A run of dry weather recently led to a drop in flows in the Eramosa River.
The Grand River Conservation Authority issued a notice that despite a relatively wet summer, rainfall in the past month has mainly centered on the northern and southern areas of the Grand River watershed, leaving the central portions significantly untouched until recently.
Consequently, flows in the Eramosa River, which runs through the central-eastern part of the Grand River watershed near Guelph, have dropped to about half of what they would normally be at this time of the year.
As a result, the Grand River Watershed Low Water Response Team has declared the Eramosa to be in a Level 1 condition. Under the lower water response plan that means that water users in the Eramosa River watershed should reduce their water takings by 10 per cent.
The Eramosa River, which is unique in it ability to maintain consistent baseflows from a spring fed system, recently started to show the effects of an extended period without significant rainfall.
There are few surface water takings in the Eramosa River watershed. The largest is Guelph, which uses water from the Eramosa River in its groundwater recharge system near Arkell. However, the city takes water only during peak demand periods, so it has not drawn any water from the river since higher flow periods earlier this summer. Municipal bylaws, which limit outside water use to alternate day lawn watering, are already in effect in Guelph and Rockwood.
Other water users include several golf courses and aquaculture operations, but for the most part, water takings operations drop off toward the end of summer as peak demands subside, reducing water consumption.
The Low Water Response Team is made up of representatives of major water users including municipalities, farmers, golf course operators, gravel pit businesses, Six Nations and others. The members met by teleconference on Sept. 16.
Other parts of the Grand River watershed remain at normal levels for this time of year.
However, Environment Canada is predicting a warm, dry fall in response to the El Nino effect from the Pacific Ocean, which may continue to affect river levels in the coming weeks.
