The Surface Water Monitoring Centre

In order to safeguard human life and property, protect the health of communities and the ecosystem and to support the conservation of water resources, the Surface Water Monitoring Centre (SWMC):

• collects, monitors & analyses water flows, levels and climate data
• performs Watershed Conditions Analysis
• conducts a daily Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) to identify areas throughout the province where a potential risk of flood or drought
• calculates indices and generates maps
• creates conditions reports, notifications, watches, etc
• communicates with partners and clients on flood and low water conditions and
• supports decision making for provincial programs: Flood; Low Water/Drought; Great Lakes water takings; water budgets; Water Management Planning compliance; dam safety; Emergency Response.

The Surface Water Monitoring Centre was formed in 2002, merging the province’s flood forecasting and warning capabilities with operational low water response functions. The Centre is 24/7 operational centre supporting local level hazard identification risk assessment and emergency response.

The Centre manages a streamgauge network to monitor real time water level and flow data in lakes and rivers throughout the province. In addition, climate stations (providing  precipitation, temperature data, etc.), surveys of snow conditions, meteorological forecasts and computer models are also used by the centre to determine watershed conditions and to assess the daily HIRA as it pertains to flooding, low water, and erosion. Data are collected and analyzed by the Centre, models are run and maps and reports generated and these are shared with a variety of partners and other water resource managers.

One of the key methods for sharing this information is the Internet. Water level data obtained through the Federal-Provincial Cost Share Agreement is available through Environment Canada’s Real-time Hydrometric Data website.  Additional Centre products are available on the Flood and Low Water pages.  Products specific to Water Managers in the Province, (Conservation Authorities, Districts and other Government Agencies) is available on the Centre’s Extranet Site.  The SWMC’s Extranet site is a one window access point for our external clients to access daily weather and precipitation forecasts, flood criteria and potential.  Note: Access to this site is limited to those individuals with an identified need or delegated responsibility.

The Centre’s functions contribute as well to Multi-Ministry / Multi- Agency integration of water related mandates and initiatives including Nutrient management, Hydro power production, climate change monitoring, recreation, and navigation, to name only a few.