With precipitation below normal over the past three months, Level 1 Low Water (minor drought) conditions are now being experienced across the Lower Trent Conservation watershed region, an area stretching from Grafton to Quinte West, and from Lake Ontario to Rice Lake to south of Madoc.

The August to October (3-month) rainfall totals recorded by Environment Canada at Trenton was 164 millimetres, which is 67 percent of normal precipitation for this time of year (246 mm). A 3-month precipitation below 80 percent is the trigger for Level 1 Low Water. Monthly streamflow in our local creeks are varied as localized rainfall has led to of typical flows for the month of October with the exception of Hoards (Squires) Creek, which dropped below the Lowest Summer Month Average flows, which is another trigger for Level 1 Low Water.

Droughts can cause many severe impacts on the environment and communities including:

• Water shortages for human consumption, industrial, business and agriculture use
• Decline of water quality
• Increase in wildfires
• Increases in insect infestations and plant disease

The general recommendations/actions under the Ontario Low Water Response program manual for a level 1 Low Water condition is a voluntary 10% reduction in water use among all sectors. However, due to the time of the year, staff do not believe that this is a necessary action as we move into the winter months.

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and report new information as it becomes available. To learn more about Ontario’s Low Water Response program visit our website at www.LTC.on.ca. Residents can report any low water observations using the Low Water Reporting Form on our website.