The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has issued a low water advisory for the watershed.
According to the ABCA, the Water Response Team has declared a Level 1 Low Water Advisory for the Bayfield River watershed following watershed conditions that have resulted from a very dry August and September.
The Ontario Low Water Response Level 1 indicator is 80 percent of the three-month average, and the indicator station totalled rainfall amounts of 75 percent of the normal amounts for the August and September time period.
This period of dry weather is having an impact on streamflows, particularly in the Bayfield River. Monthly flows for September were only 14 percent of the normal rate.
The ABCA encourages all water users to look for ways they can conserve water and prevent further reduction in water levels and availability of water.
“While the three-month totals do not fall too far below the Advisory threshold, it is important to remember that a very wet July factors into this figure. Where we are seeing the impacts of a dry August and September, is in the stream flows, and this will have an impact on seasonal transitions within the aquatic ecosystem," shared Christie Brown, ABCA Water Resources Technician.
Visit www.ontario.ca/lowwater for further resources on the Ontario Low Water Response program or the website at abca.ca for the dynamic low-water advisory tool which alerts people to low-water advisories in effect in the watershed.