Operating Regime and Daily Procedures

On a daily basis, Ministry of Natural Resources water control technicians in Parry Sound District collect, compile and analyze water levels, flows and other environmental information on a number of watersheds including the Muskoka River.

Once all of the information has been collected and evaluated, water control operations are scheduled at locations where they are needed most. Water control technicians alter levels and flows by placing or removing control stop logs from dams depending on the seasonal objectives identified in the MRWMP and respective Annual Lake Operating Plans.

An example of a typical Annual Operating Plan for a lake within the Muskoka River Watershed is illustrated below.

The range of water levels between the yellow lines represents the seasonal Normal Operating Range . This is the range of water levels that dam operators are required to stay within under normal watershed conditions. However during high flow or drought periods, water levels may go over or under the Normal Operating Range .

The Preferred Operating Level is represented by the green line. Dam operations are conducted in a manner to best achieve these seasonal levels as watershed conditions permit. Extreme high water (flood) and low water (drought) conditions are represented by the upper and lower red lines.

To view the Annual Operating Plan for your lake, click on the lake name below: