Thames River water levels run low following unusually dry August

Low amounts of rainfall this summer have caused water levels in the Thames River to drop, prompting concern from conservation officials.

In the last month, the London area has had about 20 per cent less rainfall than the average for this time of year, Eleanor Heagy of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) said.

"It's not just that it's been a hot summer, it's also been a very dry summer," she explained.

The province has a low water response process that measures the severity of low water levels on a scale of one to three. Currently, the Thames River is at level one, the least severe.

UTRCA's reservoirs at Wildwood (St. Marys) and Pittock (Woodstock) Conservation Areas are currently catching downstream flows, the conservation authority said in a statement, keeping much of the watershed in the low to normal range.

Some isolated areas, like small streams and drains, are drying up faster, Heagy said, possibly affecting aquatic life.

The receding water levels this summer have been noticeable for Anis Omar, who runs the Riverside Social Club. The business is located near Riverside Drive and Wonderland Road, and provides canoe and kayak rentals.

Typically, Omar said, the water around their launching area is around six feet deep, but lately it's been closer to four.

"People have to go further and further out from our embankment to actually be able to launch comfortably," he said. "And with the mud and everything, we're finding it a little bit more of a challenge."

It's making it harder for customers to navigate the usual path along the river, as well. Typically, they can paddle uninterrupted all the way to the forks, he explained, but now they need to get out of their boats and portage a small island near the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Centre, where the water is now too low to paddle through.

If dry conditions continue, there could be wider effects for smaller municipalities and households that rely on wells for their drinking water, but it hasn't reached that level of concern yet, Heagy said.

"Level one is a good opportunity to educate people about the importance of water and the many ways we rely on it," she said. "So it's an educational opportunity. We certainly encourage people and businesses and industries to conserve water."

In order to get back to normal water levels, a significant amount of rain will be needed, Heagy explained, adding that she's hopeful to see a few days of steady rainfall as the weather changes heading into the fall.