Message #2020-07
Issued: 11:30 a.m., Wednesday January 22, 2020
Subject: FLOOD WARNING – UPDATE issued for Otonabee River
Issued to: Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills, and Otonabee Conservation’s other partners in flood emergency management.
This FLOOD WARNING – UPDATE is issued to provide municipalities, residents and businesses an update to the flooding that is occurring on the Otonabee River. In addition, residents and businesses located on the shoreline of the Kawartha Lakes and Rice Lake are experiencing unseasonably high water levels, but no flooding is expected.
Despite water levels on the Kawartha Lakes being unseasonably high, the Trent-Severn Waterway has decreased the outflows from the Kawartha Lakes into the Otonabee River. Reduced flows combined with the milder air temperatures are resulting in more favourable conditions on the Otonabee River, and as a result, flood waters on the Otonabee River below Lock #19 (Lansdowne Street) have declined over the past 24 hours, albeit by only 20 centimeters.
However, a 20 centimeter decline during the past 24 hours does not mean that the Otonabee River will continue to decline. It is possible that the water could hold steady at its current level or inversely, could begin to climb. Therefore, residents and businesses along the shores of the Otonabee River are strongly encouraged to remain vigilant in monitoring conditions, take action to protect themselves, and limit or prevent damages; the risk of further flooding still persists.
To obtain information regarding water levels and operations along the Trent-Severn Waterway, please refer to the Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet available at: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/info/infonet/niveau-eau-water-levels .
Also, water level and flow data for the Ouse, Indian and Otonabee River watersheds can be viewed on-line via the Water Survey of Canada website available at: https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/search/real_time_e.html
All residents should keep SAFE by Staying Away From the Edge of all area waterbodies and watercourses.
Otonabee Conservation staff will continue to monitor conditions.
This FLOOD WARNING –UPDATE will remain in effect until, or be updated before, FRIDAY, January 24, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
-30-
Gord Earle | Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x 214
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9
orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com | Flood Watch Hotline 705-745-5791 x 228