Back to SearchFrom the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority - July 31, 2025 Update
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff have now safely cleared the debris that had prevented the sluice gate at Stratford’s RT Orr Dam from closing. With that sluice gate now closed, Lake Victoria will begin to refill. How quickly the reservoir fills, and normal recreational activities can resume, will depend on rainfall.
The UTRCA is closely monitoring flows in the Avon River below the dam. Water levels may be lowered in the channel between the dam and John Street to maintain flows downstream. It is also possible that Lake Victoria may go down slightly as discharge from the dam is fine-tuned but it is not expected to fall significantly.
UTRCA staff continue to move aquatic wildlife that had been stranded as Lake Victoria drained over the past few days, but the gradual change in water levels gave many species enough time to move on their own. Please continue to watch out for turtles that may be moving along or across road, and report any turtle sightings on the Turtle Reporting Form. Your report will go directly to the Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) team who will respond ASAP. If you are unable to complete this form, please call Scott Gillingwater, Species at Risk Biologist: 519-451-2800 ext. 236.
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From the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority - July 30, 2025 Update
Water levels in Lake Victoria continue to lower at a rate of 25mm/hr. Debris under the sluice gate still prevents the gate from fully closing.
As the water level recedes, the river channel will become narrow, exposing most of the lake bed. The UTRCA’s Aquatic Biologist has been on site monitoring the water level, quality, and the impact on aquatic species. The gradual draw down has provided time for species to move to larger pools of water; however, as water levels continue to drop and water temperatures increase, some aquatic wildlife may get stranded. The UTRCA will respond to these instances as appropriate and feasible. No aquatic species at risk or mussels have been found in the area.
The draw down will continue until the water level reaches a point where staff can safely access the gate and remove the debris. The gate will then be closed again so that the reservoir can begin to refill, while maintaining downstream flows. How quickly it refills will depend on how much rain we get.
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From the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority - July 29, 2025 Update
During the storm on Thursday, July 24, a sluice gate at the RT Orr Dam in Stratford was operated automatically to release water and prevent flooding of upstream buildings and roads. While the gate was only open a short time, it was long enough to draw debris under the gate so that it could not be closed completely.
Efforts by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) to flush out the debris have been unsuccessful. As a result, Lake Victoria has been draining. It is likely that the lake will be fully lowered before the debris is able to be removed and the gate closed.
Lake Victoria will begin to refill once the gate is closed again, but how quickly it fills will depend on rainfall. It is important to maintain flow in the Avon River downstream of the dam during this process, to support aquatic health.
The UTRCA understands having the lake down even briefly in the summer causes significant problems. There are a number of businesses, events, and activities that will be affected by this unavoidable drawdown of Lake Victoria.
The UTRCA and the City of Stratford appreciate your patience and understanding as this issue is addressed and will provide updates as available.
Updates will be posted on the UTRCA RT Orr Dam webpage.
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