WATERSHED UPDATE – MARCH 3, 2021
- Generally, snow depth and water content conditions for this time of year are below normal. Water content variances are 25% to 55% below normal through the entire Upper Mattagami Watershed.
- Current forecasts over the coming week show daytime temperatures ranging from -11°C to +5°C over the next 5 to 7 days with no major weather systems expected.
- Winter drawdown of Mesomikenda, Mattagami Lake, and Peter Long are ongoing. The dams are currently set up to continue drawdown until refilling begins in April. Higher than normal inflows earlier in the winter have transitioned to relatively normal values at current. Wawaitin will be passing inflows until March 15th.
- The enclosed portions of Town Creek and Crawford Creek are being closely watched by Authority and municipal staff.
- The Authority’s Flood Contingency Plan 2021 was distributed to watershed stakeholders in late February.
The next update will be issued on or about March 16.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Conservation Authority at 360-2660 or via email at [email protected].
See our Upper Mattagami River Watershed Statistics page to download the current watershed statistics and for the full list of reports for 2021.
The information contained in this update has been gathered by Ontario Power Generation, the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry and the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority. The summary highlights dam operations and storages as well as snow depth and water content in comparison to historical norms. Watershed surveys will be conducted on the 1st and 15th of each month until the snow cover has disappeared. Updates will be issued until such time any flood threat has passed.