Coalition for Equitable Water Flow

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

Water Level Forecast - Sept 22/20

Significant drawdown continues on all reservoirs with several projected to fall more than 40 cms in next two weeks.

To view the TSW Water Level Forecast covering the period Sept 20 - Oct 4, 2020 - click here

CEWF 2020 Annual Communications Meeting

Summary of CEWF 2020 Annual Communications Meeting

On Saturday, September 12th, 2020, the CEWF held its Annual Communications Meeting utilizing a Zoom participant on-line virtual meeting methodology. The event was attended by many members from our 32 member lake associations. The meeting agenda included administrative reports from the CEWF Executive Committee including the report on the CEWF 2020 Priorities and 9 Point Work Plan Review presented by the CEWF Vice-Chair, Bruce McClennan (for presentation slides- click here).

David Britton, Director, Ontario Waterways, Parks Canada presented a report on the Parks Canada capital construction program in the reservoir area of the Haliburton Sector of the Trent Severn Waterway indicating the current status of many of the projects.  (for presentation slides – click here) 

The Chair of the CEWF, Ted Spence, provided an overview of the 2020 Water Management as viewed from the CEWF perspective. He highlighted the active water management by TSW in the face of drought conditions lasting for up to 14 weeks in some areas. (for presentation slides - click here)

A detailed review of 2020 water management strategies and experiences resulting from the variances in precipitation, temperatures, and the early snowmelt was presented by Anna Ciorap, Water Management Manager, Parks Canada, (for presentation slides – click here).        

The meeting participants asked and received answers to a number of their questions directed to the presenters. They expressed appreciation for the efforts made this difficult water management year arising from an early snowmelt, attempts to assure no spring flooding, drought conditions until later in July, and then significant rainfall subsequently.

Date of next year’s ACM – Saturday, Sept 11^th – Fish Hatchery facility of the Haliburton Highlands Outdoor Association.

NOTE: To view the detailed Trent River Watershed Flowchart, see website under Reference Material, or click here

Water Level Forecast - Sept 15/20

Readers are reminded that the annual drawdown of all reservoirs is now underway with many of our lakes starting from above normal levels for this date. In the next two weeks 15 of our reservoirs are projected to see a draw of more than 25 cms and most other reservoirs will also see significant drawdown rates. In order to get all our lakes to their minimum levels by Oct 15 to protect lake trout spawning, we can expect a continuing draw with the dams at winter set log levels by early October.

To view the TSW Water Level Forecast covering the period Sept 12-26, 2020 - click here

Water Level Forecast Sept 9/20

Significant Drawdown of the reservoirs is continuing with 13 of our reservoir lakes forecast to drop more than 20 cms over next two weeks. Over the next five weeks TSW will be bringing all reservoirs down to their winter levels in order to accommodate the lake trout spawning which occurs in the last half of October. All residents can monitor these drawdown forecasts as well as the water level graphs and tables on the TSW website (see below) to ensure you know what to expect in terms of level changes.

To view the TSW water level forecast for the period September 8-22 - click here

To view the TSW Water Level website - click here

To view the TSW Drawdown website - click here

 

Water Level Forecast & Water Management Update - Aug 25/20

To view the TSW two week forecast covering the period August 21 - September 4, 2020 - click here

 

TSW Water Management Update - Aug 24/20

Weather

Despite the significant rainfall events early August, the strongly localized nature of these events has resulted in total summer months (90 days) precipitation amounts ranging from 10-50% below normal. The 14-day forecast suggests a high-temperature trend will remain in the system. There is 25-33 mm of rainfall forecasted for this week. Most of the rainfall forecasted is associated with thunderstorms and could be highly variable from one location to another.

Haliburton and Northern Areas

Most lakes are above the long term average water levels. The Gull River reservoirs are 69% full. Burnt River reservoirs are 70% full. The Gull River and Burnt River flows are below average for this time of the year. The Central Reservoirs are 71% full. The drawdown continues, and the rate of drop will be largely dependent on the rainfall received. The most recent two-week 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 18/20

To view the TSW two week forecast covering the period August 16 - August 30, 2020 - click here

Water Level Forecast - Aug 10/20

To view the TSW two week forecast covering the period August 10 - August 24, 2020 - click here