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Ottawa South residents and guests can enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of nature along the newly upgraded Chapman Mills Conservation Area trails and boardwalk. Dignitaries and special guests gathered at the site today to celebrate and help with the installation of the final pieces of wooden boardwalk. Owned by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), Chapman Mills is an exceptional example of conservation parkland with river shoreline, wetland and flood plain areas that are unique and vital to our local community. “Chapman Mills is one of Ottawa’s most ecologically significant natural areas,” said Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) Chair…
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October 30, 2017
Minor Flooding of Low-Lying Areas the Result of Heavy Rains
Rainfall over the last three days from 70 to 100 millimetres has caused water levels typically seen in the spring in the Rideau watershed. Flows rose dramatically from what they were going into the weekend after very little rain through September and most of October. Operation of the Long Island Dam by Parks Canada staff slowed the increase of levels on the Long Reach. However, access roads to communities on the Rideau near Kemptville may still be threatened as the water from upstream passes through the system. In Perth in the Tay Subwatershed, flooding has so far been limited to…
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November 02, 2017
Latest Forecast Rain Expected to Raise Levels Again
Water levels that were already high from rain on Sunday and Monday are expected to increase again if rain forecast for Thursday and Friday falls on the Rideau River watershed. About 12 millimetres (mm) of rain fell overnight and as much as 40 mm more is expected. This could cause flows in the Rideau below Mooneys Bay to increase to about 320 cubic metres per second. While not an issue in the lower sections of the system, such flows typically mean flooding of low-lying areas on the Long Reach, the section of the river between Manotick and Burritts Rapids,…
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November 03, 2017
More Rain Forecast for Sunday
November 3, 2017 – Rain forecast for Sunday could raise water levels again. In the order of 25 to 30 millimetres of rain fell on the Rideau watershed yesterday and this morning, less than was forecast. The rain was not enough to raise water levels significantly. Rain now forecast for Sunday has the potential to be enough to raise the already elevated flows. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry meteorologists have forecast 10 to 25 mm of rain on Sunday which could increase to a total of 40 to 75 mm if thunderstorms occur on Sunday night. The result could…
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January 12, 2018 – With unusually warm temperatures melting much of the snow cover, water levels are rising throughout the Rideau watershed bringing on unstable ice conditions. Levels can be expected to continue to rise through the day until a forecast rapid freeze occurs mid-afternoon. In faster flowing stream sections, ice has broken up and been moved downstream and there is the potential for ice jamming that could cause localized high water situations. On lakes and flat stream sections, the ice will have been lifted by the increased water levels and have meltwater ponded on the surface. As temperatures drop,…
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January 18, 2018
Water Safety: Another January Thaw Brings Unsafe Conditions on Rivers and Lakes Throughout Rideau Watershed
January 18, 2018 – Temperatures around the freezing point through the weekend and rain early next week will once again cause the loss of much of the snow cover and unstable ice conditions in the Rideau Valley. As the snowmelt and rain runoff moves through the Rideau system, the ice cover will be shifting and, in some places, breaking up. Water can be expected to pond on top of the ice. Going on ice covered water bodies is not advisable for the next several days. Slightly more snow on the ground in the upper watershed west of Smiths Falls and more…
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March 29, 2018
Below Average Spring Freshet Expected
March 29, 2018 – Barring a rain event not presently in weather forecasts, it is appearing that the spring freshet of 2018 in the Rideau valley may have already occurred on March 2 as a result of the above normal temperatures in the latter half of February that removed all of the snow. The snow that fell after the early March thaw, has gradually declined over the month with several sunny days and above freezing daily temperatures. With little snow and minor rainfall forecast, there is not expected to be enough runoff to cause significant increases in water levels in…
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April 03, 2018
Flows in Rideau Valley to Fluctuate from Latest Weather
April 3, 2018 – Rain in the order of 20 millimetres is forecast for today and into the night that will cause water levels throughout the Rideau valley to increase beyond levels reached after rain on Saturday. How much levels increase will be limited by dropping temperatures and the changeover from rain to freezing rain or snow overnight and tomorrow. Peak flows from this weather are still expected to be less than average for the spring freshet. These may not be the actual freshet maximum flows. The Long Reach of the Rideau River, between Manotick and Kemptville, could have levels…
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March 09, 2018
Spring Outlook
March 9, 2018 –The winter of 2017-18 has been one of wide variations and periods of record cold. First snow on the ground to start this winter was relatively early at the beginning of November but little more fell until after December 28 followed by the onset of the record cold temperatures including -30 degrees on January 1. After ten days of frigid temperatures, a few days of warm temperatures reduced the snow cover significantly. That warm spell ended with a flash freeze. Precipitation in all its forms and widely varying temperatures continued through January into mid-February. Since February 19,…
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April 11, 2018 – A weather system out of the mid-west U.S. has the potential to bring several forms of precipitation in significant amounts in to eastern Canada over the next week. Snow, rain and freezing rain may fall beginning tonight with showers or flurries. Tomorrow, rain is forecast to fall through the afternoon. Rain is expected to begin again late on Friday morning and continue into Saturday, changing to snow in the early morning finishing with as much as 20 centimetres. Rain is presently expected to resume on Sunday and continue into Monday. If the full amount of forecast…
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April 18, 2018
Long Reach of Rideau River at Risk of Access Flooding
April 18, 2018 – The snow and ice accumulation over the last several days raises the possibility of flooding in parts of the Rideau system as warmer conditions arrive on Friday. Rain and some melting has caused streamflows to increase throughout the watershed. Daytime temperatures above 10 degrees through the coming weekend and into next week can be expected to melt the remaining snow and ice. There is the potential for this meltwater to cause access issues in the low-lying communities on the Long Reach of the Rideau between Kars and Kemptville. Tributary streams such as Stevens and Cranberry Creeks…
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April 24, 2018
More Rain Expected to Raise Water Levels Again
April 24, 2018 – Water levels are expected to rise again in the Rideau River watershed as a result of meltwater from the last of the snow, flow from thawing soil and rain forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. Daytime temperatures are expected to approach 20 degrees over the rest of the week and stay above freezing at night. This will cause the remaining snow in the upper watershed to melt and, along with thawing water from the soil, begin to work its way down through the system. Rain in the order of 20 to 30 millimetres is forecast for the…
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April 28, 2018
Lakes in Upper Rideau Watershed Reaching Flood Level
April 28, 2018 – This message is specific to Bobs and Christie Lakes but may apply to other lakes in the area where remotely accessible monitoring equipment is not installed. Property owners are advised to go to their cottage properties and assess conditions for themselves. Rain overnight has caused levels on Bobs and Christie Lakes to increase to flood levels. Additional rain forecast for today (Saturday) and Sunday will cause further increases. Some relief is expected on Monday and Tuesday. More rain is forecast for later in the week that will slow the decline on both lakes. Levels of Bobs…
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April 30, 2018 – This message is to update the status of flood conditions in the Rideau River watershed. No flooding is expected in the lower reaches of the system downstream of Smiths Falls although water levels can be expected to increase with rain forecast over the latter half of this week. Bobs and Christie Lakes continue to be at risk for flooding. Higher levels on Christie Lake in particular can be expected as necessary releases are made to control levels on Bobs. No rain today or Tuesday will help but, if rain forecast for Wednesday and beyond is received,…
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