What's New

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
News Release

OTTAWA -- The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the availability of a national pamphlet entitled, "Water levels at your fingertips!" that highlights three easy ways to access information on water levels and tidal predictions.

"This information is invaluable and extremely relevant in light of the current situation that we're experiencing with low water levels. For example, the water levels for Lakes Huron, St. Clair and Erie have dropped dramatically over the past two years and are at their lowest level in 35 years. Changes to water levels affect recreational and commercial marine activity and can pose risks to human safety and the environment," said Minister Dhaliwal.

"Boating safety is a priority for the department. Every year, the department renews its effort to raise awareness of the need to prepare properly before going out on the water. Boaters and mariners are encouraged to become informed of potential hazards due to declines in water levels. This pamphlet, with its three simple, easy to access and affordable tips, provide up-to-date, daily information on water levels, necessary for safe navigation on Canada's busy waterways," the Minister stated.

Tips in the pamphlet include:

• Call the toll-free number 1-877-775-0790, and get connected to water level observations and to continuous tidal data predictions.
• Call the listed phone numbers to access a network of recorded voices that announce the current water level along with a high and low for the last 12 hours. You can also obtain the current height of the water above Chart Datum (the lowest water level for the lake or river).
• Check out the CHS Web site at www.charts.gc.ca, and view the electronic version of the Canadian Tide and Current Tables, which provides predicted times and heights of high and low tides, and the hourly water levels (tables) for over seven hundred stations in Canada.

CHS is responsible for surveying Canadian navigable waterways and for producing a number of nautical publications including paper and electronic charts, sailing directions, depth maps and tide and current tables. It is also responsible for raising public awareness of water level/tidal activity and changes.

You can obtain more information on forecasted water levels by visiting the DFO Web site at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

- 30 -

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michel Poulin, Director Hydrographic Planning, Marketing & Applied Research, Canadian Hydrographic Service, Fisheries & Oceans Canada (613) 995-4405

Internet : http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca