To The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—While recent rains have helped lawns and gardens, they have done little for river flows and reservoir levels in the Grand River watershed. Water users are being urged to continue reducing their consumption by 20% until conditions improve.
An unusually dry summer has contributed to reduced stream flows across the watershed, and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) continues to use large upstream reservoirs to augment river flows to maintain low flow targets on the Grand and Speed rivers. The GRCA is operating these reservoirs carefully to support the proper operation of about 30 wastewater treatment plants. During the dry summer months, more than 80% of the flow in the Grand River comes from upstream reservoirs. This augmentation helps communities that get their drinking water from the Grand River.
Whitemans Creek in Brant County is an area of particular concern due to extremely low water levels. Levels in the creek are well below 50% of normal late summer levels and there is concern for the impact on the cold water fishery. Rainfall in the area has been especially low, with less than 30% of the normal rainfall expected over the last month.
The reminder to stay vigilant with water use reductions came from the Grand River Low Water Response Team, which has agreed to keep the entire watershed in Level 2 of the Ontario Low Water Response Program until pressure on the system eases. The team is made up of representatives of major water users including municipalities, farmers, golf course operators, water bottlers, aggregate businesses, and others.
