The Grand River
Conservation Authority is asking water-taking permit holders to cut back
because river levels are low. That includes farmers who irrigate crops in an
area generally south-east of Brantford.
More
specifically, it is those who take water from Whitemans, McKenzie, Boston,
Mount Pleasant, Horner and Kenny Creeks in Brant, Oxford and Norfolk Counties, the
Six Nations reserve, New Credit and Haldimand.
Whitemans
Creek has been in a Level 2 condition since Thursday, July 7.
McKenzie
Creek has now also been moved to a Level 2.
Level 2 triggers a request to voluntarily cut back water use. The next step is to require conservation measures.
The rest
of the Grand River watershed remains in a Level 1 condition.
The
request comes from the Grand River Low Water Response Team, which has noted
water levels in the McKenzie and Whitemans Creek sub-watersheds have dropped to
below half of the average summer flow.
In
addition, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is asking anglers to
refrain from fishing in Whitemans Creek, which is an important trout habitat.
Low water levels and warm water temperatures can put the fish population under
stress, which can be compounded by fishing.
While
the watershed received some much-needed rain last week, the soil has been very
dry and the rain that did fall absorbed quickly or ran off in the urban areas.
The
southern part of the watershed continues to be particularly dry, and there is
little rain in the forecast.
Flows
are being maintained in the Grand and Speed Rivers from discharge from the
large reservoirs.
Residents are being asked to not water lawns, even
from private wells.
The
aquifers that feed Whitemans and McKenzie creeks also feed many wells and dug
ponds in the area. Water withdrawn from wells and ponds can reduce the amount
of water that makes its way into the creek. Therefore, it is important that all
water users help to conserve water.
For
farmers, information on Water Shortages and Conservation is available in the Low Water Response section of the GRCA website,
as well as suggested actions that other major water users can take to help
conserve water.
The
GRCA’s report on Drought Contingency Planning for the Grand River
watershed, written as part of the Grand River Watershed Water Management Plan,
is also available online.
Permits
To Take Water are issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
(MOECC) to those who withdraw more than 50,000 litres a day of water from a
watercourse, pond or well.
