Monthly Archive

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority releases 2019 Annual Report

Rideau Watershed, July 17, 2020 — The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) provides quality programs and services based on a watershed model and has been doing so for 54 years. These programs benefit the 450,000 people who call the Rideau watershed home. 

Our wide-ranging programs cover a huge geographic area, 4,000 km², from Central Frontenac to Merrickville-Wolford and downriver to the City of Ottawa. Through science, stewardship, education, policy and regulations the RVCA strives to manage local natural resources sustainably to ensure a healthy watershed for everyone.

“Our programs protect the health of our watershed and the people who live here,” said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, RVCA General Manager. “Our goal is to build a healthy watershed and resilient communities by balancing human, environmental and economic needs.”

Below are some accomplishments reached in 2019.

Highlights

• 200,000 visitors to RVCA’s 11 conservation areas, which offer 42 kilometres of public trails
• 11,379 students participated in curriculum-based, experiential outdoor education programs at Baxter and Foley Mountain Conservation Areas
• 195,100 trees planted on 100 properties (6.4 million trees planted since 1984)
• 13,553 trees and shrubs planted on 73 waterfront properties to naturalize shorelines
• 145 clean water projects approved for funding to help watershed landowners complete $951,818 worth of local water quality improvements
• 3,687 m² of invasive species removed during 12 volunteer removal events
• 1,159 Planning Act applications reviewed
• 342 permit applications processed under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act
• 692 septic permit applications processed for new or replacement systems
• 630 septic systems reinspected around watershed lakes
• 156 sites sampled for water quality on lakes, rivers and major tributaries
• 18 flood messages issued for the Rideau watershed, 17 for the Ottawa River watershed

“It’s so important to invest in the conservation and protection of our watershed for the good of our local economy and our community, now and into the future.” said Ms. Casgrain-Robertson. “I want to thank staff, member municipalities, partners and volunteers who helped make 2019 such a success and we look forward to working with our many partners in the year ahead.”

For your copy of the RVCA 2019 Annual Report, visit www.rvca.ca or call 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 for a hard copy.

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For more information contact:
Diane Downey
Director, Communications and Outreach
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. ext. 1126

255,000 trees planted this spring – bringing RVCA total to 6.6 million

RIDEAU VALLEY WATERSHED (including communities of Ottawa, Kemptville, Perth, Smiths Falls, Westport and more), July 16, 2020 – The Rideau Valley Conservation (RVCA) forestry team successfully planted 255,000 trees this spring, bringing the conservation authority’s overall tree planting total to an impressive 6.6 million.

Trees were planted in partnership with private and public landowners on marginal, empty or idle fields across the watershed. Native seedlings including birch, bur oak, cedar, red maple, white pine and white spruce took root over several weeks this spring.

“Thank you to our watershed landowners for working with us through this unique planting season,” said Scott Muldoon, RVCA Forestry Program Manager. “With another successful tree planting season complete, we are now looking ahead to next year.”

Staff are looking for landowners wishing to reforest their retired farm fields or otherwise empty and idle lands. The RVCA’s program is a low-cost, full-service program that includes free site visits, custom planting plans, site preparation, tree planting, follow-up assessments and maintenance to give the seedlings the best chance of survival. All of this is available for only $0.15 per tree, or $120 an acre.

“This program offers landowners easy and affordable tree planting services while helping us meet our larger watershed management goals,” said Muldoon.  

The forestry team is booking site visits this summer to plan for the 2021 spring planting season. The planting area must be at least one acre in size, suitable for tree planting and the landowner must be willing to plant 1,000 trees or more.

Typical costs are $0.15/tree ($120/acre). The RVCA and its planting partners cover all other costs.

Planting partners including the City of Ottawa’s Green Acres program, Forests Ontario, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Hulse, Playfair and McGarry Funeral Homes, One Tree Planted, Stingray LiVE 88.5 and the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation contribute to the forestry program to keep costs low for landowners.

RVCA’s reforestation program is a great way for landowners to improve their property. Tree planting is also one of the most practical ways to take care of our watershed and the wider environment. Over time, the trees reduce erosion, establish a forest canopy, lessen the risk of flooding, store carbon dioxide, and provide a wildlife habitat

If you want to plant trees, call Scott Muldoon at 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1175 or email to learn more.

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For more information:
Scott Muldoon
RVCF Forestry Program Manager
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1175