JASON PARKS

EDITOR

Surprising and steady rounds of rain this August have kept the County green and lush this summer — but they have also forced Quinte Conservation to issue a rare, late-summer water safety statement.

High flows, unsafe banks, or other factors could be dangerous for anglers, boaters, swimmers, children, or pets. Flooding is not expected.

Consecon Creek as well as the Skootamatta River in Central Hastings are are at their highest-ever levels recorded in the month of August. Above-average summer rainfall has resulted in a notable rise in lake levels and river flows across the Quinte Watershed. In some cases, the rising waters are approaching spring-like conditions.

In the first two weeks of August, the rainfall was equivalent to that typically received for the entire month. These steady rains in late summer follow a wet spring and early summer which also saw above-average seasonal rainfall.

The rain has forced local farmers to adjust their harvesting schedules and to stay in tune with hourly forecasts.

One long-time local farmer said the wet summer was much like that of 1996, when he harvested wheat — generally a late-July task— on the last day of August due to the spring-like conditions.

The County’s wheat harvest has been a series of fits and starts over the past month — although most grain growers have been happy with above-average yields when conditions have been dry enough to reap.

Thanks to steady amounts of late summer precipitation, water levels at Consecon Creek are the highest ever recorded for the month of August. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

Soybean and corn crops look lush, tall and healthy — although a blast of late summer heat is needed to finish off the growing cycle and create potential bumper crop harvests.

“The crops look good from the road, but we need sunshine for sure. Too many overcast and smoky days this summer haven’t helped the heat units,” noted Quinte Isle Farm’s Steve Black.

Maria Melo, of Waupoos’s U-Pick Highbush Blueberries, reports bushes “heaving” with blueberries, and a season running a full week longer than usual.

“There were lots of blossoms in the spring, but we had no idea until July came along. July was hot and dry, bringing the berries on full force, and then the rain in August meant we didn’t have to run irrigation lines or pump. Not once,” she noted.

Business is brisk at the blueberry farm, with regular customers from the County, Kingston, and even two hours north of the 401 coming to enjoy the blue bounty.

Blueberries were so plentiful at the family-owned business, in addition to supplying PECish, Stellas and Elmbrook Farm, Ms. Melos arranged two charity picking days this month. Groups representing five local food charities harvested a total of 200 litres of the blues for their programs.

On the other side of the coin, some dairy farmers have struggled with hay harvests due to the rain.

“The quantity has been good but it’s been a tough year for dry hay,” one dairy farmer said. “I was bailing in a four-wheel drive last week.”

Grape growers, too, are eyeing forecasts and hoping for drier conditions, to ensure good sugar content in the fruit.

Late summer water levels that are well above the median can be concerning for land owners on or near shorelines.

Summer rainfall events have caused beaver dam washouts in the region. Such breaches are difficult to predict and can cause a sudden release of a large volume of water, causing a rapid change in water levels directly up-and-downstream.

Meanwhile, high water levels could affect docks installed on the waterways. QC does not expect damage to residences from heavy rain. It does recommend securing loose items, docks, and boats to the shoreline. They can easily be washed away as the water rises.

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