The Crowe Valley Conservation Authority Low Water Response Team has recently reviewed current precipitation and flow conditions in the Crowe Valley watershed.

As a result of the analysis of the facts presented to the team, a Level 3 low water condition has been declared effective immediately.

According to the Ontario Low Water Response (OLWR) Program, the Level 3 low water condition is declared when a watershed receives only 40% or less of the normal amount of precipitation over a 3-month period or if streamflow reaches 30% or less of the average over a 1-month period. Level 3 is the highest of three levels, and indicates a potential failure of water supply to meet the demand.

Dry to extremely dry conditions have been observed at various locations in the Crowe Valley Conservation's watershed, especially in the month of July and August as precipitation amounts have fallen below average for these months.

Precipitation data collected at the CVCA’s gauge in the upper portion of the watershed indicates that the rainfall average for this June, July and August is now below the 3-month historical average. The current 3-month average for the precipitation gauge located at Glen Alda in the Municipality of North Kawartha is 20.27% of the historical average for this time period (55.8mm rainfall in total during the last three months). The current 3-month average for the precipitation gauge situated in the Municipality of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen is 40.45% of the historical average (Actual rainfall totalled 118.7mm in the last 3 months).

The Low Water Response Team has also been provided with stream flow gauge data to use as another indicator of dry conditions in conjunction with precipitation amounts. Typically, reduced rainfall will eventually lead to low flows since there is no water to replenish the creeks, streams and wetlands, which feeds into the larger rivers and the lakes in the Crowe Valley watershed. An observed reduction below 30% of the normal flows at the CVCA flow gauges has been confirmed. Flows below this level will also result in the necessity to declare a Level 3 low water condition.

As the lack of rainfall and low flows grip the watershed, it will continue to place additional stress on the larger the lakes in the watershed. Most of the lakes are either near or below their winter levels. The CVCA monitors lake levels daily on lakes with water control structures.

The Low Water Response Team encourages a 30% reduction water use across the Crowe Valley watershed by residential, commercial and cottage users.

Everyone can do their part in cutting back water consumption by not watering lawns, fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, not washing the driveway or car and reducing non-essential uses of water while the Low Water Level 3 is in effect.

With a level 3 declaration, member municipalities have the  option to implement municipal by-laws to make water restrictions mandatory if they feel that is necessary for their municipality. The affected municipalities include portions of the Municipality of Trent Hills, Stirling-Rawdon, Marmora and Lake, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, North Kawartha, Wollaston, Limerick, Tudor and Cashel, Faraday and Highlands East.

Included in these municipalities are the Village of Marmora, Havelock and the Hamlet of Coe Hill. Water users are encouraged to monitor conditions and watch for updated advisories. CVCA staff will continue to monitor rainfall and streamflow data and keep the public informed of any changes in watershed conditions through the CVCA website (www.crowevalley.com), media, municipal newsletters, and social media outlets.

Working in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and local stakeholders representing key water-use sectors, the Crowe Valley Low Water Response Team will determine if any further course of action is needed. The Conservation Authority will continue to provide the necessary data to monitor the low water situation and provide updated information to the LWRT. 

PRESS RE:EASE FROM CVCA Sept. 9, 2025:

2024

1. Leave no valuables at the cottage – electronics, personal items, tools etc. – unless you’re prepared to lose them!

2. Sporting goods – fishing rods & equipment, water skis, toys etc. – don’t expect them to be there next spring, if they’re not secured (locked up, hidden or both).

3. If you are leaving vehicles, make sure they’re winterized, secure and disabled – for snow machines, remove track and hide keys, ensure boats are covered and locked, outboard motors locked and slightly disassembled. ATVs disabled – leave nothing on trailers unless it is locked or disabled. Remember – “Lock it or Lose it!”

4. Secure your cottage windows and doors – close window curtains or blinds and put up shutters to protect interior from marauders (animals and human).

5. Pack up and take home all alcohol.

6. Do not leave firearms or weapons at the cottage.

7. Marking your personal items can make it difficult for thieves to resell stolen goods and will make it easier for your items to be identified and returned if found. Record the serial numbers of anything of value left behind.

8. Make a list of the property you are leaving at the cottage, and a list of the property that will return to your cottage on your first or next trip there.

9. Identify who is your cottage property key holder for alarms, thefts, weather damage or animal problems.

10.Know your local OPP Detachment that patrols your cottage community. (search: www.opp.ca › OPP Home › Contact Us or call 1-888-310-1122)

Source: Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations (SLCA is a member of FOCA)

We received seventy-one entries in the 2025 Steenburg Lake Community Association Photo Contest – so many wonderful photographs of life around Steenburg.

