Water Safety Statement issued March 6, 2025

Message #2025-04

Issued: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 6, 2025

WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY issued to municipalities within the jurisdiction of Otonabee Conservation and for Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) and all local watercourses.

This Watershed Conditions Statement is being issued by Otonabee Conservation to remind residents and visitors of the potential dangers that exist around bodies of water. Slippery, unstable streambanks and fast flowing, cold water temperatures create extremely hazardous conditions close to waterbodies and watercourses. As well, all ice cover should be considered weak and extremely dangerous.

Currently there are currently no flooding concerns.

Otonabee Conservation’s watershed has received above-normal snowfall over the last several weeks, accompanied by rising temperatures, melting snow and rain. This has resulted in higher water levels, faster flow and ever weakening ice cover. 

​Spring safety tips for residents and visitors:

• Keep people and pets away from the edges of all bodies of water.
• Avoid all recreational activities in or around water, especially waterbodies with ice cover.
• Do not attempt to walk on or around ice-covered waterbodies. Riverbanks can become unstable due to snowmelt and erosion.
• Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads or fast-moving water.
• Rescuing anyone from icy water is dangerous. If you see a person or pet that has fallen through the ice, call 911 immediately.

Water levels can be monitored on-line at:

1)  Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet

2)    Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data 

3)    Otonabee Conservation website

This WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT-WATER SAFETY is effective immediately and will remain in effect until Wednesday March 19, 2025, unless updated earlier.

Neil MacFarlane| Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x 231
orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com

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