In a flood update today, the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority says Lake Nipissing, levels rose the last few days, largely due to the shift in the wind. Inflows have declined from yesterday but were still high due to the effects of the weekend's rain.
Inflows are forecasted to continue to decrease over the week so the lake level may begin to decline as the week progresses.
As of this morning, the level on Lake Nipissing increased to 196.49m, rising approximately 1cm since yesterday. In the North Bay area, the gauge read 196.52m; compared to two days ago levels there rose 6cm. The gauge at the French River outlet on the lake read 196.46m.
Since yesterday morning, the watershed received around 5mm of rain. Strong sustained winds from the NW today will shift to the east tomorrow. Scattered showers are forecasted for most of the week.
Downstream on the French River, flows at Wolseley Bay have stabilized, but are still increasing down through Dry Pine Bay.
Water levels in Mattawa are slowly decreasing as spring runoff in the northern portion of the Ottawa River basin is being retained to minimize flooding downstream. Discharge is constant from the upstream, however, with continued snowmelt and inflow, there is still a chance of rising water levels.
Elsewhere in the watershed, gauges on the Wasi River, Chippewa Creek, and La Vase River show levels are continuing their downward trend, getting closer to seasonal norms.
Water levels in Mattawa are currently sitting at 155.26m as of Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. and down from 155.39 Sunday afternoon. As there is continued snowmelt and inflow, there is a possibility it may still reach 155.50m, depending on the spring runoff in the northern watersheds. Ottawa River water levels are expected to stabilize or slowly decrease over the next several days.
