Flood Forecasting and Warning with Kawartha Conservation
Flood warning and forecasting with Kawartha Conservation
Flood forecasting is one of the most important services that Kawartha Conservation provides to our residents and member municipalities. A timely warning of upcoming high-water conditions is critical to helping everybody to prepare and be better able to respond.
Our flood messages are sent to the media, posted on our website and shared on our social media channels. You can subscribe to receive Kawartha Conservation flood messages via email.
The following colour-coded symbols describe the watershed conditions. This is always indicated throughout our website.
Normal status indicates that no flood conditions exist. However, even during normal conditions, the inherent risk to personal safety associated with flowing water still exists.
Our jurisdiction and partners
We forecast high water levels and flooding in local creeks, rivers and lakes within our watershed. Neighbouring conservation authorities look after creeks in their respective areas. Where there are no conservation authorities, such as in the area to the north of Kawartha Conservation where the Burnt and Gull Rivers flow, the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) provides flood forecasting.
As the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) makes its way through the Kawartha Conservation watershed we work with Parks Canada. The large dams on Balsam, Cameron, Sturgeon, Pigeon Lake and Lake Scugog that regulate those lakes' levels are all owned and operated by the TSW. The agency also oversees the small dams on the Burnt and Gull Rivers and its tributaries.
In our flood forecasting and warning operations we work very closely with our partners to provide accurate and timely forecasts.
Monitoring network
To predict flooding we watch rivers and lakes, ground conditions and weather across the watershed 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Our monitoring network includes water level gauges, precipitation and other weather parameters gauges and snow courses. For weather forecast we use information from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The monitoring network across the watershed includes:
Five streamflow gauges
Five lake water level gauges
Five rainfall gauges
Three total precipitation locations, measuring snow, rain and mixed precipitation
Four snow courses
To see the available data, visit Watershed Monitoring page.
There are two types of Watershed Conditions Statements: Water Safety and Flood Outlook.
Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety
A Water Safety message implies the unsafe conditions on the local watercourses. High flows, unsafe banks, melting ice, or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook
A Flood Outlook message is an early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for:
Heavy rain
Snow melt
Other conditions that could lead to high runoff, ice jams, lakeshore flooding, or erosion
A Flood Watch warns that flooding is possible. Municipalities, emergency services, and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare. A Flood Watch may be issued for specific waterbodies or municipalities.
A Flood Warning advises that flooding is imminent or already occurring. A Flood Warning may be issued for specific waterbodies or municipalities.