The Municipality of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, is telling residents and visitors to stay off the Mississippi River and keep clear of its banks after extending a water safety statement on August 4, 2026. The water safety statement warns that high water levels, strong currents, and unstable riverbanks now make swimming, wading, and boating unsafe.
The warning comes after an exceptionally wet July that set a rainfall record for the Ottawa area. Environment Canada recorded 259.9 mm of rain at the Ottawa Airport weather station, nearly triple the typical July average of about 88 mm. That record rain has pushed watersheds across the region well above normal levels for this time of year.
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority first issued a Water Safety Statement on August 2, noting that watersheds were on the rise. The statement was then extended two days later by the municipality. A Water Safety Statement means high flows, slippery or collapsing banks, and other hazards pose a real danger to anyone near the water, including anglers, canoeists, hikers, kids, and pets. Flooding, however, is not expected at this stage.
The Mississippi River stretches 200 kilometres from Mazinaw Lake to the Ottawa River, draining a 4,450-square-kilometre area that spans Lanark and Renfrew counties. The river has already swung between extremes this year, from severe low-water conditions in the winter to flood watches and warnings in the spring, before returning to normal by May. This late-summer surge is a direct result of July’s relentless rain.
Municipal officials are asking everyone to exercise caution and avoid any on-water recreation until conditions improve. “Please stay off the water and away from riverbanks,” the municipality emphasized in its latest update. No timeline has been given for when the safety statement might be lifted, but officials say they are monitoring the situation closely.
