Irvine River near Salem Water Level
Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Irvine River near Salem in Canada, ON, Canada, built from official government gauge data.
- Location Canada, ON, Canada
- Watershed upper grand
- Primary gauge 02GA005 (Water Survey of Canada)
About Irvine River near Salem
Irvine River - a vital waterway in the Upper Grand watershed.
The Irvine River near Salem serves as an essential artery within Ontario's Upper Grand watershed. With a drainage area of approximately 196 square kilometres, this river is pivotal for maintaining local ecosystems and providing water resources for the surrounding communities. The river flows in the embrace of its peers, including Blue Springs Creek and the Grand River, forming a network of waterways that contribute to the diverse hydrology of the region.
The watershed context
The Upper Grand watershed is a landscape shaped by snowmelt-driven seasonal hydrology. During the spring, typically late April to May, meltwater from snowpack leads to a freshet, resulting in increased flow across the rivers in the area, including the Irvine River. This rise supports aquatic ecosystems and local flora and fauna, as diverse habitats flourish with the rush of water. As summer approaches, natural drawdown occurs from July to September, with evaporation and reduced inflow leading to lower water levels. This rhythm continues into early winter when ice begins to form and flows decline further, signaling another seasonal change.
Why the data matters here
Regular monitoring of the Irvine River, conducted by the Water Survey of Canada, provides vital insights into the river’s health and performance over time. Today’s reading at the Irvine River near Salem can be compared against the historical median for this calendar day, aiding in understanding current conditions. Tracking this data is crucial not only for assessing the riparian ecosystem's vitality but also for water management in agriculture and community usage. With 19 years of record-keeping, this gauge informs local stakeholders about trends in water levels, helping them prepare for the seasonal shifts that characterize the Upper Grand watershed.
How this page is built
Readings come from official government gauges and are rolled into daily records: the daily mean, high and low for every day on record. Each calendar day gets its own baseline from the full history, so the level you see is compared against what this specific date usually looks like rather than an annual average.
How Nibi Metrics works · Water stories
Nibi Metrics - live water levels, flow, and forecasts for 17,900+ lakes and rivers
Real-time water levels, forecasts, and alerts for lakes and rivers in a growing number of countries. Built on official government data.
Nibi Metrics tracks more than 17,900 gauged lakes and rivers in a growing number of countries, reading directly from official federal monitoring networks: the Water Survey of Canada, the United States Geological Survey, Quebec's provincial hydrometric network, the Environment Agency for England, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales, the Office of Public Works in Ireland (waterlevel.ie), the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), the State of Queensland's water monitoring network, and on the Great Lakes the Canadian Hydrographic Service and NOAA. Every number on the platform is measured, not modelled - taken from a government gauge on the water itself and compared against that location's own historical record for this exact date.
What you can see for any monitored lake or river
The level right now, in feet or metres, updated as the source agency publishes new readings - for many stations that is every five to fifteen minutes. How today compares to typical: every location carries its own typical-for-this-date band built from its historical record, so a reading is never just a number - it is above, below, or near what this water usually does on this calendar day. Which way it is moving: a measured RISING, FALLING, or STEADY verdict computed from the gauge's own recent readings, with the rate of change - the difference between a flood ending and one beginning. What comes next: level forecasts up to 72 hours ahead, driven by the gauge's recent behaviour, upstream water, and quantitative precipitation forecasts, alongside live radar, lightning, and weather for the surrounding region.
Alerts that watch the water for you
Set a threshold on any location - a level, a distance above typical, or a rate of climb - and Nibi emails or notifies you the moment the gauge crosses it. Cottagers use it for spring freshet, anglers for river conditions, marinas and municipalities for operations. The scanning runs around the clock against the same measured data shown on every page.
Where Nibi comes from
Nibi means water in Anishinaabemowin. The platform began at a family cottage on Lake Muskoka, Ontario, where the spring melt floods the shoreline most years and the only forecast was standing on the dock, looking, and guessing. It grew into an independent, member-funded platform run by Muskoka Research Inc. - no investors, no data resale, and a privacy policy shorter than most cookie banners. The core data is free for everyone, forever; paid plans add automation like multi-location alerts, deep history, and reports.
Coverage
Nibi spans the continent: every Canadian province and territory with active federal gauges - from Vancouver Island rivers to the Muskoka lakes, prairie reservoirs, and Quebec's hydrometric network - and the United States from Maine to the Texas Hill Country, the Ohio Valley, and the Pacific Northwest. Coverage grows where the water news is: when a basin floods, its gauges join the platform with their full historical records attached. Many stations report every five to fifteen minutes; most report at least hourly; every page states exactly when its gauge last spoke.
Free forever, funded by members
The core promise is simple: the water data is free, for everyone, forever. Live levels, maps, radar, and recent history never sit behind a paywall. Paid plans fund the platform by adding automation - multi-location alerts, decades of history, longer forecasts, and PDF reports - so the people who need more carry the cost for everyone who just needs to check the lake before driving up. There are no investors and no advertising deals shaping what the data says.
Water Stories
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For five years, spring 2019 was the mark every Lake Muskoka decision answered to. In April 2026 the lake went two centimeters higher - and the official books have not caught up yet.
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The science of snow water equivalent and why it drives the season ahead.
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Why Central and South Texas rivers go from gravel beds to fifty-year records in an afternoon - including July 2026 on the Nueces.
One percent, every year, forever - unwrapping hydrology's most misunderstood phrase, and how it differs from our own percentiles.
How every number is computed - About the platform
