Parks Canada will be temporarily closing some locks along the Trent-Severn Waterway beginning Friday (June 17) due to high water levels and flows.
The locks that will be closed until further notice are Lock 19 – Scotts Mills, Lock 22 – Nassau Mills, Lock 23 – Otonabee, Lock 24 – Douro, Lock 25 – Sawer Creek, Lock 26 – Lakefield, and Lock 27 – Youngs Point.
Over the past 15 days, the Trent-Severn watersheds have received significant amounts of precipitation, the equivalent of 100 to 200 per cent more than the normal amount expected for this time.
Parks Canada says the partial closure will protect boater safety and help to prevent shoreline erosion and property damage experienced by local residents and businesses. All boaters are strongly encouraged to lower their speeds and watch their wake, and residents and visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution around and on the water.
Residents around Lock 19 – Scotts Mills will see a controlled breach of the construction site at the dam over the weekend, to aid in the movement of water down the Otonabee River. This will be a controlled breach with no danger to public safety.
Parks Canada says it will reopen individual lock stations in stages as soon as it safe to do so.
