Low water warning for Nottawasaga Valley watershed

By Ian Adams Wasaga Sun
Georgian Bay may be at its highest point in two decades, but the flow in the rivers and streams that feed it has dropped.

On Monday, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority issued a Level 1 low water condition for the Nottawasaga River watershed.

The conservation authority cited low precipitation and stream flows within the watershed as the reason.

According to the NVCA, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has established thresholds that define low water conditions.

Peter Alm, a water resource engineer with the conservation authority, said the NVCA uses flow and precipitation data at several stations to determine whether the low water thresholds are met.

That includes the Pretty River in Collingwood, he said, with the gauge showing that in June the river was significantly below the flow threshold for Level 1 low water conditions.

“This summer has been drier than normal so far and the flows we have seen are lower than usual for this time of year,” he said. “We did have similar low water conditions in the summer of 2012, but this summer has been the driest in a few years.”

There are four flow gauges in the Nottawasaga River, Alm said, and three upstream of Minesing Wetlands register as “somewhat below” the Level 1 low water threshold. All four gauges show the river flow is significantly below the average flow for this time of year.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, June marked the 14th straight month of record heat on the globe, and the 34th consecutive June with temperatures above the 20th century average.

The NVCA is now encouraging residents and other water users within the watershed to cut down on water use by 10 per cent, and municipalities are being asked to impose water restriction bylaws and encourage the implementation of water-saving measures.

If the Level I low water condition is lifted or upgraded to a Level II low water condition, an updated release will be published.

Clearview Township issued lawn and garden watering restrictions at the end of May for residents who draw water from a municipal drinking water system. Through June, July, and August, owners of even-numbered properties can only water on even-numbered days of the month, while the owners of odd-numbered properties can water on odd-numbered days.

Meanwhile the bay, part of Lake Huron, is nearly 30 cm above its long-term average