An Ottawa River Flood Plain information sheet has been prepared to provide a summary of the various policies and provisions in the Township Official Plan and Zoning By-law as they relate to development along the Ottawa River and in particular related to the flood plain. Additional information and alternate formats are also available by contacting the Township Planning Department

The elevations to guide new development along the Ottawa River were provided through the Flood Damage Reduction Program (FDRP). A copy of the report is available from the Township Office upon request.

There are also a variety of stakeholders involved with the Ottawa River.

Download the Ottawa River Flood Plain Information Sheet

Please go to Flooding Information and Resources for more information.

Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board (ORRPB)

The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board was established in 1983 by the governments of Canada, Quebec, and Ontario to ensure integrated management of the principal reservoirs of the Ottawa River Basin. The goal of this integrated management is to minimize the impacts of floods and droughts along the Ottawa River and its tributaries, particularly in the Montreal Region, while maintaining the beneficial water uses such as hydro-electric energy production and preserving statutory or environmental levels and discharges in respect of other interests.

The Planning Board also ensures that relevant hydrological information, for example forecasts of river flows and levels along the Ottawa River, is made available to the public and government organizations. For more information see the ORRPB website.

Information on Ontario Power Generation (OPG) operations on the Ottawa River can be found on their website.

As there is no Conservation Authority in the stretches of the Ottawa River through Renfrew County, the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) plays a greater role along with local municipalities in the implementation of flood plain regulations. Additional information on local conditions is available from the MNR surface water monitoring centre website.

 

Spring Freshet Updates/ Flood Warnings

Posted on April 2, 2026 - The Ministry of Natural Resources– Pembroke District is advising area residents that a Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety is in effect in the District until Friday, April 10, 2026.

Residents in Renfrew County/ Pembroke District should consider the following:
Recent warm weather and precipitation have resulted in the melting of the snowpack and lake ice.
This combined with forecasted precipitation and continued warm temperatures, will
likely result in an increase to water flows on lakes and rivers.  Lower-lying portions of known flood-prone areas may be impacted to various degrees as lake/river levels rise over the next week.

>>Read the Full Bulletin

Posted by the Ottawa River Regulating Planning Board on April 2, 2026 - The Ottawa River Regulating Committee would like to inform residents that levels and flows along the Ottawa River are expected to begin increasing over the next few days due to onset of the spring freshet in the Ottawa River basin. It cautions residents along the shores of the Ottawa River from Mattawa down to the Montreal Region that throughout the spring freshet period, which can span several weeks, water levels can rise rapidly at times and cause minor flooding in low-lying areas. The levels and flows in the Ottawa River are currently close to normal but are expected to start rising sometime Friday or into the weekend depending on locations. Recent rain and mild temperatures have increased snowmelt especially in the southern and central parts of the basin. With additional rainfall events forecast over the coming days, spring runoff is expected to continue increasing. It is too early to predict the magnitude and timing of the freshet peak in the main stem of the Ottawa River. The Regulating Committee will be closely monitoring the effects of precipitation and temperature increases throughout the spring freshet period as they may cause levels and flows to change rapidly. A second press release will be published if flood risks increase.

>>Read the Full Bulletin

Check out Latest News for the beginning of hydrological forecast for Spring Freshet 2026.  Also please check out the forecasts for the region - Ottawa River Forecasts

 

Sandbags

To request sandbags and sand or to report an issue regarding flooding, please call the Township Office at 613-735-6291.