ORCA issues Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety - May 27, 2025

Message #2025-14

Issued: 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2025

WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY issued for Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW). Currently there are no flooding concerns. However, because of unusually high-water levels and flows, and in the interest of public safety, TSW has announced a partial closure of the system within the jurisdiction of Otonabee Conservation.

Issued to: Municipalities, water management authorities, Indigenous communities, Ministry of Natural Resources and Otonabee Conservation’s other partners in flood emergency management

Conditions: TSW reports that its watersheds have recently received significant amounts of precipitation and are forecasted to receive more in the coming days, causing above seasonal water levels. To address the higher-than-normal water levels, TSW is increasing flows through dams and is partially closing the system to navigation.

The public is advised to expect increased water levels and flows, particularly outside of the TSW’s normal hours of operation. As a result, the public should consider overnight flows as non-navigable.

The partial closure of the TSW within the jurisdiction of Otonabee Conservation will protect boater safety and help to prevent shoreline erosion and property damage experienced by shoreline residents and businesses. All boaters are strongly encouraged to lower their speeds and watch their wake.

For more information on hours of operation, closures and updates on when safe navigation will be restored, visit https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern.

Through its Flood Forecasting and Warning Program, Otonabee Conservation actively monitors water levels, flows, weather forecasts and other factors to alert our partners in food emergency management about current and forecasted watershed conditions relevant to flooding. For more information about our Flood Forecasting and Warning Program visit our website. ​Water levels 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 website

This WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT-WATER SAFETY is effective immediately and will remain in effect until 3 p.m., Wednesday June 04, 2025, unless updated earlier.

                                               -30-

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

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