Watershed Conditions Statements
March 06, 2019
With High Snowpack, Be Prepared for Spring Flooding Across the Rideau Valley Watershed
March 6, 2019 – The winter of 2018-19 has been an old-fashioned winter with lots of snow (over 250 cm to-date) and no significant thaw events. As such, the snowpack throughout the Rideau Valley Watershed is well above average. Current conditions at several RVCA snow course sites are indicating near record water content amounts in the snow for this time of year, generally not seen since the late 1970s. Based solely on the fact we have above average water content, there is a potential for above average flooding this spring across the Rideau Valley Watershed, especially in low lying areas…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
January 21, 2019 — The current very cold weather and large snow storm yesterday is creating some localized ice jams which can cause significant fluctuations in water levels as ice builds and releases. More specifically, the RVCA has received reports of ice jams in the Tay River at Port Elmsley which is causing flooding of some residential properties. There may be other areas as well where ice jams have formed and are causing localized flooding, especially along the Tay River. Since ice jams can form anywhere that there is open water, it is difficult to predict where or when they can…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
December 20, 2018
Heavy Rains will lead to Unsafe Conditions on Rivers and Lakes Throughout Rideau Watershed
December 20, 2018 — A significant weather system is expected to cross through our area over the next two days. Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting up to 40 mm of rain starting tonight, Thursday, December 20 through Friday, December 21. The forecast calls for above freezing temperatures during the day on Friday. Water levels across the Rideau Valley watershed are generally normal to slightly below normal and the amount of snow cover is slightly below normal for this time of year. The forecasted heavy rain and warm air temperatures are expected to melt most of the snow on…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
December 05, 2018
“Normal” Water Levels in Rideau River Watershed
December 5, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed is returned to “Normal” including the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed. Precipitation over the last month has brought stream flows up to historical averages throughout the Rideau watershed. Runoff from the rain and snowmelt caused levels to rise late in November. The impacts of low flows experienced throughout 2018, particularly in the Kemptville Creek subwatershed, will not be known until next spring. With inflows well below normal, fish and other inhabitants of the creek struggled to survive in the intermittent ponds left by the…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
September 28, 2018
Low Water Status Update in Rideau River Watershed
September 27, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed has returned to “Normal” except for the Kemptville Creek subwatershed which is at “Minor” Severity, down from “Moderate” Severity. Rain over the last week pushed totals above what is normal for the time of year at most climate monitoring sites in the region. The forecast is indicating more rainfall next week that will begin to restore streamflows to historical averages. The exception is at the Environment Canada site in Kemptville which has a 90 day total at 67% of normal, well below…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
September 13, 2018
Low Water Status Update in Rideau River Watershed (Sept. 14)
September 14, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed is still at “Minor” Severity except for the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed which continues to be “Moderate” Severity. The overall watershed 30 day rainfall is at 72% of normal for the time of year. The 30 day rain measured at Kemptville College is at 42%. Rainfall is slightly higher in the headwater areas of Kemptville Creek but most appears to have infiltrated into the ground, rather than into the Creek, with flows just 1.3% of normal. Aquatic species will be increasingly stressed…
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Watershed Conditions Statements