Displaying items by tag: media

An unusually warm string of temperatures that are forecast to continue through next week are rapidly reducing the snowpack. Flows in all watercourses have increased significantly over the last two days. This increase will continue through the weekend until the snow cover is gone on Sunday night. Further increases in water levels will depend on whether or not the 10 to 20 millimetres of rain presently forecast for Monday to Wednesday occurs and when it falls.

The impact of the melt and rain is expected to be a peak flow on March 17 in the order of 280 cubic metres per second as measured at the streamgauge at Carleton University. Such a flow is below average and not expected to cause flooding of any more than lowest lying areas along the streams and rivers in the watershed.

A mix of precipitation forecast for tonight through to Thursday can be expected to cause some increase in levels in in all watercourses throughout the Rideau River Valley.

It is unclear what will be the predominant form of precipitation that will fall over the next two days. If it is mainly rain, much of that will be retained in the snowpack but some runoff can be expected to occur and water levels will increase on all watercourses.

Brewer Park Pond Restoration Project has received the Top Canadian Fishing Industry Conservation Project Award for 2015. This award, presented at the Spring Fishing and Boat Show at the International Centre in Mississauga, ON is determined by a vote of the members of the Canadian Angling Hall of Fame.

For Muskies Canada (Ottawa Chapter) and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), this is the second year in a row where one of their partnership projects has received recognition. In 2014, the partners were recognized for work to create nursery and feeding habitat for fish along the Jock River in Richmond.

After waiting for so long for snow to arrive, above freezing temperatures and rain forecast for tomorrow and Sunday can be expected to reduce the snow cover and cause increased water levels and flows in the Rideau watershed.

Water levels on lakes and flows in watercourses are close to normal for the time of year. However, as conditions change through this thaw period, levels will increase and ice on lakes, ditches, local streams and rivers that had just begun to form will become more unstable posing potential safety risks. Caution should be exercised by everyone when near local streams and rivers. Parents should inform their children of the risks associated with increased flows and unstable ice conditions in area watercourses and provide appropriate supervision. An extended period of cold temperatures is needed for a stable ice cover to form.

With a definite declining trend of the water levels of Bobs Lake and Christie Lake, the Flood Watch that has been in effect specific to those lakes since April 11 is now cancelled.

With little precipitation over the last two weeks and, therefore, declining inflow to contend with, Parks Canada staff have been able to gradually bring the levels of both lakes back down to target operating ranges.

Water levels in the rest of the watershed are also decreasing and are close to averages for the time of year. However, the water is still relatively high and is cold. Caution is advised for anyone who has reason to be around water and children need to be warned of the risks.

RVCA will continue to monitor conditions and will issue further statements when or if there is an indication that conditions can be expected to change significantly.