Low Water Advisory – Level 2 Condition Issued for the North Bay – Mattawa Watershed
(North Bay October 8, 2025). A Low Water Advisory for Level 2 Conditions has been issued for the North Bay-Mattawa watershed, according to the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA). This is an upgrade from the Level 1 conditions that were confirmed in September. Level 2 conditions are meant to indicate a potentially serious water supply problem, based on precipitation and streamflow criteria.
"Streamflow across the watershed has continued to be low and over the past three months, only 56% of normal rainfall has been recorded with August and September being particularly dry," said NBMCA Duty Officer Angela Mills. “Local stream gauges are reporting flow between 5% and 49% of normal for the month of September and conditions through October will need to be wetter than normal before low water conditions could end,” She added.
Due to the lack of rainfall and low water levels across the watershed, all residents are encouraged to voluntarily reduce their water consumption further, targeting an overall water usage reduction of 20%.
The vulnerability of municipal water supply systems within the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) area of jurisdiction was assessed through a water budget stress assessment as part of the Drinking Water Source Protection program. All municipal water intakes within NBMCA jurisdiction were determined to have a low level of risk; however, having low water conditions heading into winter are potentially a concern. Private water systems were not assessed.
Low water levels mean that submerged hazards may be closer to the surface in some areas than in the past. Boaters are encouraged to exercise additional caution in areas with low water.
As part of the NBMCA Low Water Response Program, staff at NBMCA will continue to monitor weather and watershed conditions and provide updates as conditions change.
The general public is advised of these messages through the www.nbmca.ca website with the Low Water status icon and a link to information about current conditions. NBMCA also circulates these messages to local media and social media, posting on X (@theNBMCA), Facebook (@theNBMCA) and Instagram (nbmcainfo).
This message will be in effect until further notice.
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CONTACT:
Angela Mills, Flood Duty Officer, cell: (705) 497-4668
Paula Loranger, Community Relations Coordinator cell: (705) 494-5115
Note: The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority is responsible for local Low Water programs (Low Water Bulletins | NBMCA) for residents who live within their jurisdiction, including those in North Bay and Callander to Mattawa. Where a Conservation Authority has not been established, the MNR District Office is responsible for local Low Water Response programs, including along the Ottawa River. https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/webapps/swmc/low-water-response/