August 19, 2009
High Water Advisory Issued for Whiteshell and Nopiming Provincial Parks
Manitoba Water Stewardship’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre advises that rainfall of 75 to 90 millimetres (three to 3.5 inches) in eastern Manitoba last weekend has resulted in unusually-high lake levels in Whiteshell and Nopiming provincial parks.
Most lakes in Whiteshell Provincial Park are between 15 centimetres and 30 centimetres (six in. and one foot) above their normal summer levels. Caddy Lake is 0.5 metres (1.5 feet) above its desirable level and could rise another 7.6 cm (three in.) during the next few days even without additional rain.
Manitoba Water Stewardship with assistance of the Parks Branch of Manitoba Conservation has removed logs from dams from Brereton, Jessica, White and West Hawk lakes during the past two days to reduce or prevent further rises in levels. The control structure at West Hawk Lake had been partially opened Aug. 18 but one log was replaced today in response to very high water levels downstream on Caddy Lake.
Lakes in Nopiming Provincial Park are also very high. Bird Lake is presently at its second-highest level in the past 25 years and somewhat higher than the crest observed in early July this year. Lakes in Atikaki Provincial Park are also at above-average levels but not as seriously high.
It is possible that lake levels in the parks could rise somewhat higher, especially if significant additional rain develops from the present storm system.
Cottagers are advised to take appropriate actions to protect their properties as best as possible from high water levels.
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