OWER Trentconse:RVAT IO Ea“ F 714 Murraystreet, R.R
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LOWERTRENT3 I R_. 2 U. LOWER TRENTCoNsE:RVAT IO Ea“ f 714 MurrayStreet, R.R. 1, Trenton, Ontario K8V5P-1 N 14 Tel: (613)394-4829 Fax: (613)394-5226 Website: vwvw.|l.<':.0n.ca Email: information@| O Registered Charimhle(1):g,anizaliunNu. 1(17G4b?FJ8R0001 2 l.<:.on.ca Low Water Response Team Meeting MINUTES- Draft Date: August 4, 2016 at 2:00 PM Location: Lower Trent Conservation Administrative Office,714 Murray Street, Trenton ATTENDEES: Lower Trent Conservation — Glenda Rodgers, Janet Noyes, Marilyn Bucholtz, RileyAllen Alnwick/Haldimand— Raymond Benns, John Logel Brighton — Mark Walas, Mary Tadman, John Martinello, Mark Ryckman Centre Hastings — EricSandford, Roger Taylor Cramahe —Jeannie Mintz Quinte West —Jim Harrison, Jim Alyea, Karen Sharpe, Chris Angelo Stirling-Rawdon — Bob Mullin, Matthew Richmond Trent Hills— RickEnglish, Scott White Northumberland County — Ken Stubbings Hastings County — Leanne Latter, Justin Harrow, Jim Duffin Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry (MNRF)—JeffWiltshire Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & RuralAffairs (OMAFRA)— Peter Doris Ministry of the Environment & Climate Change (MOECC)— Peter Taylor Northumberland Federation of Agriculture - AllanCarruthers Metroland Media — Erin Stewart 1. Welcome 8: Introductions Glenda Rodgers welcomed everyone and introductions were made 2. Introduction Janet Noyes provided an overview of the Ontario Low Water Response Program which includes 3 status levels based on precipitation and stream flow conditions. 3. Water Response To date, the current Lower Trent Conservation Board of Directors has acted as the Low Water Response Team. There was some discussion as to whether membership should be broadened to include staff from municipalities and provincial ministries, and other stakeholders. “'wor1:.§ withlocalcommunities to psvtcctour nafuragenvironmcniz" Mmlbw ul CmmvwafionOrmv?a nting CmaritbisJJIECmwrvman Nnhrx?rke Page 2 of 4 Moved by: Jim Harrison Seconded by: John Martinello THATthe Lower Trent Conservation Board of Directors will continue to act as the Water Response Team with support from Lower Trent Conservation, provincial ministries & municipal staff. Carried Marilyn Bucholtz willtake notes for this meeting. 4. Status Update Janet Noyes provided a summary of declaration of low water status levels: ~ Level 1 declared —June 3, 2016 - Level 2 declared —July4, 2016 To date, precipitation has been the trigger for declaring a status level under the Low Water Response Program. As of the end ofJu|y, the 3-month average monthly precipitation for May through July was 35 millimetres which is 47% of normal. A 3-month average precipitation below 60% of normal is a trigger for Level2 Low Water Condition. Precipitation received on July 25 doubled the total precipitation for July to 33 mm which is 48% of normal. Assessment of precipitation triggers is based on data from Environment Canada's Trenton station. Data from gauges located on Cold Creek (at Orland), Rawdon Creek (north-east of Stirling)) and Burnley Creek (Warkworth) are used for analysis of stream flow conditions. While water flows in local streams have declined significantly over the past month (ranging from 52 to 71% of the lowest summer monthly average flow), streams flows at the end of July were within Level 1 ranges. The trigger for a Level2 Low Water Condition based on stream flows is 50% of the lowest summer monthly average flow and for Level 3 is 30%. It was noted that most streams west of the Trent River within Northumberland County have a source connection to the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Moraine’s deep groundwater aquifers are helping to augment the base flows for watercourses such as Shelter Valley, Salt, Cold and MillCreeks. While the Level3 trigger has not been reached, an early assessment of stream flows for the first 4 days of August reveals Rawdon Creek is very close to the Level3 trigger (31%). It was noted that Quinte Conservation’s Water Response Team moved to Level3 low water conditions. Moved by: RickEnglish Seconded by: John Martinello THATthe Level 2 Low Water Condition willcontinue for the Lower Trent Conservation watershed region. Carried As low water conditions are very close to Level3, the Water Response Team will review precipitation and stream flow data mid-August and assess the status. 