May 27, 2013

Quinte Conservation Authority's Bryon Keene, Water Resources Manager, and David Smallwood, Field Operations Manager, recently explained the year-round procedures for managing Skootamatta's water levels to SDRA President Debbie Awde and Lake Steward, Malcolm Stewart.

The dam at Skootamatta Lake is owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources and operated by Quinte Conservation. Its primary purpose is for recreation, fish and wild-life. Its secondary purpose is to augment low flow in the Skootamatta River. Without the dam, the lake would likely flood in the spring.

QCA Field Operations personnel visit the dam frequently in the spring to maintain water levels from spring runoff and precipitation at about 3.6 metres on the gauge. They continue to visit once every three weeks on average during the summer months to maintain water levels between 3.4 and 3.1 metres on the gauge if possible. Visits are again more frequent in the fall to achieve the winter setting (approximately 2.76 metres on the gauge), reached during the month of October. With all eleven logs in place at the beginning of summer, about 0.14 metres depth of water spills over the right embankment spillway. Logs are systematically removed throughout the summer to maintain a low flow in the Skootamatta River, which augments the ground water that supplies the wells of downstream residents.

The SDRA will be working closely with QCA to keep members informed of water depth readings and forewarn of any emerging low water conditions throughout the spring, summer and fall through 'Paul's Pops' emails and the SDRA website. We also encourage members to visit quinteconservation.ca frequently to keep informed of water conditions in Quinte Region.

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