Flood Watch for the Trent Severn-Waterway

The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority has issued a Flood Watch for the Trent Severn-Waterway
Watershed Area. 

In the Haliburton-Reservoir Lakes region of the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW), recent above freezing temperatures and precipitation generated substantial run-off to the watercourses that flow south into the Kawartha Lakes. Currently, the snowpack across the Haliburton-Reservoir region is above average for this time of year and has reduced capacity to absorb further snowmelt or rainfall.

Increased flows from the Haliburton-Reservoir Lakes region is causing water levels and flows on the Kawartha Lakes and Otonabee River to increase. As a result, there is potential for nuisance to minor-level flooding of low-lying, flood vulnerable areas on the shores of the Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River, starting this week and continuing through next week. Changing water levels and flows on the Kawartha Lakes may cause the ice cover to break up.

Local watercourses continue to flow at hazardously high levels and flows, but flooding of local watercourses is not expected and a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will remain in effect.

Municipalities, Indigenous communities, local water managers, and Otonabee Conservation’s other partners in flood emergency management are advised to monitor conditions and prepare for potential flooding along the Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River within the jurisdiction of Otonabee Conservation.

Water levels can be monitored at Trent-Severn Waterway, Water Survey of Canada and Otonabee Conservation websites.

This Flood Watch message will expire Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 3:00p.m. unless up-dated earlier.

For more information please contact:
Neil MacFarlane | Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x 231
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9
orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com