Public Advisory: Update (June 26) – Controlled release of water 

June 26, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro advises residents, cabin owners and travellers that water is no longer being released in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River; however, there remains a potential for additional releases if conditions change. People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Previous Update – June 22:

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that the company is still releasing water in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River.

The Company has stopped releasing water for now from the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake, but could start releasing again at any time.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Previous Update – June 13:

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that the company is still releasing water at the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Norther Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that water is still being released in multiple locations and a large rainfall event on top of continuing snow melt could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

Hydro is releasing water at the following locations:

  • Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake
  • Upper Salmon area, at the North Salmon Dam Spillway into the North Salmon River

In addition, Hydro may be required to release water in the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Norther Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland at the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River AND at the Granite Canal Bypass structure in the Granite Canal area. Releases at the Granite overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Previous update: June 8, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that water is still being released in multiple locations and a large rainfall event on top of continuing snow melt could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

Hydro is releasing water at the following locations:

  • Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake
  • Upper Salmon area, at the North Salmon Dam Spillway into the North Salmon River

In addition, Hydro may be required to release water in the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Norther Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • in the Hinds Lake area of Western Newfoundland at the Hinds Lake Spillway through the Hinds Lake Brook into Grand Lake;
  • in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland at the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River AND at the Granite Canal Bypass structure in the Granite Canal area. Releases at the Granite overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Previous update: June 8, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that water is still being released in multiple locations and a large rainfall event on top of continuing snow melt could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

Hydro is releasing water at the following locations:

  • Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake
  • Upper Salmon area, at the North Salmon Dam Spillway into the North Salmon River

Discharge from Millertown Dam into the Exploits River remains high as Red Indian Lake is nearing full supply level and lake inflows are elevated due to rainfall and snow melt.

In addition, Hydro may be required to release water in the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Norther Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • in the Hinds Lake area of Western Newfoundland at the Hinds Lake Spillway through the Hinds Lake Brook into Grand Lake;
  • in the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland at Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River;
  • in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland at the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Previous update: June 6, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that water is still being released in multiple locations and a large rainfall event on top of continuing snow melt could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

Hydro is releasing water at the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake.

Water is no longer being released at the Granite Canal Bypass structure in the Granite Canal area. There is still the potential for additional releases at the Bypass or at the Granite Canal Overflow Dykes into Grey River.

Discharge from Millertown Dam into the Exploits River remains high as Red Indian Lake is nearing full supply level and lake inflows are elevated due to rainfall and snow melt.

In addition, Hydro may be required to release water in the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Norther Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • in the Hinds Lake area of Western Newfoundland at the Hinds Lake Spillway through the Hinds Lake Brook into Grand Lake;
  • in the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland at Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River;
  • in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland at the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.
  • in the Upper Salmon area of Central Newfoundland the company may need to release water at the North Salmon Dam Spillway into the North Salmon River.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Previous update: June 3, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that the company is still releasing water in multiple locations and the rain forecast for this week, on top of continuing snow melt, could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

The Company is releasing water at the following locations:

  • the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake;
  • the Granite Canal Bypass Bypass Structure.

Discharge from Millertown Dam into the Exploits River remains high as Red Indian Lake is nearing full supply level and lake inflows are elevated due to rainfall and snow melt.

The Company may be required to release water in the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • in the Hinds Lake area of Western Newfoundland, at the Hinds Lake Spillway through the Hinds Lake Brook into Grand Lake;
  • in the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland at Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River;
  • in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland at the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.
  • in the Upper Salmon area of Central Newfoundland the company may need to release water at the North Salmon Dam Spillway into the North Salmon River.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Updated June 2, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that the company is still releasing water in multiple locations and the rain forecast for this week on top of continuing snow melt could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

The Company is releasing water at the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake.

Discharge from Millertown Dam into the Exploits River remains high as Red Indian Lake is nearing full supply level and lake inflows are elevated due to rainfall and snow melt.

The Company may be required to release water in the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Norther Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • in the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland at Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River;
  • in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland at the Granite Canal Bypass and the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.
  • in the Upper Salmon area of Central Newfoundland the company may need to release water at the North Salmon Dam Spillway into the North Salmon River.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Updated June 1, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that the company is still releasing water in multiple locations and the rain forecast for this week on top of continuing snow melt could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

The Company is releasing water at the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake.

Discharge from Millertown Dam into the Exploits River remains high as Red Indian Lake is nearing full supply level and lake inflows are elevated due to rainfall and snow melt.

The Company may be required to release water in the following locations:

  • in the Jackson’s Arm and White Bay area on Newfoundland’s Great Norther Peninsula at the Cat Arm Spillway into the Cat Arm River;
  • in the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland at Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River;
  • in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland at the Granite Canal Bypass and the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Updated May 29, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers that the company is still releasing water in multiple locations and the rain forecast for next week could lead to a need to release water in additional locations.

  • The Company is releasing water at the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake.
  • The Company is increasing discharge at Millertown Dam into the Exploits River as Red Indian Lake is nearing full supply level and lake inflows remain high.

The Company may be required to release water at:

Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland
Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland

The Company may be required to release water at the Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River; the Granite Canal Bypass and the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite Canal Spillway or overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Updated May 26, 2020

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers in Central Newfoundland that the Company is now releasing water at the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake.

The Company is no longer releasing water at the Granite Canal Bypass structure in the Granite Canal area. There is still the potential for additional releases at the Bypass or at the Granite Canal Overflow Dykes into Grey River.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Updated May 23, 2020:


Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers in Central Newfoundland that the Company is releasing water at the Granite Canal Bypass structure in the Granite Canal area and there is potential to release water at the Star Lake Spillway into Star Brook and then Red Indian Lake because of significant snow melt in the watershed.

There is also potential for releases at the Granite Canal Spillway and Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite Canal Spillway or overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.



Updated: May 21

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers in Central and Southern Newfoundland that the Company is no longer releasing water in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland but there is still a potential for additional releases at the Granite Canal Bypass structure or at the Granite Canal Spillway and Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite Canal Spillway or overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

People are advised to use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Updated: May 19

Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers in Central and Southern Newfoundland that water is still being released at one location. In the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland, Hydro is releasing water at the Granite Canal Bypass structure. There is also potential for releases at the Granite Canal Spillway and Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite Canal Spillway or overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

In the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland, there are currently no additional releases of water at the Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River.

Please use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Updated: May 17

Residents, cabin owners and travellers in Central and Southern Newfoundland are advised that Hydro is no longer releasing water in the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland. However, there is still a potential for additional releases at the Granite Canal Bypass structure or at the Granite Canal Spillway and Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite Canal Spillway or overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

In the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland, there are currently no additional releases of water at the Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River.

Please use these areas with great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.


Previous advisory: May 11

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is advising residents, cabin owners and travellers in Central and Southern Newfoundland that the Company is still releasing water at multiple locations.

In the Granite Canal area accessed from Central Newfoundland the Company is releasing water at the Granite Canal Bypass structure and the Granite Overflow Dykes into Grey River. Releases at the Granite Canal overflow dykes may wash out the road to Burnt Dam, located 15.5 km from the Granite turn-off.

In the Burnt Pond and White Bear River areas of Central and Southern Newfoundland the Company is no longer releasing water at the Burnt Dam Spillway into the White Bear River but there is a potential for additional releases if inflows increase.

People are advised to use these areas ewith great caution as water levels and flows will be higher than normal and may be unpredictable.