Ministry of Natural Resources alerts of potential flood risk in Kinmount

UPDATE: The blockage was removed by the MNR/Parks Canada last night (March 20), water is flowing normally and the flood risk at the Kinmount Dam has been mitigated.

Kawartha Lakes – The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has informed the municipality of a potential flooding risk in Kinmount.

The MNR was set to remove another set of logs from the Kinmount Dam this morning. Unfortunately, the orange booms above the dam are lodged with a large amount of ice in the dam openings, which is preventing logs from being removed at this time.

With the logs unable to be removed, this will mean an increase in water levels above the dam in Kinmount. These conditions may promote some flooding issues along the business section of the river.

The MNR is doing their best to address the blockage but they are having some issues getting equipment to the site to help remove it. Once the blockage has been addressed, the MNR will provide the municipality with an update.

In the meantime, please prepare your property accordingly.

Reminder: Sandbag Locations

To assist with flood preparedness, Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue and Public Works have provided free sandbags at the following locations:

Fill-Your-Own Sandbags (Bring a Shovel)

• Ward Park Norland Community Centre (7675 Highway 35 North, Norland)
• Dalton Community Centre (13 Rumohr Drive, Sebright)
• Chisholm Trail (South of Black River Road near Amon Drive)

Pre-Filled Sandbags (Available now)

• Burnt River Community Centre (16 Somerville Centre Road, Burnt River)

Supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis—please only take what you need.

Stay Informed

• Activate your Jump Inbox and subscribe to Weather and Emergency news to receive flood news and advisories straight to your email.
• Follow Kawartha Lakes on Facebook to see the latest updates.
• Tune in to the latest warnings and advisories on 91.9 Bounce FM radio and Global/CHEX television.
• Road closures due to flooding: Public safety is our top priority. Roads will be closed if they are deemed to be unsafe. All road closures and re-openings are posted on Municipal 511 and can be viewed on the flood page of our website at www.kawarthalakes.ca/flood or directly at www.municipal511.ca

For flood preparation tips, visit our Emergency Management page. Stay safe and be prepared!

Photo Caption: This image is of a blockage in the Kinmount Dam from the 2019 Flood Season, it is not an image of the current blockage. 

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