KAWARTHA LAKES-Kawartha Conservation has issued a Water Safety statement that will be in effect or updated before Friday March 11.
Officials say no flooding problems are expected at this time, but Kawartha Conservation will continue monitoring local watercourses and notify the public and municipalities within its watershed jurisdiction of any changes.
The warm weather on Sunday significantly reduced the snowpack around the Kawartha Conservation watershed, producing a substantial runoff. Responding to the runoff, water levels in local rivers and streams increased sharply. However, as the air temperature cooled to the below freezing mark the snowmelt and, consequently, runoff subsided considerably. As a result, all local watercourses peaked overnight, below the flooding thresholds. Some overland flooding in areas with poor drainage has been observed.
Ice cover on the rivers and streams within the Kawartha Conservation jurisdiction has melted or is deteriorating very quickly and is extremely unsafe. The large Kawartha Lakes remain frozen, but ice conditions should be considered extremely dangerous.
In these circumstances, all local rivers, streams, ditches and lakes will remain extremely dangerous. Riverbanks are slippery and unsafe. Water levels are high, stream currents are strong, and temperatures dangerously cold.
Kawartha Conservation is warning all residents to stay away from water bodies, as well as water structures such as bridges, culverts, and dams. Children should be warned of dangerous conditions, and caregivers should maintain a close watch on children who are outside.
