News

MARCH 24, 2020

The Mattagami Region Conservation Authority continues to closely monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and take steps to protect the health and safety of our staff and community.

Our office is closed until further notice. Staff are working remotely during this time and are monitoring emails. There is no voicemail access. If you wish to contact a staff member see our contact us page for email addresses. For general inquiries, or if you are unsure which person to contact, please email [email protected]. We are committed to providing the best possible service and will work with you through email to ensure your questions are answered.

Our essential services such as flood forecasting and monitoring will continue without interruption. We will also continue to review development and site alteration applications.

Trails and conservation areas will remain open to the public, however there will be limited maintenance until further notice. Trails in the Hersey Lake and Gillies Lake Conservation Areas will no longer be groomed. Please use discretion, as you are entering at your own risk. Washroom facilities are not to be used.

We remind all visitors that dogs MUST be on leashes in all conservation areas and on our trails. Be sure to properly dispose of pet waste. Please help keep conservation areas beautiful during this difficult period.

Do not use our conservation areas and trails for social gatherings of any kind. For the safety of our community, it is critical that we support global and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Ontario Ministry of Health currently (as of March 24) recommends “Everyone in Ontario should be practicing social distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. Everyone in Ontario should do their best to avoid close contact with people outside of their immediate families. Close contact includes being within two (2) meters of another person.”

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause however the health and safety of our staff and community is of the utmost importance.

For the most up-to-date health information see:

Public Health Agency of Canada

Ontario Ministry of Health

Public Health Ontario

MARCH 17, 2020

Safety is our number one priority at the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority. We are taking all possible steps to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19. As of today, March 17, 2020, our office is closed to the general public. Staff continue to be available by phone or email. Please refer to our staff directory for contact information.

Essential services including watershed monitoring, flood forecasting programs and planning requests are ongoing. We will continue to communicate flood information to municipal representatives and post updates on our website and social media.

Access to trails in our conservation areas remains open for the public to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being out in nature. We remind visitors that dogs are to be leashed at all times and owners are to pick up after their dogs. We caution Hersey Lake Conservation Area users that the park outhouses/washrooms are not regularly disinfected throughout the winter months. They are not closed, but should be used with caution.

While possible, we will continue to groom the Hersey Lake and Gillies Lake trails for walking.

If changes to our offered services are required at any time, we will notify the public via our website and social media channels.

Watershed Update-March 17, 2020

Below, you will find the latest Watershed Statistics Update for 2020.

• Generally, snow depth and water content conditions for this time of the year are above normal, except for the Shillington and Gogama snowcourse stations, which are normal and slightly below, respectively. Water content variances, for the other stations are 110.6% to 143.9% above normal through the rest of the Upper Mattagami Watershed.
• Current forecasts show scattered flurries over the coming week with daytime temperatures ranging from -6°C to +5°C with no major systems expected.
• Winter drawdown of Mesomikenda is complete. Mattagami Lake and Peter Long are still in drawdown. The dams are currently set up to continue drawdown until refilling begins in April. Relatively normal inflows have persisted throughout the winter. Wawaitin elevation is normal for this time of year and the lake will be drawn over the coming weeks in preparation for spring melt.
• The enclosed portions of Town Creek and Crawford Creek are being closely watched by Authority and Municipal staff.
• The Authority’s new Flood Contingency Plan was updated and distributed to municipal, provincial and agency partners.
• As a precaution to help limit the spread of COVID-19, the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority has cancelled all face-to-face meetings. As a result, the Timmins Flood Advisory Committee (TFAC) meeting has been postponed until further notice, but the MRCA will remain in contact with the TFAC members should the need arise to communicate.
• The next update will be issued on or about April 1, 2020.
• If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Conservation Authority at 360-2660.

See our Upper Mattagami River Watershed Statistics Report page to download the current watershed statistics and for the full list of reports for 2020.

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. 

Safety is our number one priority at the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority. We are taking all possible steps to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19. As of today, March 17, 2020, our office is closed to the general public. Staff continue to be available by phone or email. Please refer to our staff directory for contact information.

