The MVCA monitors the effect of development and land use to assess watershed conditions. This is done through field monitoring, remote sensing and gathering and interpreting information on the status of water and water related natural resources on an ongoing basis. The careful monitoring of water levels ensures that a flood forecasting and warning service is available to assist municipal officials and the general public in taking appropriate action in a flood emergency.

Water control on the Mississippi River includes:

• Water supply
• Flood protection
• Recreation and tourism
• Fish and wildlife habitat

Water control structures currently owned and operated by the MVCA include:

• Shabomeka Lake Dam
• Mazinaw Lake Dam
• Kashwakamak Lake Dam  
• Big Gull Lake Dam  
• Mississagagon Lake Dam
• Farm Lake Dam
• Pine Lake Dam
• Bennett Lake Dam
• Widow Lake Dam
• Lanark Dam  
• Carleton Place Dam

Water control structures owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and operated by MVCA include:

• Summit Lake Dam
• Mosque Lake Weir  
• Palmerston Lake Dam
• Canonto Lake Dam
• Malcolm Lake Dam
• Clayton Lake Dam

Water control structures owned by Ontario Power Generation and stoplog operations undertaken by MVCA include:

• Crotch Lake Dam
• High Falls Generating Station

Other generating stations on the Mississippi River which are run-of-the-river type structures (they generate power based on whatever flows exist in the river and do not have a substantial reservoir to augment those flows) and MVCA has no involvement with include:

• Appleton Generating Station
• Enerdu Generating Station
• Almonte Generating Station
• Galetta Generating Station

MVCA also owns and maintains additional flood and erosion control structures including:

• Carp River Channelization Works