ORCA Flood Warning & Watershed Condition Statement - April 10, 2026

Subject: The Flood Watch issued for the Trent Severn-Waterway in the jurisdiction of Otonabee Conservation is upgraded to a FLOOD WARNING effective immediately.

Local watercourses remain at a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety level.

 

Issued to: Municipalities, water management authorities, Indigenous communities, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Otonabee Conservation’s other partners in flood emergency management.

 

Weather: Starting Sunday, April 12, through Thursday, April 17, the Haliburton-Reservoir Lakes region is expected to experience a 5-day period of sustained rainfall combined with above-freezing overnight temperatures. Forecasts suggest a potential 5-day rainfall accumulation of up to 60 millimetres.

 

Flood Risk - Trent-Severn Waterway: Otonabee Conservation anticipates continued rising water levels in the Kawartha Lakes, Otonabee River, Rice Lake, and Trent River to Hastings over the next seven days. This is due to significant runoff from rain and snowmelt in the Haliburton-Reservoir Lakes region. As a result, flooding in low-lying areas is imminent, particularly along the Otonabee River where flows will exceed normal spring levels, starting today (Friday April 10).

 

Action: Municipalities, Indigenous communities, local water managers, emergency services and individual landowners along the shores of the Trent-Severn Waterway are advised to take precautions to protect themselves and their properties against flooding. Close monitoring of local weather forecasts and water levels is recommended. Water levels can be monitored at Trent-Severn Waterway, Water Survey of Canada and Otonabee Conservation websites.

 

This Flood Watch message will expire Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 3:00p.m. unless up-dated earlier.