Municipality of Temagami – Update # 57 on COVID-19 (April 7, 2021)
Category Archives: misc
Lake Temagami Water Levels (March 31 – April 6, 2021)
Information from Ontario Power Generation re: Lake Temagami Water Levels
In early winter, OPG began the annual drawdown of Lake Temagami, as per our standard practice. Our snow survey information (gathered biweekly) was showing lower than normal snow amounts for much of the winter. With this in mind, OPG began reducing flow at Cross Lake Dam on March 19 to begin a slow, gradual refill of Lake Temagami. The refill strategy is based on a cautious approach keeping in mind that there are still several weeks before the summer minimum elevation target and that depending on precipitation received in April and May, we may need to maintain some storage to assist with flood mitigation if we see large rain events through the spring. Our most recent snow surveys indicate that the average water content across the Sturgeon River basin is 4 mm, which translates to 3 percent of normal (snow is pretty much gone).
We have received inquiries about ‘lower-than-normal’ water levels across many of our reservoirs this Spring. In many cases, reservoirs were not drawn as deep as normal, and have already begun refilling; in reality many reservoirs are at or above normal for this time of year. The lack of snow along the shoreline and on the lakes may possibly be leading to a perception of lower than normal water levels. With respect to Lake Temagami, for example, our records indicate that the elevation is actually about 11 cm higher than normal for this time of year based on recorded levels between 1950-2021. The water level is only at this level at this time of year about 15 % of the time (i.e., 85 % of the years in this period have recorded lower levels on April 7).
As a reminder, water level and flow graphs can be found at www.opg.com/river.
4/6/21 Lake Break Up Report
From Peter Healy on Garden Island:
“Today is quarantine/break up day #6 on Garden Island. We anticipate a high of 10C (50F) today with possible showers later this afternoon. Warmer temperatures have seemingly put an end to the ‘booming’ ice sounds that the colder night temperatures were causing resulting in a somewhat eerie silence when there is little or no wind and no travelers on the lake. I am not alone however. Winter birds are still with us as the chickadees have found the sunflower seeds at the feeder.
The Canadian dock flag is flying once again. The attached photo looks towards Witches point and the North Arm. I wonder if we will see any American flags below the red maple leaf this summer. I certainly don’t recall seeing any in 2020. Our neighbours from south of the border are sorely missed.”
4/5 Lake Break Up Report
From Peter Healy:
It’s a beautiful sunny day 5 of my quarantine/break up time here on Garden Island. We are expecting a high of 11C (55F) today indicating the winter is now over here on Lake Temagami. As many others have posted warnings about pressure cracks and ice conditions today I want to comment on the low water levels.
It’s a beautiful sunny day 5 of my quarantine/break up time here on Garden Island. We are expecting a high of 11C (55F) today indicating the winter is now over here on Lake Temagami. As many others have posted warnings about pressure cracks and ice conditions today I want to comment on the low water levels.
As my photos illustrate the lake level is very low – much lower than I remember over the years wintering here. OPG, Ontario Power Generation, always lowers the lake level by opening the Cross Lake Dam in mid winter to allow room to accommodate snow melt in the spring. Accordingly the dam is closed when the summer water level ranges is reached. The summer range in metres above sea level is 293.4 – 294m. At this time water levels are far below 293.4 (293.22 actually) and recent reports in the North Bay area indicate the snow levels in the bush at this time to be only 12% of normal. What this says to me is that unless we receive a lot of rain over the next two months we can look forward to low water levels all summer. My floating dock, now grounded in the sand, may not float this year. I called a friend and advised that his property taxes may go up as his lot is much larger this year due to low water (just kidding of course). At this time we can almost walk around our entire island on the shore as opposed to on the ice.
Moore’s Beach
Dry Dock