End of Daily River Conditions Forecasts

Bulletins posted on 2021-04-06 by Ottawa River Regulation Secretariat

The Ottawa River Regulation Secretariat would like to inform residents of the Ottawa River Basin that the Regulating Committee will issue, today, its final 4-day forecast for spring freshet 2021.  Accordingly, the ‘Forecast’ web page will be deactivated at the end of the April 6 to April 9 forecast period.  Also, today will be the last daily ‘River Conditions Forecast’ message for this spring freshet period.  These services will be replaced with a weekly forecast, updated every Tuesday.

Daily forecasting of river conditions is no longer required.  The general trend, for the full length of the river, is for a steady decrease in flows and levels as the remaining spring runoff in the northern areas of the basin is being stored in the principal reservoirs.  Based on the combination of low levels on the principal reservoirs, already diminished snow cover in the northern areas and little precipitation forecast over the coming week, flood risks have been significantly reduced.  Important flow increases from the north to downstream areas is very unlikely over the remainder of this year’s spring freshet. Principal reservoirs are being managed to reach their target summer levels.  If conditions change and flood risks increase, the daily forecasting of river conditions will be resumed.