Some boaters on Lake Muskoka and some surrounding lakes are noticing water levels have dropped suddenly.
The drop in water level is proving difficult and that’s presented a safety concern for boaters.
“I'm out on Clear Lake and the water is down more than it's been in 15 years,” says boater Rod Thompson. “There’s a tendency for some rocks to reappear that haven't been there for years.”
The watershed from Algonquin Park runs down through Lake Muskoka then onto the Moon River towards Georgian Bay.
Water levels have dropped because of two reasons:
- Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources started its Muskoka River water management plan to lower water levels and allow for the autumn rain and winter snowfall.
- Mother Nature hasn't delivered much rain.
Environment Canada says normally this area of Muskoka receives about 112 millimeters during the month of September, but this year they received only half of that amount. The result is the driest September since 2007.
“In fact, a couple of weeks ago we had so much sunshine that we were losing one centimeter of water level a day just by evaporation,” says Phil Harding a district councillor.
The ministry has taken steps at Bala Falls to better control the low water levels on some Muskoka Lakes and bring relief to some cottagers and boaters. At the same time, Environment Canada says rain is in the long range forecast, but not much.