5. Current Conditions & Team Member Observations The following low water conditions from those in attendance were noted as follows: “wurlzingwithlocalcommunilzie.-5to our naturateznvinonrncn Mmnbwoi €.“r)nwn'.m'¢m Orltwia Rmr--muting mum Jr’:Corm-r\*ah‘rmr1utlmri1 Page 3 of 4 Quinte West: - as ofJuly 20, sold over 15,000 cubic metres to bulk carriers - during same period in last year, sold only 8,500 cubic metres Stirling Rawdon: - have lost pick up points for fire department use - the source of municipal water supply is shallow Gudi wells (groundwater under direct influence of surface water — Rawdon Creek) and two of the municipal wells are currently in-active - there are no alternate water sources - seeing some reduction in use - water use by-law in place with some required enforcement Brighton: - municipality has a deep well - aquifer has only dropped 1 metre Centre Hastings: - drawing sites for most locations used for the fire department water supply have dried up Trent Hills: - water usage is regularly minimized due to water meters - seen an increase of 20 -25 % for bulk haulers Northumberland Ontario Federation of Agriculture: - early shipping of cattle as no pasture available, resulting lower revenue Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - early shipping of cattle by 6 weeks — lack of feed - advising farmers to plant a late crop with hopes of producing some late season feed for livestock - financial/riskmanagement resources for producers is administered through Agricorp Hastings County: - noted differences between Quinte Conservation & Lower Trent Conservation watersheds - drought is not considered a natural disaster for the purposes of funding under the disaster recovery assistance programs administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing — any expenses incurred due to wells running dry, be they municipal or private, would not be eligible for this funding Trent River: - Trent-Severn Waterway is maintaining minimum flow on Otonabee River Municipal representatives also provided an update on water use by-laws: - Stirling Rawdon — enacted - Quinte West — yes but not enacted - Cramahe — yes but not enacted - Trent Hills— yes but not enacted “workingwithlocaloommuniticzsto PMEvcclzour naituraicnvimnntcnt. afwrnfmro!Crmwmukm f,)nt.ma Rvpnmmrirg0Man'o':aJr: CcmwmmkmAmh- Page 4 of 4 Alwick/Haldimand— no bylaw Brighton — yes but not enacted Centre Hastings — promoting 50% voluntary reduction to match Quinte Conservation Level3 6. Looking Ahead Weather patterns in 2016 are very similar to those experienced in 1958,1998 & 2005 with hot, dry conditions and increased hurricane season (Katrina). Meteorologists from the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry state that the hot, dry conditions are anticipated to continue through the rest of summer and into fall. 7. Next Steps A question was raised regarding communications of low water conditions to Permit to Take Water permit holders (using over 50,000 litres). Peter Taylor (MOECC)provided background: - MOECC can alter/amend/revokepermits - can be time-consuming clue to the number of permit holders/appeal process - MOECCwould not be adverse to the Water Response Team sending correspondence to permit holders asking for voluntary reductions — they could assist with identifying high risk permit holders - Everyone needs to think about their water use and supply from the long term perspective It was suggested that individual/businessreports of low water problems/hardships be collected. Lower Trent Conservation staff will begin a tracking spreadsheet. Allmunicipalities/agencies can forward information to the Conservation Authority. The distribution list for updates and future meetings willinclude all attendees of the meeting plus those contacts identified previously (municipal CAO/Clerk,neighbouring Conservation Authorities, Trent-Severn Waterway, Ontario Power Generation) Next Meeting: Lower Trent Conservation staff willpoll the Water Response Team for a meeting date i mid-August. n ‘wo?ki withIoca‘communitiesto Pmtest our nature:envimnmcnt” MmzlxtrofComom?ion ()¢ImIia mm.-nringOmariaz J6 Consawatirmmumn.