Drawdown
Rideau Canal National Historic Site
Drawdown is guided by research, engineering and decades of experience.
Drawdown is when water levels are lowered in the Rideau Canal.
It's a complex process that takes into consideration storage capacity of the lakes on the system, timing of fishery spawning, requirements for flood mitigation, typical fall and winter precipitation levels, downstream typography including constrictions like narrow river beds or dams, and overall volumes and flow rates.
Drawdown forecast
October 2023
From mid-October until mid-November, water levels in the Rideau Canal system, between Ottawa Locks and Detached Lock, will be decreased to winter levels by adjusting dams and spillways in the Rideau Watershed. The following drawdown timing has been provided for Rideau Canal sections in the Lower Rideau area:
- Water levels will be decreased in the sections below Hogs Back, including Dow's Lake, beginning on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, and will remain at their lowest level until mid-November, after which the water level will then be raised approximately one metre between Hartwells and the Ottawa lockstations to prepare for the Rideau Canal Skateway.
- Water levels will be lowered between Hogs Back to Black Rapids beginning Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
- Water levels will be lowered between Long Island to Black Rapids beginning Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
- Water levels will be lowered between Burritts Rapids to Clowes beginning Wednesday, October 12, 2023.
- Water levels will be lowered between Merrickville to Kilmarnock beginning Friday, October 20, 2023.
- Water levels will be lowered between Clowes to Merrickville and Long Island to Burritts Rapids beginning Friday, October 27, 2023.
October 2022
From mid-October until mid-November, water levels in the Rideau Canal system, between Ottawa Locks and Detached Lock, will be decreased to winter levels by adjusting dams and spillways in the Rideau Watershed. The following drawdown timing has been provided for Rideau Canal sections in the Lower Rideau:
- Water levels will be decreased in the sections below Hog's Back, including Dow's Lake, beginning Tuesday, October 11, 2022 and will remain at their lowest level until mid-November, after which the water level will then be raised approximately one metre between Hartwells and Ottawa lockstations to prepare for the Skateway
- Water levels will be lowered between Hog's Back to Black Rapids beginning Wednesday, October 12
- Water levels will be lowered between Long Island to Black Rapids beginning Thursday, October 13
- Water levels will be lowered between Burritt's Rapids to Long Island beginning Monday, October 31
- Water levels will be lowered between Clowes to Merrickville beginning Monday, October 31
We would like to thank all visitors and look forward to welcoming you again in 2023.
October 2020
From mid-October until mid-November, water levels in the Rideau Canal system, between Ottawa Locks and Detached Lock, will be decreased to winter levels by adjusting dams and spillways in the Rideau Watershed. The following drawdown timing has been provided for Rideau Canal sections in the Lower Rideau
- Water levels will be decreased in the sections below Hog's Back, including Dow's Lake, beginning Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 5 pm and will remain at their lowest level until mid-November, after which the water level will then be raised approximately one metre between Hartwells and Ottawa lockstations to prepare for the Skateway.
- Water levels will be lowered between Hog's Back to Black Rapids beginning Tuesday, October 13th, 2020.
- Water levels will be lowered between Long Island to Black Rapids beginning Tuesday, October 13th, 2020.
- Water levels will be lowered between Burritt's Rapids to Long Island beginning Friday, October 30th, 2020.
- Water levels will be lowered between Clowes to Merrickville beginning Friday, October 30th, 2020.
October 2018
From mid-October until mid-November, water levels in the Rideau Canal system, between the Ottawa Locks and Burritt’s Rapids, will decrease to winter levels by adjusting dams and spillways in the Lower Rideau Watershed. The following Rideau Canal sections will be affected:
- Water levels will be decreased in the sections below Hog's Back, including Dow's Lake, beginning Monday, October 8th, 2018 and will remain at their lowest level until mid-November, after which the water level will then be raised approximately one metre between Hartwells and Ottawa lockstations to prepare for the Skateway.
- Water levels will be lowered between Hog's Back to Black Rapids beginning Tuesday, October 9, 2018.
- Water levels will be lowered between Long Island to Black Rapids beginning Tuesday, October 9, 2018.
- Water levels will be lowered between Burritt's Rapids to Long Island beginning Monday, October 29, 2018.
Parks Canada encourages the public to use caution in and around canal structures and channels over the winter months. From mid-October to the end of May, the canal’s lock stations are closed and use of the canal is at one’s own risk. Unmarked hazards may exist. Wet leaves, ice, and snow may remain on stairs and walkways, and ice conditions on the waterway can vary. Boaters are advised that during the non-navigation season, aids to navigation may be missing, off-station, or inoperable until next spring.
October 2017
From mid-October until mid-November, water levels in the Rideau Canal system, between Ottawa Locks and Burritt’s Rapids, will be decreased to winter storage levels by adjusting dams and spillways in the Lower Rideau Watershed in order to prepare for freeze up and to reduce the possibility of spring flooding. The following Rideau Canal sections will be affected:
- Water levels will be decreased in the sections below Hog's Back, including Dow's Lake, beginning Monday, October 9, 2017 and will remain at their lowest level until mid-November, after which the water level will then be raised approximately one metre between Hartwells and Ottawa lockstations to prepare for the Skateway.
- Water levels will be lowered between Hog's Back to Black Rapids beginning Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
- Water levels will be lowered between Long Island to Black Rapids beginning Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
- Water levels will be lowered between Burritt's Rapids to Long Island beginning Monday, October 30, 2017.
Parks Canada encourages the public to use caution in and around canal structures and channels over the winter months. From mid-October to the end of May, the canal’s lock stations are closed and use of the canal is at one’s own risk. Unmarked hazards may exist. Wet leaves, ice, and snow may remain on stairs and walkways, and ice conditions on the waterway can vary. Boaters are advised that during the non-navigation season, aids to navigation may be missing, off-station, or inoperable until next spring.
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