Category: Low Water Status
Level 1 Low Water Advisory Issued
August 17, 2020LPRCA urges water conservation throughout the Long Point Region watershed.
Water users throughout the Long Point Region watershed are being asked to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 10 percent because of the unusually dry weather in recent months.
Based on the cumulative lack of rainfall since the beginning of May and lower than typical stream flow and groundwater levels in many areas, the Long Point Region Joint Low Water Response Team (WRT) is issuing a Level 1 Low Water Advisory for all areas of the Long Point Region watershed.
The local Low Water Response Team is made up of representatives from watershed municipalities, the local agricultural sector, other major water users, several provincial ministries and Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA). At a conference call last Thursday, the WRT noted the more northerly areas of LPRCA have been particularly dry this summer, having received only about 50-75% of average rainfall for this time of year over the past 90 days. Areas closer to the lake have generally seen amounts closer to normal.
In response, LPRCA encourages everyone to follow their municipal water use bylaws and to reduce non-essential uses of water.
Urban and rural residents can help by restricting water use, such as lawn watering and car washing; identifying and fixing leaks; and taking care to conserve water indoors.
Irrigators can reduce consumption and the impact on groundwater aquifers and watercourses by following best practices for irrigation, such as:
- Arranging with their neighbor to stagger irrigation times;
- Pumping at a lower rate over a longer period of time and store water in a pond if possible;
- Ensuring that their equipment is running efficiently and not leaking; and
- Minimizing daytime irrigation, or when windy, to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.
By following these and other best practices, residents in the Long Point Region proactively assist in minimizing the impacts of low water on aquatic ecosystems; conserving water supplies in the event conditions worsen; and hopefully limiting or reducing the need for stronger water restriction measures.
LPRCA will continue to monitor stream flow, groundwater levels and precipitation, and will provide updates as watershed conditions change.
Information on the Low Water Response Program is available on the LPRCA website.
For further information about watershed conditions contact LPRCA at 519-842-4242.
Flood Warning for Vienna; Lake Erie Flood Watch Termination (Event Message #3)
January 13, 2020Big Otter Creek
The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is upgrading to a Flood Warning for the Vienna area in the Big Otter Creek watershed.
Watercourse levels across LPRCA remain high and are running swiftly. In many cases watercourses are still exceeding their banks and flooding low-lying areas. Most watercourses appear to have peaked and are declining, however the lower parts of Big Otter Creek and Big Creek are still rising.
In Tillsonburg, water levels on Big Otter Creek have declined since peaking last evening. Further downstream, water levels continue to rise in the community of Vienna and are approaching Stage 1 flood levels. It is expected that water levels in Vienna will peak sometime between this afternoon and early morning tomorrow. Levels are expected to remain lower than the levels seen in February 2018. Bayham Flood Coordinators are requested to closely monitor conditions in Vienna and low-lying areas.
Lake Erie
The Flood Watch issued on Sunday, January 12, 2019 for the Lake Erie shoreline is being returned to the standing Watershed Conditions Statement – Lake Erie Flood Outlook.
Lake Erie water levels have receded since yesterday morning. Standing water, erosion, property damage and other impacts from yesterday continue to affect areas along the shoreline. Lake Erie static water levels are expected to remain very high over the coming months. High static water levels increase the risk of flooding when moderate to severe wind-driven surge events occur. Strong lakeshore surge events typically occur from fall through spring.
At this time, LPRCA reminds everyone to stay away from areas affected by recent shoreline flooding due to erosion, instability and other damage; and from all watercourses as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Parents are especially reminded to keep children away from these areas.
LPRCA staff will continue to monitor forecasted conditions and will update this message as necessary.
This Flood Warning for Vienna and Watershed Conditions Statement – Lake Erie Flood Outlook remain in effect until further notice.
Contact Craig Jacques at 519-842-4242 ext. 265 or 519-429-2738 should further information be required.
Riverine and Lake Erie Flood Watch (Event Message #2)
January 12, 2020Effective immediately, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority is upgrading to a Flood Watch for the Lake Erie shoreline and the Big Otter Creek watershed, including the Town of Tillsonburg.
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for tomorrow, forecasting strong southwesterly wind gusts up to 100 km/h mid to late Sunday morning, that are expected to ease by around mid-day. The strongest winds are expected across Lake Erie and along the shoreline.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is currently forecasting Lake Erie to rise on the lakeward side of Long Point by 0.3 meters above the current level to an elevation of 175.02 meters (IGLD 1985), and in the Port Colborne area 0.9 meters above the current level to an elevation of 175.6 meters (IGLD 1985). Strong winds are expected to cause wave heights to reach up to 2 meters in the Long Point area. However, NOAA’s forecast is currently calling for approximately 0.3-0.4 m higher levels at these locations.
With the uncertainty in the height of the Lake Erie surge, there is the possibility of minor to potentially significant impacts along low-lying areas of the Lake Erie shoreline and lower reaches of some tributaries, resulting in flooding, wave uprush and increased shoreline erosion. If the event reaches the higher range of the current forecasts, there may be similar impacts to the events seen on October 27th and November 27th of last fall.
Inland, approximately 25-55 mm of rain have fallen locally thus far, with higher amounts in the northern and western portions of the LPRCA. Nuisance flooding is expected in low lying and poorly drained areas. Specifically, Big Otter Creek is noted as rising quickly, and may cause some minor flooding, specifically in the Town of Tillsonburg.
Community flood coordinators are advised to prepare and monitor forecasts and stand by for further information.
People are urged to use caution or stay away from watercourses as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous; and also from Lake Erie shoreline areas experiencing strong wave action and elevated water levels. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from these areas.
LPRCA staff will continue to monitor forecasted conditions and will update this message as necessary.
This Flood Watch is in effect until noon, Monday, January 13th, 2020 or until further updated.
Contact Craig Jacques at 519-429-2738 should further information be required.