Level 2 drought declared in Renfrew County
The Ministry of Natural Resources declared Level 2 drought for Renfrew County Thursday with the agricultural community and some municipalities saying they are already in a crisis due to the lack of rainfall and decreasing water levels.
The Renfrew County Agricultural Economic Development Committee convened a special meeting with the MNR Water Response Team, a group made up of representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and County municipalities and emergency services.
The declaration was issued ased on data showing significantly lower than historical average rainfall amounts and surface water levels on lakes, rivers and streams. In particular, ministry-regulated gauges on the Petawawa, Bonnechere and Madawaska rivers showed they were at 40 per cent of normal stream flow for this time of year.
Level 2 is declared if one-month precipitation falls to between 60 and 40 per cent of normal or when the three month or 18 month total precipitation is between 60 and 40 per cent of the average level. A Level 2 means that there are minor problems with the supply of water.