Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety - February 22

Another significant weather system is expected to travel through southern Ontario, including the Kawartha Conservation watershed, today and tomorrow. The system will bring a brief warm-up, up to 7°C, and precipitation, that will start as freezing rain around noon today and will turn into rain later this afternoon. Overall, 5 to 15 mm of precipitation are expected for the next 24 hours.

WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY

DATE:    February 22, 2022 

TIME:    11:00 am            

Message sent based on information received from:

• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Surface Water Monitoring Centre – Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry
• Kawartha Conservation Flood Forecasting Network

Another significant weather system is expected to travel through southern Ontario, including the Kawartha Conservation watershed, today and tomorrow. The system will bring a brief warm-up, up to 7°C, and precipitation, that will start as freezing rain around noon today and will turn into rain later this afternoon. Overall, 5 to 15 mm of precipitation are expected for the next 24 hours.

The system is forecast to move eastward on Wednesday. The air temperature will return to seasonal rapidly, falling to as low as  -13°C by Wednesday morning.

The water levels in local rivers and streams are moderately elevated as a result of the runoff from the precipitation and snow melt that happened last week. Under the forecast weather conditions the water levels are expected to remain elevated or increase slightly. However, no flooding problems are expected within the Kawartha Conservation watershed at this time.

All watercourses have the potential to be dangerous at this time of year and Kawartha Conservation is warning all residents to stay a safe distance from all streams and rivers, as well as water structures such as bridges, culverts, and dams. The ice cover is not stable due to rapidly changing conditions and is, therefore, not safe for walking on, or for use of vehicles. Children should be warned of dangerous conditions around all watercourses and waterbodies and be supervised while outside.

Northern tributaries, such as the Burnt and Gull Rivers are monitored by staff from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF). Residents along these two rivers are requested to direct any questions concerning water levels to the NDMNRF Minden Area office at 705.457.6434 or refer to the messages issued by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry at https://www.ontario.ca/law-and-safety/flood-forecasting-and-warning-program.

Additional information from the TSW is available at the Water Management InfoNet web page https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/info/infonet.

This Watershed Condition Statement – Water Safety will be in effect until Thursday, February 24^th, 2022.

Kawartha Conservation will continue monitoring local watercourses and notify the public and municipalities within its watershed jurisdiction of any changes. We are in close communication with partner agencies such as Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, neighbouring Conservation Authorities and Trent-Severn Waterway during all flood situations.

If you are aware of or have concerns about flooding, please contact Kawartha Conservation at 705.328.2271 or 705.344.0155 after hours.

Iryna Shulyarenko                                            Emma Collyer      

Hydrologist                                                        Director, Integrated Watershed Management

Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety is a general notice that existing or potential conditions pose a risk to personal safety. Watershed Conditions Statements - Water Safety may be issued when streams are flowing at or near bank full levels, when ice conditions are unsafe, or when stream banks are icy, soft and/or slippery.