Rideau River below Manotick Water Level
Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Rideau River below Manotick in Canada, ON, Canada, built from official government gauge data.
- Location Canada, ON, Canada
- Watershed rideau
- Primary gauge 02LA012 (Water Survey of Canada)
About Rideau River below Manotick
Rideau River below Manotick - A vital stretch of the Rideau system.
The Rideau River below Manotick is an essential section of the Rideau River, serving both ecological and recreational roles in the region. As part of the broader Rideau watershed, this stretch of river is influenced by the seasonal rhythms typical of Ontario's climate, notably the snowmelt-driven hydrology.
The watershed context
Draining roughly 3,140 square kilometres above the station, the Rideau River below Manotick draws on a diverse landscape that includes agricultural land, urban areas, and natural forests. This section of the river is connected to numerous tributaries and neighboring waterways, including the Kemptville Creek near Kemptville and the Tay River in Perth. These connections create a network of waterways that contribute to the ecological health of the region, providing habitats for various aquatic species and supporting local biodiversity.
Seasonally, water levels in the Rideau River exhibit notable changes, with the spring freshet typically occurring from late April to May as snowmelt raises water flow substantially. During the summer months, from July to September, natural drawdowns are expected as evaporation and lower inflows take hold, reflecting the river’s dynamic nature. As winter approaches, particularly in early winter, the river sees a decline in levels coinciding with ice formation.
Why the data matters here
Today’s readings from the Rideau River below Manotick are particularly significant as they offer insights into the river's current health and flow conditions. This data is not only crucial for flood monitoring but also essential for understanding how environmental factors impact recreational activities like fishing, boating, and waterfront enjoyment. By comparing today's measurement against the median for this calendar day drawn from a historical record spanning over 45 years, residents and visitors alike can gain a better perspective on the river’s current state in relation to its typical conditions. The operating agency responsible for these measurements, the Water Survey of Canada (WSC), ensures that these insights are readily available for all stakeholders involved.
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.
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