The SLCA engaged three judges with backgrounds in design and photography to select this year’s winners.

Landscape  

In the Landscape category we called on Kristen Ryan, a Graphic Artist and Editorial Production Manager for the Toronto Star, to give us her take on 20 entries. The winner receives a $25 Tim Hortons gift certificate.

Winner Jimmy Nevins - Star Trails

Judges’ Comment: Among many, many beautiful landscapes, Star Trails stood for the time and expertise it took to pull off this intriguing look at the stars and meteors. Well done!

Honorable Mention Kristen Carey - Morning Sun

Judges’ Comment: Steenburg Lake was at her best in this category. The beautiful mirror image, Morning Sun, drew me back time and again.

Honorable Mention Catherine Wilson-Sunset Isle

Judges’ Comment: In a category full of beautiful sunsets, Sunset Isle stood out for its dramatic cloud patterns. Catherine Wilson took full advantage of the sky by positioning the horizon low in the photo and allowing the cloud patterns and vibrant colours to be the star of the show.

Life at the Lake

Again, we called on Kristen Ryan to judge Life at the Lake, our most entered category with 29 photos. The winner receives a $25 Tim Hortons gift certificate.

Winner Vanessa Corner - Lake Monsters

Judge’s Comment: Isn’t lake life all about having fun with family and friends? The vibrant colours in this image of two little girls pretending to be lake monsters stood out from many other wonderful photos.

Honorable Mention Donna Ward - Lily Pads

Judge’s Comment: This little girl examining the Lily Pads seems fitting in this year where water levels have dropped allowing lots of shoreline exploration.

Honorable Mention Sandra Knox - Dancing Campfire

Judge’s Comment: Evening shores dotted with campfires are a bonus of lake living. Dancing Campfire captures the spark trails creating an impactful photo. The image benefits from good composition where the focal point – the fire – is placed in the lower third of the image allowing the eye to follow the spark trails upward. Nice job!

Kids Under 16

For Kids Under 16 we called on Lori Martin, Deputy Director of Content at Metroland Media Group, to judge the entries. The winner receives a $25 McDonald’s gift certificate.

Winner Jaysa Hamacher (8) - Ducks on the Mat

Judges’ Comment: Catching these friends sunbathing is a great illustration for summer fun. The wild hairdo on the bird on the left reminds me of how my own has looked after a day on the water. The bright yellow contrasts well with the blue water. Great shot!

Honorable Mention Brady Corner (8) - Sunset Ride

Judges’ Comment: Sunset Ride by Brady Corner captures the best of cottage life. The fire reds and oranges across the water carries the viewer’s eye right through the shot. The photo is framed well, capturing both the setting and the action simultaneously. Nicely done!

Honorable Mention Brady Corner (8) - Mr. Long Legs

Judges’ Comment: Mr. Long Legs by Brady Corner is a good shot. A spider on this light background really highlights the details of this insect’s body. Not a fan of spiders to be honest, but this angle helps it look less menacing. I wonder if it’s looking back at the camera.

Wildlife

And for the Wildlife category, SLCA President Joanne Burghardt put down her camera for a change and did some admiring of the photos entered. The winner receives a $25 Tim Hortons gift certificate.

Winner Karen Taylor - Bit Off More Than He Can Chew

Judges’ Comment: Bit Off More Than He Can Chew is a classic case of being in the right place at the right time – and thinking to pull out your camera! It left me rooting for the toad! Love this photo.

Honorable Mention Deb Wellman - Oh I can jump that high

Judges’ Comment: I can hear that squirrel’s mind spinning, thinking, “Oh, I can jump that high”. Comical photo that makes you smile and one we can all relate to.

Honorable Mention Deb Wellman – Finders Keepers

Judges’ Comment: So sad that this image wasn’t sharper – it’s a candid, funny shot that is well-composed. One of those images that are a happy surprise when you look back at what you’ve just shot.

Can’t wait for the 2026 Photo Contest!

We have added a new feature to steenburglake.ca - precipitation data for Bancroft (as close as we have found so far).

With all the talk of lake levels and drought, the SLCA has embedded a dynamic chart on our Lake Levels page courtesy of Environment and Climate Change Canada . You can follow the chart updates to see how we are doing.

The chart updates every 5 minutes, see steenburglake.ca/WaterLevels.

The Steenburg Lake Community Association is participating in a new Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program introduced in August 2025 by Crowe Valley Conservation Authority (CVCA).

