Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety - March 12

Message sent on the basis of information received from:

• Kawartha Conservation monitoring network
• Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - Surface Water Monitoring Centre
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Ontario Waterways - Trent Severn Waterway

The warm weather observed earlier this week has significantly reduced the snowpack around the Kawartha Conservation watershed. Our observations show that snow has melted in open fields, while remnants of snow still exist in shaded and forested areas.

As expected, local rivers and streams responded to the runoff generated by the snowmelt. In addition, short but intense thunderstorms that we experienced throughout the watershed yesterday added to the runoff. As a result, water levels in local watercourses have increased sharply and peaked Thursday overnight, below the flooding thresholds. Some overland flooding in areas with poor drainage has been reported.  

Ice cover on the rivers and streams within the Kawartha Conservation jurisdiction, has melted while lakes remain frozen. Even though water levels in the large Kawartha Lakes are low, in some shoreline locations, melted water can accumulate on top of the ice cover and may back up to the shoreline, creating temporary flooding.    

As no additional precipitation is predicted in the next 5 days, and air temperatures will return to below freezing marks, the water levels in local watercourses will continue to decline.   

However, all local rivers, streams, ditches, and lakes will remain extremely dangerous. Riverbanks are slippery, unsafe, and could be undercut. Water levels are high, stream currents are strong, and temperatures dangerously cold. Ice cover on lakes has deteriorated and is  

extremely hazardous. Kawartha Conservation is warning all residents to stay away from water bodies, as well as water structures such as bridges, culverts, and dams. Children should be warned of dangerous conditions, and caregivers should maintain a close watch on children who are outside. 

Kawartha Conservation is closely monitoring the weather and watershed conditions and assessing the flood hazard. We are in regular communication with the partner agencies, such as the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. We will continue advising the watershed residents, local municipalities, and partner agencies about the situation using the Kawartha Conservation website, media outlets, and social media. You can subscribe to receive the Kawartha Conservation flood messages.   

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

This Watershed Conditions Statement-Water Safety will be in effect or updated before Monday, March 15th, 2021. 

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 bankfull levels, when ice conditions are unsafe, or when stream banks are icy, soft and/or slippery.