Ottawa RiverRegulationPlanning BoardCommission de planificationde la régularisationde la rivière des Outaouais

INCREASING FLOOD RISK ALONG THE OTTAWA RIVER (Mattawa to the Montreal Region). See the River Conditions Forecast message that is updated daily. 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: 2025-04-25 4:55 PM
Next Update: 2025-04-26 4:00 PM

Significant rainfall is expected over the entire watershed over the next few days. Rainfall runoff and snowmelt water from the northern part and mountainous areas of the basin will combine to increase spring flows in the Ottawa River. Minor flood levels are expected to be exceeded in flood prone areas along the river from Pembroke down to the Montreal Region, starting tomorrow. Levels may exceed the major flood level from Lake Coulonge to Lake Deschenes depending on the precipitation received and rapidity of snowmelt. Please refer to the forecast section of our website for more information about the water levels expected in your area. Levels are expected to peak starting Tuesday-Wednesday at Lake Coulonge, Chats Lake and Lake Deschenes to maximums of 108.50 m, 75.70 m and 60.15 m respectively. From Gatineau (Hull Marina) down to the Montreal Region, levels are expected to exceed minor flood levels but should remain below major flood levels. For the Hull and Thurso locations, levels are expected to reach an elevation of 44.10 m and 42.50 m later next week.

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

2025: INCREASING FLOOD RISKS ALONG THE OTTAWA RIVER

Press Release posted on 2025-04-22 by Ottawa River Regulating Committee

The Ottawa River Regulating Committee warns that levels and flows along the main stem of the Ottawa River, from Mattawa

Read more

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

Read more

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

Read more

See all articles