Category: News Releases
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety (Event Message #1)
April 2, 2026The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is issuing a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety for the entire watershed.
A series of low-pressure systems are forecast to move across southern Ontario beginning today and continuing through the weekend, bringing approximately 20–40 mm of rainfall to the watershed. Rainfall beginning today is expected to be relatively light, with the most significant precipitation forecast on Saturday, when approximately 15–25 mm of rainfall may occur. Additional scattered precipitation may occur Sunday into early next week. Air temperatures are expected to remain above freezing during the rainfall period.
Current water levels and flows across the watershed are near seasonal levels and generally stable. However, rainfall combined with saturated ground conditions may generate runoff and increase water levels in local watercourses. Localized flooding and ponding of water in low-lying and poorly drained areas is possible, particularly during periods of heavier rainfall on Saturday.
At this time, widespread flooding is not anticipated; however, water levels and flows are expected to increase through the weekend. Municipal staff and landowners in historically flood-prone areas are encouraged to monitor conditions closely.
People are warned to stay away from ditches, water bodies, streams, rivers, and ponds, as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Landowners are also advised to ensure that dams, culverts, and catch basins are free from debris and functioning properly, if the work can be done safely.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will remain in effect until 12:00 PM Monday, April 6, 2026. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed and weather conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Saifur Rahman, Manager, Engineering & Infrastructure, at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or (519) 842-4242, Ext. 265, should further information be required.
Note:
Water Safety Statement — High flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreationalists, children and pets. Flooding is not expected.
BACKHOUSE GRIST MILL COMPETING IN NATIONAL COMPETITION: THE NEXT GREAT SAVE
March 31, 2026Media Release
March 31, 2026
PORT ROWAN, ON — The Backhouse Grist Mill has been selected to compete in The Next Great Save, a national competition ran by the National Trust for Canada, after applying to participate at the beginning of the year. The competition focuses on the meaningful preservation of historic sites and heritage places with $65,000 in cash prizes available to protect, adapt, renew, or improve heritage places.
The Backhouse Grist Mill will be competing alongside 11 other historic sites across Canada for the grand prize of $50,000. It was revealed through an architectural and structural assessment that the Mill is experiencing structural safety issues and unfortunately will not be able to open for the 2026 season. Winning the Next Great Save would directly fund the first major steps needed to save the Mill: a comprehensive engineering report, temporary structural shoring, and drainage improvements. These actions must happen before any further restoration can begin. A vote for Backhouse is a vote for real, immediate, shovel‑ready impact.
The competition begins on April 7th, 2026, and ends on April 24th, 2026. You can vote for the Mill once a day, every day during this time period. Help us lead the Mill to victory!
Associated Links
https://nextgreatsave.us.launchpad6.com/NextGreatSave2026/grist-mill
12 Finalists Named in National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save Competition to Restore Historic Places Across Canada
Contacts
Jessica King
Social Media & Marketing Associate
519-842-4242 ext.227
jking@lprca.on.ca
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety (Extended) (Event Message #3)
March 13, 2026The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is extending the Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety for the entire watershed as elevated stream flows continue following recent precipitation and snowmelt.
No flooding is currently anticipated; however, water levels and flows in local rivers and streams remain high.
Residents are advised to exercise caution and stay away from ditches, water bodies, streams, rivers, and ponds. Slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water can create dangerous conditions.
Landowners are also advised to ensure that dams, culverts, and catch basins are free from debris and functioning properly, provided the work can be completed safely.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will remain in effect until 12:00 PM Monday, March 16, 2026. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed and weather conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Saifur Rahman, Manager, Engineering & Infrastructure, at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or (519) 842-4242, Ext.265, should further information be required.
Note:
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety: a message issued by the Conservation Authority to advise municipal flood coordinators and watershed residents that high flows, unsafe banks, melting ice, or other factors may create dangerous conditions for recreational users, children, and pets. Flooding is not expected.
Flood Watch Termination (Event Message #2)
March 9, 2026The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is terminating the Flood Watch for the Big Otter Watershed and maintaining a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety for the entire watershed.
Stream flows are expected to remain high for the next few days, and people are warned to stay away from ditches, water bodies, streams, rivers, and ponds, as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Landowners are also advised to ensure that dams, culverts, and catch basins are free from debris and functioning properly, if the work can be done safely.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will remain in effect until 12:00 PM Friday, March 13, 2026. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed and weather conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Paul Gagnon, Lands & Waters Supervisor, at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or (519) 842-4242, Ext.232, should further information be required.
