Kawartha Conservation is downgrading to a Level 1 Low Water Condition

LOW WATER DECLARATION – LEVEL 1

DATE: October 2, 2025
TIME: 10:00 AM 

Conditions across the Kawartha Conservation watershed were particularly dry over the summer months, with low rainfall and high temperatures that reduced stream flows and limited groundwater recharge. The watershed has recently received more rainfall through late August and September, which has helped improve conditions, and raised the three-month precipitation average to 71% of the seasonal norm. With the added rainfall, Kawartha Conservation will be downgrading to a Level 1 Low Water Condition. While this improvement marks an important step toward recovery, water levels and stream flows remain below normal in several areas. Groundwater systems, which respond more slowly, will continue to recharge gradually over the coming weeks and months.

This Level 1 Low Water condition applies across the Kawartha Conservation watershed and affects the  City of Kawartha Lakes, Township of Scugog, Township of Brock, Municipality of Trent Lakes, Township of Cavan Monaghan, and the Municipality of Clarington.
Residents, businesses, and municipalities are encouraged to reduce their water use by 10% and follow the Water Conservation Actions laid out below:

• Adhering to municipal/regional water restrictions and by-laws.
• Avoiding non-essential water use (e.g., washing driveways, decks, vehicles).
• Letting lawns go dormant (brown).
• Monitoring and reducing indoor water use.

Kawartha Conservation is a part of the Ontario Low Water Response Program that was developed to ensure the province was prepared for low water conditions. The response plan is to help coordinate and support local response in the event of a drought. There are three levels of Low Water Conditions: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 being the most severe. The program requires Conservation Authorities to collect precipitation data, stream flow data, and groundwater level data to properly understand the conditions within our watershed. Once this data is collected, low water conditions are evaluated, and a Water Response Team (WRT) is brought together to discuss the conditions.

Kawartha Conservation will continue to monitor these conditions and report new information as it becomes available. To learn more about Ontario’s Low Water Response program visit the Low Water and Drought section of our website at www.KawarthaConservation.com. 

For additional information, please contact Nathan Rajevski. Watershed Resource Technician, nrajevski@kawarthaconservation.com, Phone: 705-328-2271 ext. 235