ORCA issues Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety

Message #2024-05

Issued: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2024

WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY issued for all area waterbodies and watercourses.

ISSUED TO: Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, Trent Hills, City of Peterborough, and City of Kawartha Lakes, as well as Otonabee Conservation’s other partners in flood emergency management.

This WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY is issued because expected rainfall events over the next 3 days will cause periods of higher-than-normal water flows/levels that may be dangerous. Flooding is not expected.

Weather Forecast: A Colorado low is expected to enter our Region this afternoon (Tuesday April 2^nd) and bring a mixture of precipitation that will begin as rain and transition to snow on Wednesday night. The change between rain and snow will depend on the shift in air temperature as the Colorado low moves through the Region. Total precipitation amounts of 30 to 50mm are expected.

Watershed Conditions: The early spring melt and warm temperatures have created unfrozen ground conditions (able to absorb rainfall) and baseflows within our watercourses of approximately 78% of normal. The forecasted precipitation will result in surface runoff into low-lying areas, wetlands, ditches, and all local watercourses. Higher-than-normal water levels and flows are expected, but there is no risk of flooding. 

Area residents and visitors are strongly advised that slippery stream banks and fast flowing cold water create hazardous conditions around all water bodies, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges. Please exercise caution around all water bodies and alert any children in your care of these hazards.

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-WATER SAFETY is effective immediately and will remain in effect until Monday April 8, 2024, unless updated earlier.

                                                                           -30-

Neil MacFarlane| Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x 231
orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com | Flood Watch Hotline 705-745-5791 x 228