Rideau Canal - Water Level Management Update - March 8, 2023

Rideau Canal - Water Level Management Update – March 8, 2023

Parks Canada's water management team continues to actively monitor water levels, flows, and weather forecasts across the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada. These factors are used to determine dam operations on a daily basis for the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada.

Parks Canada maintains the Ontario Waterways Water Management InfoNet on the Rideau Canal website at https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/rideau/info/infonet

The InfoNet contains background information on water management practices, water management updates, frequently asked questions about water management, various reports on water management, and the most recent water levels of lakes along both the Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway. The information comes from hydrometric gauges located at key points along both waterways and is vetted by trained and experienced Parks Canada water management staff.

This information is intended as supplemental information only. Stakeholders should continue to refer to their respective Conservation Authority or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as the primary source for relevant flood forecasting information specific to their area. These are Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the Cataraqui Conservation Authority

Weather

The 5-day forecast suggests no significant precipitation. Air temperatures are expected to remain below 0°C across the entire Rideau and Cataraqui Watersheds.

Outlook

Flows remain elevated after the series of recent events. The fluctuations in levels vary and highly depend on the amount of snow remaining and any significant changes in temperature forecasts.

The snowpack is present and is near average in the southern watersheds and above average north of Smith Falls Basin.

The Rideau Water Management team will be actively monitoring the changing conditions. Any watershed condition updates will be released by your Conservation Authority.

Cataraqui River

Most lakes are above average water levels for this time of year and are receding.

Tay River

Bobs Lake is on average. The levels on both Bobs and Christie lakes will continue to be monitored. Tay River is near average and receding.

Rideau River

Wolfe Lake, Upper Rideau and Big Rideau are above average and receding.  Rideau River is, on average and receding.