To: Watershed News Media
Date: December 5, 2007
Kingston - The Cataraqui Region Water Response Team (WRT) has ended the Level 1 Low Water Condition declared on September 18.
"Rain throughout November has replenished regional lakes and streams and has started to alleviate low groundwater levels," says Mara Shaw, watershed management coordinator for the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA).
The conservation authority is the WRT's convening authority. CRCA and WRT jurisdictions correspond and include all or parts of 11 municipalities. These are: Athens, Brockville, Elizabethtown-Kitley, Front of Yonge, Gananoque, Kingston, Leeds and the Thousand Islands, Loyalist, Napanee, Rideau Lakes and South Frontenac.
The WRT is convened after an extended period of low rainfall often resulting in low water levels. It may issue three successively serious low water level declarations. Under a Level I warning, the WRT advocates for a 10 per cent cut in water consumption. Under Level II, this increases to 20 per cent. A Level III is a severe drought declaration.
"The WRT asks that residents continue to conserve water because groundwater levels are still low in many areas," says Ms. Shaw. "We note also that Lake Ontario remains below average levels for this time of year."
The WRT does not supersede existing agencies, policies or laws. Instead, it coordinates actions of water management agencies, private sector organizations and water users during drought.
For more information call:
Mara Shaw, Watershed Management Coordinator 613-546-4228, Ext. 228
877-956-2722 Toll Free