Essential services including watershed monitoring, flood forecasting programs and planning requests are ongoing. We will continue to communicate flood information to municipal representatives and post updates on our website and social media.

Access to trails in our conservation areas remains open for the public to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being out in nature. We remind visitors that dogs are to be leashed at all times and owners are to pick up after their dogs. We caution Hersey Lake Conservation Area users that the park outhouses/washrooms are not regularly disinfected throughout the winter months. They are not closed, but should be used with caution.

While possible, we will continue to groom the Hersey Lake and Gillies Lake trails for walking.

If changes to our offered services are required at any time, we will notify the public via our website and social media channels.

For the most up-to-date health information see:

Public Health Agency of Canada

Ontario Ministry of Health

Public Health Ontario

Ontario is taking action to protect people and property by strengthening the province’s preparedness for flooding because the safety of the public and the protection of our communities is our number one priority.

In response to Ontario’s Special Advisor on Flooding report released last November, and the call from the communities around the province to address the issue of flooding, Ontario has released Protecting People and Property: Ontario’s Flooding Strategy, available here. The Strategy introduces a series of new and enhanced actions that will help Ontario better prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant flood events.

Watershed Update-March 3, 2020

Please find below the first Watershed Statistics Update for 2020.

• Generally, snow depth and water content conditions for this time of year are above normal. Water content variances are 106.6% to 183.7% above normal through the entire Upper Mattagami Watershed.
• Current forecasts show scattered flurries over the coming week with daytime temperatures ranging from -13°C to +1o°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. Relatively normal inflows have persisted throughout the winter. Wawaitin will be passing inflows until March 15, 2020.
• The enclosed portions of Town Creek and Crawford Creek are being closely watched by Authority and Municipal staff.
• The Authority’s new Flood Contingency Plan is currently being updated and will be distributed to watershed stakeholders within the next two weeks.
• The next Update will be issued on or about March 16.
• If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Conservation Authority at 705-360-2660.

See our Upper Mattagami River Watershed Statistics Report page to download the current watershed statistics report and for the full list of reports for 2020. 

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. 

WINTER HIKING DAY-SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020
FROM NOON TO 2:00 P.M.

Join us for a FREE fun-filled afternoon of guided winter hikes exploring the Hersey Lake Conservation Area. Walk through a northern deciduous forest and enjoy the beautiful winter views. Learn more about the Conservation Area and how plants and animals have adapted to survive the cold of a northern winter. Anyone interested in trying snowshoeing can do so by participating in the snowshoe portion of the event. You are encouraged to bring your own snowshoes (there will be a limited number to borrow on site thanks to the Misiway Milopemahtesewin Community Health Centre). The event will feature presentations from Timmins Porcupine Search and Rescue and the Timmins Fur Council. A warming tent will also be available, courtesy of Sewn Home for those needing to get out of the cold. Hot chocolate will be served by Wintergreen volunteers until 2:00 p.m.

12:00-12:05  Meet at Hersey Lake picnic shelter
12:05-12:30  Timmins-Porcupine Search and Rescue Winter Survival Presentation
12:30-1:30  Intro to Snowshoeing and Guided Snowshoe Hike
12:30-1:30  Lynx Lake Guided Hike – Long Hike
12:30-1:30  Hersey Lake Promenade Guided Hike – Short Hike
1:30-1:50  Timmins Fur Council Presentation
1:30-2:00  Refreshments available

All hikes are FREE and are guided by experienced volunteer leaders. No registration required.

Follow our Facebook page to find out about upcoming events.

The Wintergreen Fund for Conservation offers a $1,500 scholarship to a student graduating from a local high school who has decided to further their education in one of the environmental, conservation or natural resources fields of study.

The scholarship is open to students:

• completing their final year of high school in the City of Timmins;
• who will be entering their first year of full-time undergraduate study in a college or university; and
• who have a demonstrated record of participation, leadership or volunteerism in the promotion of conservation awareness and the environment in our local watershed.

For more information about the scholarship and to get the application form, check with your guidance counselor, see our Environmental Scholarship webpage or call our office.