Note:
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety Statement: a message issued by the Conservation Authority to advise municipal flood coordinators and watershed residents that unsafe lake, river and channel conditions may develop or exist.
Flood Watch & Water Safety (Event Message #1)
March 6, 2026The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is issuing a Flood Watch for the Big Otter Watershed and a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety for the rest of the watershed.
The first of a series of low-pressure systems has moved across southern Ontario bringing above freezing temperatures and approximately 17 mm of precipitation to the watershed.
The last snow survey showed approximately 22.4 mm of snow water equivalent which has begun to melt. The melting snow pack and recent precipitation is generating runoff and increasing water levels in local watercourses. Localized flooding and ponding of water in low-lying and poorly drained areas are also occurring.
Above seasonal temperatures are expected to continue along with additional precipitation. The majority of the snow pack is expected to melt over the weekend, further elevating watercourses.
Stream flows are expected to increase over the next few days, and people are warned to stay away from ditches, water bodies, streams, rivers, and ponds, as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Landowners are also advised to ensure that dams, culverts, and catch basins are free from debris and functioning properly, if the work can be done safely.
This Flood Watch & Water Safety Statement will remain in effect until 12:00 PM Monday, March 9, 2026. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed and weather conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Paul Gagnon, Lands & Waters Supervisor, at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or (519) 842-4242, Ext.232, should further information be required.
Note:
Flood Watch: A message issued by the Conservation Authority to advise flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipal flood coordinators, emergency services and individual landowners in flood prone areas should prepare.
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety (Event Message #2)
February 20, 2026The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is updating the Flood Outlook for its entire watershed, to a Water Safety.
A series of low-pressure systems have moved across southern Ontario bringing above freezing temperatures and approximately 15 mm of precipitation to the watershed.
The existing snow pack has absorbed most of the precipitation, and began to melt, generating runoff and increased water levels in local watercourses. Localized flooding and ponding of water in low-lying and poorly drained areas are also occurring.
River ice has begun to degrade but remains largely in place across much of the watershed. With the rising flows and mild temperatures, ice cover will continue to weaken. While no ice-related impacts are currently observed, ice movement and localized jamming remain possible, particularly in areas with a history of ice jams. The Big Otter Creek in Vienna, Port Burwell and the mouth of Sandusk Creek are high-risk areas should ice jams occur.
Stream flows are expected to increase over the next few days, and people are warned to stay away from ditches, water bodies, streams, rivers, and ponds, as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Landowners are also advised to ensure that dams, culverts, and catch basins are free from debris and functioning properly, if the work can be done safely.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will remain in effect until 12:00 PM Monday, February 23, 2026. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed and weather conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Paul Gagnon, Lands & Waters Supervisor, at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or (519) 842-4242, Ext.232, should further information be required.
Note:
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety Statement: A message issued by the Conservation Authority to advise municipal flood coordinators and watershed residents of high flows, unsafe banks, melting ice, or other factors that could pose dangers to recreationalists, children, and pets. Flooding is not expected.
Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook (Event Message #1)
February 17, 2026The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is issuing a Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook for the entire watershed.
A low-pressure system is forecast to move across southern Ontario beginning tonight and continuing through Wednesday, bringing approximately 15–25 mm of precipitation to the watershed. Air temperatures are expected to remain near or slightly above freezing during this period.
Snowpack remains present across the watershed and has begun to consolidate with recent milder temperatures. The combination of rainfall and snowmelt is expected to generate runoff and increase water levels and flows in local watercourses. Localized flooding and ponding of water in low-lying and poorly drained areas is possible.
River ice remains in place across much of the watershed. With rising flows and milder temperatures, ice cover may weaken and begin to break up. While no ice-related impacts are currently observed, ice movement and localized jamming remain possible, particularly in areas with a history of ice jams. The Big Otter Creek in Vienna, Port Burwell and the mouth of Sandusk Creek are high-risk areas should ice jams occur.
At this time, widespread flooding is not anticipated; however, water levels and flows are expected to increase through Wednesday into Thursday. Municipal staff and landowners in historically flood-prone or ice-jam-prone areas are encouraged to monitor conditions closely.
People are warned to stay away from ditches, water bodies, streams, rivers, and ponds, as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Landowners are also advised to ensure that dams, culverts, and catch basins are free from debris and functioning properly, if the work can be done safely.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook will remain in effect until 12:00 PM Friday, February 20, 2026. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed and weather conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Saifur Rahman, Manager, Engineering & Infrastructure, at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or (519) 842-4242, Ext.265, should further information be required.
