Ottawa RiverRegulationPlanning BoardCommission de planificationde la régularisationde la rivière des Outaouais

RISING OTTAWA RIVER WATER LEVELS Read more

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Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board

The Planning Board was established to ensure integrated management of the principal reservoirs of the Ottawa River Basin:

  • to reduce flood and drought impacts along the Ottawa River and its tributaries, all the way down to the Montreal Region
  • while maintaining beneficial water uses in the basin.

Current Conditions Summary

Water levels in metres:

View current conditions

River Conditions Forecast

Last Update: 2025-04-03 4:05 PM
Next Update: 2025-04-04 4:00 PM

Spring runoff is increasing in the southern part of the basin due to recent precipitation and ongoing warm temperatures. Levels and flows on the main stem of the Ottawa River are starting to increase in some locations as a result. With additional precipitation expected this weekend, water levels and flows are expected to increase gradually over the next few days from Chats Lake down to the Montreal area, but they should remain within their seasonal range.  Rapid rise of levels and flows is possible in some locations depending on the speed of snowmelt and amount of rainfall received. Minor flooding in low-lying areas may occur over the coming week. Low-lying areas (such as recreational trails near water) are those locations that regularly flood during the spring freshet period.

View complete forecast

Special Feature

Snow Conditions in the Ottawa River Basin – Map now available

Our website provides a map that will help you keep track of the snow cover in the watershed. The map of the snow water equivalent is available on the Current Conditions webpage (click on the “Snow Map” button at the top of the interactive map).

Snow measurements are done on a regular basis at over one hundred (100) sites across the basin. The snow map provides an overview of conditions at the time of the most recent snow measurements. It shows the amount of water held in the snow cover compared to the amount of water it normally holds at this same time of year. This amount of water is called ‘snow water equivalent’. The map covers the entire Ottawa River watershed. At a glance, it is possible to see if there was more or less snow than usual at a given time of the year.

This map will be updated in early March, and every two weeks thereafter.

Latest News

Beginning of Hydrologic Forecast for Freshet 2025

Bulletins posted on 2025-03-21 by Ottawa River Regulation Secretariat

The detailed four-day forecast has now begun. The Ottawa River Regulating Committee provides hydrological forecasts to the public at nine

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2025: RISING OTTAWA RIVER WATER LEVELS

Press Release posted on 2025-03-19 by Ottawa River Regulating Committee

The Ottawa River Regulating Committee would like to inform watershed residents that levels and flows along the Ottawa River have

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Early Spring Conditions Overview in the Ottawa River Basin

Bulletins posted on 2025-03-14 by Ottawa River Regulating Committee

The Ottawa River Regulating Committee monitors the Ottawa River basin closely in preparation for the spring freshet. Overall, this winter

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