August 5, 2025 - Collaborative Water Data Viewer Launced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 5^th, 2025

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority Launches Online Access to Real-Time Water Data

ALL SAUGEEN WATERSHED MUNICIPALITIES – Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, Municipality of Brockton, Township of Chatsworth, Municipality of Grey Highlands, Town of Hanover, Township of Howick, Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Municipality of South Bruce, Township of Huron-Kinloss, Municipality of Kincardine, Town of Minto, Township of Wellington-North, Town of Saugeen Shores, Township of Southgate, Municipality of West Grey.

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) is pleased to announce that real-time data from its hydrometric monitoring network is now available online through the Collaborative Water Data Viewer (CWDV). This open-data platform allows municipalities, stakeholders, and the public to explore up-to-date watershed information directly from SVCA’s monitoring stations. 

SVCA has been sharing historic rainfall and snow data, updated on a biannual basis, since 2023. Now in addition to this historical data, the CWDV updates hourly, as new data becomes available from SVCA’s hydrometric network, providing users with near real-time and historical information. The CWDV also provides access to additional historic and current data, not previously available, including water level, streamflow, air temperature, water temperature, and soil moisture.

Over 180 stations across several Conservation Authorities are available on the CWDV, with some records dating back as far as 1914.

Data from SVCA’s hydrometric network is collected and managed through the Water Information System by Kisters (WISKI). Through a long-standing cost-sharing partnership with 10 other Conservation Authorities in the Western Ontario Data Hub, hosted by Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, SVCA now makes this information available at no cost to users.

“The CWDV is an important step forward in transparency, accessibility, and watershed engagement. Our partners and the public can now access reliable environmental monitoring data in real time, supporting emergency preparedness, research, and responsible planning.”

-          Katie Thomas, Manager of Water Resources at SVCA.

The CWDV allows users to graph, view, and download data in a range of formats. It is designed to serve everyone from municipal emergency coordinators to curious residents and local educators. Training opportunities for municipal users are planned for late 2025, and SVCA is exploring future expansion to include additional data sets such as groundwater and water quality.

Explore the Collaborative Water Data Viewer today at:

www.saugeenconservation.ca/data

For more information, please contact:
Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority
Email: media@svca.on.ca  |  Cell: 519-369-4295
Website: www.saugeenconservation.ca

Photo credit: SVCA. Stream gauge station and rain gauge located on the South Pine River above. Data is collected automatically by the station and transmitted hourly through a satellite network for use by flood forecasting and warning staff.