Yet again in 2019, the MNRF did not lower the water levels in advance of the spring freshet as much as they could have according to the Muskoka River Water Management Plan.
The graph below (click on it for a larger view) shows for the years 2003 to 2019:
- How much the MNRF lowered the water level of Lake Muskoka in advance of the spring freshet
- The maximum subsequent water level.
For 2019; the water level could have been lowered by 6.1″ more than it was, and the water level of Lake Muskoka subsequently rose 27.6″ above the flooding level – this was 11.8″ more flooding that occured in 2013. 
While the MNRF lowering the water level more would not have eliminated the subsequent flooding, the MNRF did not do all they could have within the existing provisions of the Muskoka River Water Management Plan.
Some details of the MNRF’s 2019 drawdown are detailed in the graphic below (click on it for a larger view). This shows that again in 2019 (previous articles from 2016 here and 2017 here), the water level of Lake Muskoka was not drawn down as much as is allowed by the Muskoka River Water Management Plan.
All the water from the Muskoka River watershed flows through Bala, and is subsequently controlled exclusively by Ontario Power Generation, as they own and operate both the:
- Ragged Rapids and Big Eddy generating stations on the Musquash River (south branch of the Moon River).
- Moon Dam on the north branch of the Moon River.
It appears that OPG does not want to “waste water” by opening their Moon Dam too early (as this bypasses their hydro-electric generating stations) so they don’t get that generating revenue. The result is the water level of Lake Muskoka – yet again – did not get down to the minimum allowed before the spring freshet, so this year’s spring flooding was worse than necessary.
This is why you don’t want a for-profit company controlling our water levels, whether OPG, or the Bala proponent. These corporations’ goal of maximzing their profit costs the public in damages, dangers, and inconvenience.
