The Ontario government is investing $540,000 to help communities across the District of Muskoka strengthen flood preparedness and resilience.
The province has signed a new three-year collaborative research agreement with the University of Waterloo. According to officials, this agreement will leverage hydrologic modelling tools to inform water management decisions and give municipalities, conservation authorities and local dam operators the information they need to better prepare for flooding and optimize dam operations.
“Flooding has presented significant challenges for communities across Parry Sound-Muskoka in recent years,” said Graydon Smith, MPP of Parry Sound-Muskoka. “I’m pleased to see our government supporting research that will help municipalities and property owners better understand and prepare for potential flood risks.”
As part of the new agreement, the province will work directly with District of Muskoka and University of Waterloo researchers to use advanced modelling and analysis tailored to the watershed to enhance community preparedness and support decision-making and flood response.
Officials said the tools, developed under the university’s previous four-year, $494,500 agreement with the province, will help communities improve flood preparedness and optimize dam operations by providing valuable hydrologic information.
“Better models and improved forecasts of floods can give communities more time to prepare and help the province manage its dams to balance competing demands on Ontario’s rivers and lakes,” said Bryan Tolson, Professor at the Department of Civil and Environment Engineering, University of Waterloo.
