Waterway at night, and now they have announced the closure of part of the Waterway so they can pass higher flows downstream - click here

 

In the reservoirs we can expect active dam management as the team works to bring the whole system back to normal seasonal levels. 

 

In our presentations on water management, we have always noted that the TSW is not a flood control system, and that we are most vulnerable to high levels and flows in late spring when the system is near to full. This year we are seeing way above normal rainfall totals across the entire Trent Basin resulting in very high levels and flows. Extreme weather conditions are occurring with more frequency. This is the third time in the last year that TSW has had to curtail navigation on the waterway to deal with high flows resulting from rainfall events. It is also notable that by the middle of June 2021 we were looking at drought conditions before extreme rainfall totals in July and again in September/October. 

 

The water management team is on the job 24/7 and will continue to monitor conditions and operate dams to manage levels and flow across the entire system including the reservoirs.

TSW Water Management Update - June10/22

FROM THE TSW:

Weather

Over the past 7 days, the watersheds have received 50 - 100 mm of rain which significantly exceeds the normal precipitation for the month of May and early June. The last 25 days have seen precipitation values in excess of 50-75 % above normal, which has increased water levels and flows across the entire system. Please check the website of your local conservation authority or the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry for the most up-to-date watershed conditions. The weather forecast suggests that there is a risk of further thunderstorms towards the end of the week across the Trent-Severn.

Haliburton and Northern Areas

The Gull, Burnt, and Central Lakes are full to slightly overfull due to the recent rain. Flows on the Gull have not peaked and will increase as a result of adjustments and current levels upstream. The Burnt River is expected to peak within the next 48 hours.

Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River

The Kawartha Lakes levels are above average and expected to further increase as a result of recent rain. The Otonabee River flow is higher than normal and will remain high due to the recent rain.

Rice Lake and the Lower Trent

Rice Lake is above average. Lower Trent flows are elevated due to rain.

Severn River

The Black River has not peaked, but water levels and flows are high on the Severn River and will remain high until water levels decrease on Lake Simcoe and Sparrow Lake.

Flows across the navigation channel will increase during the night to reduce levels on the system.  The public should consider these overnight flows as non-navigable. Therefore residents are advised to exercise extreme caution if travelling outside Parks Canada’s hours of operation.

Water Level Update - June 7/22

Water Level Update for the Reservoir Area - June 7 2022

The CEWF Executive has been in regular contact with the TSW Water Management Manager, and we have been monitoring levels and flows. This spring, we experienced a very smooth filling of the reservoirs from snowmelt and periodic rainfall events. By the May holiday weekend, all reservoirs were very close to their full levels and flow through lakes and rivers were seeing seasonal flows.

Since that point the TSW Water management team has been actively managing reservoir dams to maintain close to full levels while avoiding overfilling. TSW has an extensive data monitoring system for precipitation, levels and flows. The data are analyzed and water management decisions are made on a daily basis by the team. This has meant operations at most dams with logs being removed and then replaced.

Now we are facing significant rainfall events at the time of year when the system is full and only active water management can avoid higher than normal levels and flood risk. The risk exists for some lakes to reach an overfill condition which may cause dock systems and other waterfront infrastructure to be impacted.  Waterfront property owners should monitor the water level on their lakes through the TSW water levels website (click on link in upper right corner of this page).  Be prepared to secure any infrastructure which could float into the lake.

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TSW Water Level Management Update

FROM THE TSW:

Weather

The 14-day forecast suggests a high-temperature trend for the watersheds of the Trent-Severn Waterway system. There is up to 30 mm of rainfall forecasted for the next 5 days. Most of the rainfall forecasted is associated with thunderstorms and could be highly variable from one location to another.

Outlook

The watersheds of the Haliburton reservoirs experienced earlier than normal freshet, which in combination with warmer air temperatures has resulted in the loss of most of the winter snowpack by late March and the recession of runoff by early April. Assuming seasonal average precipitation going forward, the public can expect lake levels to remain near full during the month of May, and seasonal averages through the summer. Currently, flows are below average across the Trent-Severn watersheds.

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

Haliburton and Northern Areas

In general, water levels in the Haliburton Reservoirs are near average for this time of year. The flows on both the Gull and Burnt river, as well as the flow-through lakes are below average and therefore well within recreational limits. As usual, water levels are expected to gradually recede and flows are expected to remain stable, assuming average temperatures and precipitation.

Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River

The Kawartha Lakes water levels are above average and expected to remain stable. Flows on the Otonabee River are below average for this time of year and the river reaches remain in the standard navigation ranges. The dam in Lindsay, controlling the levels on Lake Scugog, has all logs in.

Rice Lake and the Lower Trent

Rice Lake is at average water levels, and the Lower Trent river reaches remain in the standard navigational ranges.

Severn River

Lake Simcoe water levels are average for this of year. Flows on the Black and Severn Rivers are below average and are receding. Operations for Lake St. John are completed for summer set.

TSW Management Plan - Public Consultations

From the TSW on their 10-year management plan - click here

(Note that CEWF will be responding, and sharing that with members)

"Parks Canada has created this space for you to share your feedback on a new draft management plan for the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site. Your input and suggestions will shape the way we protect and present this special place over the coming years.

From April 4 - June 30, we're asking the public to read our Draft Management Plan and share their feedback.

• What is a top priority for you as a visitor / resident / business owner?
• What do you imagine this plan looks like in action?

Your feedback is important to Parks Canada and will go a long way towards shaping the Trent-Severn Waterway and Peterborough Lift Lock National Historic Sites Management Plan for the next 10 years. We appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback. Please feel free to share this website with others who may have an interest in the Trent-Severn Waterway."

TSW Water Management Update - Mar18/22

FROM THE TSW:

Trent-Severn Waterway - Water Management Update March 18, 2022

Weather

The weather forecast for next 5 days is predicting a moderate mixed precipitation event of 20 mm combined with plus temperatures approaching 10 degrees and above zero at night.  

Outlook

Recent weeks warm temperatures have primed the snow to be ready to run off and current above zero temperature trend resulted in the ongoing snowmelt in the southern watershed.  Haliburton snowpack remained stable with no significant losses and tracks close to seasonal averages. Water levels and outflows are expected to remain elevated at all locations due to the precipitation and snow melt. 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. 

Haliburton and Northern Areas 

Most of the reservoir lakes remain at their respective winter set dam configuration. Operational activities in some reservoir lakes are conducted in anticipation of localized melt. Water levels on the lakes in general are well below average and are levelling off and/or slightly increasing.  Flows on the Gull and Burnt Rivers remain on average for this time of year and will likely increase with the rainfall and warm temperatures.  Current snowpack is measured to vary from above average in some areas to average for this time of the year and is expected to slowly recede with warm temperatures and localized melt.

Water Levels Update

CEWF continues to be in regular contact with the TSW water management manager to monitor watershed conditions.

As of March 3, conditions were stable and near normal for lake levels and flows. The water equivalent in the snowpack in northern parts of the reservoir area was a bit below normal but as one moves south towards the Kawartha Lakes it was normal. In the southern parts of the Trent watershed the snowpack was above normal. Most reservoir lake levels were normal or just below normal as a result of the relatively cold conditions we have seen. Below the snowpack the ground has been frozen with a coating of ice in many areas resulting from the two winter rain events we experienced in February. Overall, the snowpack represents a solid base for filling the system in the spring.

We are now entering the time of year when conditions can be changeable. The intersection of the warm and cold air masses tends to be over our area with the chance of temperature extremes and significant precipitation. Recall that in 2020 a very warm week in March with winds resulted in much of the snow sublimating (evaporating) and/or melting and we had less runoff than expected from snowmelt and lakes were slow to fill. This past weekend we experienced one warm day with high winds and some rain in some areas but now the forecast is for a return to more normal winter conditions with more snow.

The most serious immediate impact from short periods of rain and melt is changing ice conditions on our lakes as there may be surface flooding and increased flows under ice making conditions unpredictable. Residents should be reminded to expect changing conditions.

When weather conditions change and the spring runoff begins, MNDMNRF with be responsible for issuing flood warnings if they are warranted. CEWF will continue to be in touch with the TSW water management team and we will post information on our website as it becomes available.

2021 Water Level Summary

At the end of December, the TSW resets its online water levels charts. In order to have a record of the 2021 water levels for all the reservoir and canal lakes, CEWF is making available screen shots from the TSW website as of the end of December 2021. These include the actual 2021 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.

To view the summary for 2021 - click here

(Note: this information will remain accessible under 'TSW Water Levels’ on right hand side of the CEWF website homepage. As you can see there are now 8 years of data available for comparison purposes).

Happy New Year from CEWF!