The pilot program runs from June-September annually and monitors the presence of zebra mussels within the CVCA watershed. The idea is to discover hot spots, determine high risk areas, allow for quicker control response, and improve resource allocations.

Volunteers - like the SLCA - receive settling plates which are hung in the water and monitored for the presence of zebra mussels. We check the plate every 2-3 weeks and report our findings. 

 We will keep you posted on the results.

August 30, 2025 - No sign of zebra mussels on the plates. Results reported.

Crowe Valley Conservation Authority is asking everyone to reduce water use by 10%.

The CVCA Low Water Response Team released a statement this morning saying it has recently reviewed current precipitation and flow conditions in the Crowe Valley watershed.

"As a result of the analysis of the facts presented to the team, a Level 1 low water condition has been declared effective immediately.

“Due to these stresses, the Low Water Response Team encourages a voluntary 10% reduction water use across the Crowe Valley watershed by residential, commercial and cottagers. Everyone can do their part in cutting back water consumption by not watering lawns, fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, not washing the driveway or car and reducing non-essential uses of water while the Low Water Level One is in effect. Reducing water consumption in the CVCA watershed now will help reduce the risk of declaring more severe Low Water Level declarations as potentially a hot, dry summer may continue.”

Read their full release here: https://www.crowevalley.com/.../Media-Release-8-August...

-- Your SLCA Team

This is how Level 1-2-3 water levels are defined:

Level 1

Potential for water supply problems is identified (minor drought conditions). Water users will be asked to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 10%

Level 2

Minor water supply issues are encountered. Potential for major supply problems (moderate drought conditions). There is the potential for major supply problems. Water users will be asked to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 20%

Level 3

Supply no longer meets demand. Social & economic impacts are experienced (severe drought conditions). Voluntary measures have not produced the necessary response. Restrictions proposed by the Water Response Team may be put into action.

PS....

Don't shoot the messenger !!

Acting on concerns about low water levels voiced by some SLCA members, SLCA president Joanne Burghardt met with Neil McConkey from Crowe Valley Conservation Authority Aug. 6 at the lake’s log dam.

Some like the water high, some like it low.  A lack of rain this year has certainly contributed to the low lake level.

While it may not make a difference in the short term, Neil has placed two boards in the dam that controls water exiting the lake. Should we get A LOT of rain, it may help raise the level of the lake. As Neil explained:

• CVCA generally attempts to lower the lake level in the fall in anticipation of spring runoff in an effort to avoid flooding.
• Around May 24 they check the levels and if the water has dropped to a reasonable level the boards go in.  “We check the lake level multiple times a week in the spring. The first week in May the beavers built a dam and stopped any water from flowing out. There was no point in putting logs in as there was no flowing water. The lake was perfect level.”
• There is a large beaver dam about 100 yds down the creek which, if it rains, would also help retain the water in the lake.

The SLCA appreciates Neil coming out to see us, and all the feedback the SLCA has had from our members. Now it's up to Mother Nature.

SLCA member Nerys Phan (pictured here with Membership Chair Lorie Butkus-Hill on the left) was the winner of the door prize basket at the Annual General Meeting held August 3, 2025. Unfortunately, we did not achieve quorum. The Board opted to go ahead with an information session that included the President's Report, a financial update, a tribute to our volunteers and a presentation on the Eurasian Water-Milfoil Study recently done for Steenburg Lake. Business requiring a vote by the members will be held over to the 2026 AGM. See the Presentation Deck from the meeting (PDF).

Look to the night skies  - the Perseid meteor shower is active.

The shower is active from July 17 to August 24 and is expected to be most visible in the pre-dawn hours of August 11-13. The peak offers the best chance to see the most meteors, potentially up to 100 per hour. However, the nearly full moon during the peak may make it more difficult to see fainter meteors.

At Steenburg Lake we are in prime viewing territory because we are rural and away from the glow of the city lights. To maximize the viewing experience, it’s advised you turn off lights that might dull the view. The best time to view is after midnight.

Tips for Viewing:

• Give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. 
• Get comfy in a nice chair, patience is a virtue.
• Dress for the weather.
• Avoid using bright lights (like your phone) as they can hinder your night vision. 
• Consider using a red filter on your flashlight (you can use a red balloon) to preserve your night vision.

According to NASA, the Perseids is considered the best meteor shower of the year. The swift, bright meteors, frequently leave long "wakes" of light and colour behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere. Look for 50 to 100 meteors per hour. Perseids are also known for their fireballs.

“Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids. When comets come around the Sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them. Every year Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere and disintegrate to create fiery and colourful streaks in the sky.” – Source: NASA

Photo by Arnas Goldberg, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia