SUBJECT: Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety – issued for all waterbodies and watercourses including the Trent-Severn Waterway (i.e., Kawartha Lakes from Pigeon Lake eastward to the Otonabee River and from the Otonabee River southward to Rice Lake and Trent River to Hastings)
ISSUED TO: Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills, and Otonabee Conservation’s other partners in flood emergency management.
A Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety is issued when high flows, ice or other factors could be dangerous, but flooding is not expected.
Weather Forecast: Near-seasonal to below-normal conditions are expected to dominate the Region through the first half of April. There are no significant rainfall events in the near-term forecast.
Watershed Conditions: Water levels/flows on the Kawartha Lakes and Rice Lake are near-normal for this time of year. Surface ice conditions on the Kawartha Lakes and Rice Lake are unsafe, and in the coming days, surface ice conditions will become increasingly weaker and can break-up at any time.
Flows on Otonabee River are currently 200 cubic metres per second (cms). The average spring flow of the Otonabee River is 300 cms.
Local watercourses such as the Ouse River, Indian River and tributaries to the Otonabee River are elevated due to recent rain and snowmelt events. With no significant rainfall events in the weather forecast and almost all the snow and ice melted, local watercourses are not expected to rise to the point of exceeding their normal confines.
Residents are reminded that water is extremely cold at this time of year and a powerful force that should never be underestimated. Caregivers are reminded that children and pets should not be allowed to approach waterbodies/watercourses at this time of year. KEEP S.A.F.E. – Stay Away From Edges of riverbanks/lakeshores as they will be slippery and the banks may collapse because they are undercut. In addition, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists are advised to observe and obey all road and path closure signs.
Area water information can be monitored on-line at:
1) Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet
2) Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data
3) Otonabee Conservation Precipitation and Water Level Data
This WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT will remain in effect until Friday, April 15, 2022.