Watershed Safety Statement issued March 13, 2025

Message # 2025-05
Issued: 12:00 pm., Thursday March 13, 2025

Watershed Safety Statement - Issued to municipalities and Indigenous communities for all lakes and rivers throughout the jurisdiction of Otonabee Conservation. 

Otonabee Conservation has issued a Water Safety Statement in anticipation of the upcoming warm temperatures and expected rainfall this weekend. Residents should maintain safety precautions around all watercourses. However, flooding is not expected.

Weather: Starting Friday, March 14, the region will experience 2-3 days of continuous snowmelt with daytime air temperatures reaching 10-14 degrees. This above-normal warmth will be accompanied by 10-20 millimeters of rain on Saturday and Sunday.

Spring Preparation and Safety Tips:

• Monitor water levels and flows at Trent-Severn Waterway, Water Survey of Canada and Otonabee Conservation websites.
• Keep people and pets away from the edges of all bodies of water. Water edges can be slippery and unstable due to snowmelt and erosion.
• Avoid all recreational activities in, on or around water.
• Do not attempt to walk on ice-covered waterbodies.
• Do not attempt to rescue any persons or pets from icy water. If you see a person or pet that has fallen through the ice, call 911 immediately.

For more information on Flooding and Forecasting procedures by Otonabee Conservation visit our Water and Levels and Flooding page. To receive flood messages directly, please subscribe on our website.

This Watershed Safety Statement message will expire Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, unless up-dated earlier.

Neil MacFarlane | Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x EXT 231

250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9 | orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com

Note: A Water Safety Statement may be issued when there are high flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for recreational users.