Monthly Archive

Improving and Doubling the Size of a Wetland

The National Capital Commission and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Team Up to Enhance Black Rapids Creek

An important wetland in the Greenbelt’s west end will soon become a bigger and better piece of nature. The National Capital Commission (NCC) will team up with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) and the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund to enhance and double the size of the existing wetland in the headwaters of Black Rapids Creek.

The Black Rapids Wetland Enhancement Project will see the headwater wetland just off Woodroffe Avenue double in size from nearly 3,500 square meters to almost 7,000 square metres. It will be excavated and enhanced to include standing water, wetland plants and other habitat features such as turtle basking logs and nesting areas.

The Black Rapids Creek is a valuable meandering six kilometre stretch that provides habitat for some 19 fish species and numerous amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Located in Ottawa’s west end, the creek’s headwaters begin around Greenbank Road and from there it flows east crossing Woodroffe Avenue, Merivale Road and Prince of Wales Drive before emptying into the Rideau River south of the Black Rapids Lock Station.

These enhancements will allow for improved water quality, more diverse plants to grow and provide winter and summer habitat for reptiles and amphibians. Local waterfowl will also benefit, as wetland areas like this are ideal spots to safely rear and feed their young. Root wads, sweeper trees and basking logs will be installed for turtles, waterfowl, amphibians and aquatic insects to use.

“Headwater areas and wetland features are quite unassuming areas, but they are very important pieces of the bigger watershed ecosystem,” said RVCA biologist Jennifer Lamoureux. “Having healthy, well-functioning headwaters means big benefits downstream. Improving this wetland feature will benefit Black Rapids Creek and also the Rideau River.”

The project construction is scheduled to start in early September and should take approximately three to four weeks to complete. There should be little to no impact on traffic on Woodroofe Avenue (north of Fallowfield). The area will be fenced off and signage installed to ensure public safety during construction.

“The National Capital Commission is delighted to partner with the RVCA and Great Lakes Community Guardian Fund to make real gains for this watershed and the health of the NCC’s Greenbelt natural areas,” said Eva Katic, Acting Chief, Greenbelt and Natural Resources “The engagement of these experts and local volunteers will bring us closer to achieving our natural area restoration goals for this project.”

Additional work will be undertaken by RVCA staff in coming years to monitor the health of the wetland habitat. “Ensuring success is critical,” says Lamoureux. “We want to make sure that this project thrives and operates as predicted. If not, we look for solutions and make additional efforts to ensure that the habitat succeeds.”

Changes do take time, but it is anticipated that the wetland will quickly become a vibrant natural area — making it a more valuable new feature for the health of the Canada’s Capital City.

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Free Site Visits to Ottawa Residents Wanting to Plant Trees

Landowners thinking of planting 500 trees or more are encouraged to book their free site visit.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority offers private landowners a tree planting program that helps them get technical advice, planting plans and funding for trees. The goal is to make planting trees easy and affordable.

"If someone is thinking about planting trees next spring, now is the time where we like to get together with landowners and talk," says Scott Danford, RVCA Forestry Program Manager. "Site visits help us understand the landowner’s objectives, inspect the property’s conditions and then work together to decide the best way to reforest the land."

To be eligible, landowners need at least one acre of land and are willing to plant a minimum of 500 trees. If you have the space, RVCA can help get trees growing on your land for 15 cents a tree. Since 1983, RVCA has planted over 5.4 million trees on private property for landowners.

“The RVCA provides professional reforestation services including the site preparation, planning and planting,” says Danford. “We want to make it as easy and affordable as possible." The RVCA looks to ensure successful growth, with post planting visits and follow-up operations.

Tree planting is one the most practical ways to take care of our watershed and the wider environment. Trees improve local biodiversity by providing shelter for birds and wildlife, while at the same time providing us with windbreaks, screening and shade. Forests act as a major filter and cleansing system for water that soaks into the ground and feeds our wells and underground water systems. The newly planted trees take a little tender loving care in their early years, but once they are “free-growing,” they provide all of these advantages for up to 80 years or more.

The program is made possible thanks to the RVCA’s 18 member municipalities, the City of Ottawa’s Green Acre Program, the Province of Ontario’s 50 Million Tree Program, Forest Ontario and numerous private businesses and watershed residents who donate to the tree planting program.

To get more information or to book a free site visit, contact Scott Danford, RVCA Forestry Program Manager at 613-692-3571 or 1-800-387-5304, ext. 1175.