Rideau Canal - Water Level Management Update – March 27, 2025

Rideau Canal - Water Level Management Update – March 27, 2025

Parks Canada's water management team continues to actively monitor water levels, flows, and weather forecasts across the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada. These factors are used to determine dam operations on a daily basis for the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada.

Parks Canada maintains the Ontario Waterways Water Management InfoNet on the Rideau Canal website at https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/rideau/info/infonet.

The InfoNet provides background information on water management practices, updates on water management, frequently asked questions about water management, various reports on water management, and the most recent water levels of lakes along both the Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway. The information comes from hydrometric gauges located at key points along both waterways and is vetted by trained and experienced Parks Canada water management staff.

This information is intended as supplemental information only. Your respective Conservation Authority continues to serve as the primary source for relevant flood forecasting information specific to your area. These are the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the Cataraqui Conservation Authority.

Weather

The five-day forecast suggests a significant event with 50-65 mm of rainfall starting Friday.

Outlook

With the onset of the early snowmelt and the significant amount of rain received during the past 2 weeks, coupled with significant amounts of rain in the forecast, flows and water levels are expected to continue to increase at all locations as the impacts of the rain work their way through the system. The Rideau Canal Water Management team will be active, and the changing conditions will be closely monitored. Any watershed conditions updates will be released by your Conservation Authority. 

Cataraqui River

Lakes are above average and expected to increase.

Tay River

Bobs Lake and Christie Lake levels are above average for this time of year. The levels on both lakes will continue to be closely monitored. Flows on the lower Tay River will likely increase.

Rideau River

Wolfe Lake, Upper Rideau Lake, and Big Rideau Lake levels are above average and expected to increase. All the river reaches from Smith Falls to Burritts Rapids are above seasonal levels due to recent snowmelt, and with a high amount of received rain and high flows and are expected to increase. Levels on the Long Reach are above full and are expected to increase. The flows in the Rideau River are expected to increase and remain high.