FLOOD WATCH – Lake Nipissing Shoreline in
North Bay and Callander and Parks Creek subwatershed
Message Number: 2024-13
Issued: May 16, 2024, at 3:00 PM EDT
From: NBMCA Duty Officer, Angela Mills

FLOOD WATCH notifies that the potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and
municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone
areas should prepare.
If you have a flood emergency, please contact your municipality. If you live in an unincorporated
township, please contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) – North Bay
District.
A FLOOD WARNING has ended for the Lake Nipissing shoreline in the City of North Bay and
Municipality of Callander and Parks Creek subwatershed.
A FLOOD WATCH has been issued for the Lake Nipissing shoreline in the City of North Bay
and Municipality of Callander and Parks Creek subwatershed.
This is an update to the previous Message Number 2024-12 dated May 10, 2024.
Current Conditions:
Daily average water level of Lake Nipissing in North Bay has decreased by about 9 cm since its
peak on April 23. The water level on Lake Nipissing has been receding but remains above
summer normal water level. The water level on Lake Nipissing is regulated by dams operated
by the federal government.
Water levels in the remainder of the watershed are near normal for this time of year. Water
levels on Trout Lake, Turtle Lake, and Lake Talon are regulated by dams that are operated by
the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Current water levels can be viewed by searching Station Names “Ottawa River”, “Mattawa
River”, “Chippewa Creek”, “La Vase River”, “Wasi River”, and “Lake Nipissing” at
https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/search/real_time_e.html
Forecasted Conditions:
There is a chance of thunderstorms between Friday (May 17) and Sunday. Forecasts indicate
15-25 mm of rain is possible.

The water level of Lake Nipissing is expected to continue to decrease with reduced inflows, per
Public Services and Procurement Canada. For water level and flow information, see
https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/ontario/eaux-water/renseignement-information-eng.html. The
changes to water levels on Lake Nipissing depend on the amount of water flowing in from rivers,
precipitation, and the amount of water flowing out through the control dams to the downstream
French River.
Landscape conditions with dormant vegetation and saturated soils have limited capacity to store
additional moisture. Local rivers may respond rapidly to additional precipitation.
Historic Flood Conditions:
When lake-based flooding occurred on Lake Nipissing in May 2019, the water level on Lake
Nipissing at North Bay reached a maximum level that is about 32 cm higher than the peak water
level on April 23, 2024.
Risk:
A Flood Watch is in effect for the Lake Nipissing Shoreline in the City of North Bay and
Municipality of Callander and the Parks Creek subwatershed. Water levels are dropping but
remain above normal for this time of year. Local water levels could fluctuate rapidly in response
to strong west or southwest winds.
As water levels recede on Lake Nipissing, there is continued influence to water levels in the
downstream reaches of Lake Nipissing tributaries (such as Chippewa Creek, Parks Creek,
Jessup’s Creek, and La Vase River). The changes to water levels on Lake Nipissing depend on
the amount of water flowing in from rivers, precipitation, wind, and the amount of water flowing
out through the control dams to the downstream French River.
All residents, especially those in low lying areas, are encouraged to monitor the conditions that
are developing. Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery at this time and when
combined with fast moving and cold open water, pose a serious hazard. The public is
encouraged to keep children and pets away from watercourses and waterbodies.
Municipalities are encouraged to monitor water crossings for debris that may affect the
movement of water through culverts and bridges. A close watch on local conditions and updated
forecasts and warnings from Environment Canada is also recommended.
Staff at the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority will continue to monitor weather and
watershed conditions and update this message based on the changing weather and streamflow
conditions.
This message will be in effect until (or updated before) Friday, May 24, at 4:00 PM EDT.
The general public is advised of these messages through the www.nbmca.ca website with the
flood status icon and a link to information about current conditions. NBMCA also circulates
these messages to local media and social media, posting on Twitter (@theNBMCA), Instagram
(nbmcainfo), and Facebook (NBMCA).
The public is invited to share photos of watershed conditions on social media using
#NBMCAFlood.


Terminology: Notification Levels
WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT: general notices of potential flooding or other conditions that
pose a safety risk. There are two kinds of statements:
Water Safety: indicates that high flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other
factors could be dangerous for users such as anglers, boaters, swimmers, children, or pets. Flooding is
not expected.
Flood Outlook: gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on
weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high
runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.

FLOOD WATCH: notifies that the potential for flooding exists within
specific watercourses and municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in
flood-prone areas should prepare.

FLOOD WARNING: notifies that flooding is imminent or already occurring
in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities and individuals should take action to deal with
flood conditions. This may include road closures and evacuations

Duty Officer: Angela Mills P: (705) 474-5420 F: (705) 474-9793 email: nbmca@nbmca.ca www.nbmca.ca