Note:
Flood Outlook Statement — Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snowmelt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, a rise in Lake Erie, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety (Event Message #1)
January 9, 2026The Long Point Region Conservation Authority is issuing a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety for the entire watershed.
Over the past few days the watershed has received close to 20 mm of rain. In the past 24 hours we received significantly less precipitation than the forecasted 10 to 15 mm. Much of the existing snow pack has melted and the forecasted above seasonal temperatures in combination with the minimal forecasted precipitation is not expected to cause flooding, but watercourses will rise, and water will pool in low lying areas.
People are warned to stay away from ditches, water bodies, streams, rivers, and ponds, as the combination of slippery banks and cold, fast-flowing water is dangerous. Landowners are also advised to ensure that dams, culverts, and catch basins are free from debris and functioning properly, if the work can be done safely.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will remain in effect until 12:00 PM, Monday, January 12, 2026. LPRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed conditions and will update this message as necessary.
Contact Paul Gagnon, Lands & Waters Supervisor, at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or (519) 842-4242, Ext.232, should further information be required.
Note:
Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety Statement: A message issued by the Conservation Authority to advise municipal flood coordinators and watershed residents of high flows, unsafe banks, melting ice, or other factors that could pose dangers to recreationalists, children, and pets. Flooding is not expected.
Lake Erie Shoreline – Flood Watch(Event Message #2)
December 29, 2025The Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is upgrading the Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook to a Flood Watch for the Lake Erie shoreline within its jurisdiction. This includes the Municipality of Bayham, Norfolk County, and western Haldimand County.
The Ministry of Natural Resources Surface Water Monitoring Centre is currently forecasting a storm surge, with water levels at Port Colborne expected to reach 2.18 m (175.68 m IGLD) between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm this morning. Water levels at Long Point are expected to peak at 1.49 m (174.99 IGLD). Waves ranging from 1.87 to 3 m are also predicted for the Lake Erie shoreline during this event.
Haldimand County residents and businesses within LPRCA’s watershed should be aware flooding could reach Lake Erie Flood Stage 1. The public is advised to familiarize themselves with the flood warning zone mapping on the Haldimand County website; Lake Erie Flood Zones in Haldimand County (arcgis.com)
Norfolk County residents and businesses within LPRCA’s watershed should be aware flooding could reach Lake Erie Flood Stage 0. The public is advised to familiarize themselves with the flood warning zone mapping on the Norfolk County website; http://www.norfolkcounty.ca/living/flooding/norfolk-county-flood-mapping/
Community flood coordinators are asked to monitor conditions along the lakeshore and should be prepared to warn affected residents and businesses within the affected flood stages areas, as noted above.
Residents are urged to use caution and stay away 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 forecasts and watershed conditions, and will provide updates to this message as necessary.
This Flood Watch is in effect until noon, December 30, 2025.
Contact LPRCA at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or 519-842-4242 ext. 232 should further information be required.
Flood Watch: A message issued by the Conservation Authority to advise flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipal flood coordinators, emergency services and individual landowners in flood prone areas should prepare.
Watershed Conditions Statement – Riverine & Shoreline Flood Outlook(Event Message #1)
December 28, 2025The Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is issuing a Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook for the entire watershed, including the Lake Erie shoreline within its jurisdiction.
A low pressure system is expected to pass through the watershed, bringing a significant amount of precipitation and high winds on Sunday and Monday. Above freezing temperatures and 20 to 40 mm of rain is expected on Sunday, followed by strong southwest winds on Monday morning. The forecasted precipitation combined with the existing snow and ice will elevate water levels in local watercourses and low lying areas.
Behind the departing low-pressure system on Monday, strong sustained southwest winds of 50–60 km/h gusting at 80-100km/h are expected, and will elevate Lake Erie water levels, especially in Haldimand County.
Residents are urged to exercise caution and avoid watercourses, and areas along the Lake Erie shoreline experiencing strong wave action and elevated water levels. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from these areas. Community flood coordinators are asked to monitor flood prone areas throughout the watershed, and road conditions along the lakeshore closely.
LPRCA staff will continue to monitor forecasts and watershed conditions, and will provide updates to this message as necessary.
This Watershed Conditions Statement is in effect until noon, December 30, 2025.
Contact LPRCA at lprca.floodmessage@lprca.on.ca or 519-842-4242 ext. 232 should further information be required.
Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook: Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snowmelt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, a rise in Lake Erie, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
