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2020 Mississippi Valley Watershed Fall Draw Down Timetable

2020 Mississippi Valley Watershed Fall Draw Down Timetable     

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority's annual fall draw down is underway.

Draw downs on Shabomeka and Pine lakes as well as the Carleton Place dam began in September. The Mazinaw Lake dam is being operated to pass additional flows from the draw down of Shabomeka Lake without increasing lake levels.
 
The draw down of Kashwakamak, Mississagagon, Big Gull, Summit and Widow lakes will start after Thanksgiving weekend. The drawdown on Mazinaw Lake will not start until early November to account for boat traffic through the narrows during hunting season. Winter target levels are normally reached before freeze up but are dependent on how much rainfall the watershed receives over the fall season. Seasonal conditions are expected over the next two months.
 
The following chart provides fall drawdown dates on lakes that are used to provide storage for flooding for next spring.
 
Lake / Dam Drawdown Start Date Drawdown End Date
Shabomeka Lake dam Mid September Early October
Pine Lake dam Mid September Late September
Mississippi Lake / Carleton Place dam Mid September Early October
Kashwakamak Lake dam After Thanksgiving weekend (Mid Oct) Early December
Mississagagon Lake dam After Thanksgiving weekend (Mid Oct) Mid October
Big Gull Lake dam After Thanksgiving weekend (Mid Oct) Mid November
Summit Lake dam After Thanksgiving weekend (Mid Oct) Mid October
Widow Lake dam After Thanksgiving weekend (Mid Oct) Mid October
Mazinaw Lake dam After hunting season (Mid Nov) Mid December
 
 
Residents are urged to use extreme caution around these structures as strong currents will be present while water levels decrease to normal fall levels during this time and should ensure that all boats, floating docks, etc., have been removed. 
 

Daily water levels and flows are available on the MVCA website at http://mvc.on.ca/water-levels/