The Water and Planning Manager with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority says unless we get rain fall amounts considerably above normal over the next couple of months, the Water Response Team might have to leave a level one advisory in effect through the winter.
Alec Scott explains rain fall amounts through July and August were close to normal, but that wasn't enough to offset very low rain fall levels in May and June, and the rain in July and August was also very spotty. Scott says the rain in July and August was enough to bring stream flows up for a couple of days, but then they fell back down again, and that's why they recently announced a level two advisory.
Scott points out it would take significant rain fall over the next couple of months to bring levels back up. But he adds predictions call for a dry fall, and that could mean we start off with dry conditions next spring as opposed to the normal high levels in the spring that drop off gradually over the winter.
Scott adds they have on occasion left a level one advisory on the water shed over the winter, and that might be necessary again this year.
