The streams and rivers in the Rideau Valley watershed are home to a variety of plants and animals.

RVCA staff collect information on the physical conditions of the watershed — vegetation, wetlands, shorelines, land uses. We also look at fish communities and benthic invertebrates. We look see how aquatic and terrestrial creatures interact with their environment. All this information is used to create a picture of the conditions of our streams, lakes, rivers and overall watershed. In turn, this information will set the management direction for the future.

Information is compiled and summarized in RVCA catchment reports and subwatershed reports.

The drought status in the Rideau River watershed remains at “Severe” because sustained flows in the streams and rivers have not been restored.

As has been the case all summer, rainfall has been very erratic with significant amounts recorded at some monitoring stations and very little at others. There has been enough rain in the last two weeks to make many watershed residents forget that there is still a drought. Lawns are green. Farm crops are close to being ready for harvest.

Recent heavy but localized rain was not sufficient to change the drought status in the Rideau River watershed from “Severe.”

Streamflows and lake levels continue to decline throughout the watershed. At the climate station at Kemptville, 44 millimetres of rain was recorded on September 10. Both Smiths Falls and Rideau Ferry received 26 but all of 2 mm was recorded at the station at Innisville east of Perth. Where the heavier rainfall occurred, levels increased but they quickly fell back to where they had been.

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
PO Box 599, 3889 Rideau Valley Drive
Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5 (corner of Prince of Wales & Rideau Valley Drive)

Hours of Operation:  8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Phone:  613-692-3571  |  1-800-267-3504 (toll-free)

Fax:  613-692-0831

E-mail   

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is headquarters to :
Ottawa Septic System Office
Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Office
LandOwner Resource Centre

Staff Directory  Board of Directors

     

 

 

Watch for dates to help us plant trees and shoreline shrubs. Our Shoreline Naturalization Program, City Stream Watch Program and various other special projects often look for people to help.

Rideau Valley Conservation’s stewardship projects offer opportunities to get your hands dirty while taking action in your community. We partner with private landowners, watershed residents, municipalities, and agricultural and academic communities to protect and enhance our natural environment. From habitat enhancement, to tree plantings and clean-ups, your efforts will have an immediate and positive impact on the local environment, and contribute to long-term sustainability.

Follow our volunteer calendar for upcoming events.

Winter 2016 took an unusually long time to arrive and has had trouble staying. Now it looks like it may be leaving early.

A record snowstorm on February 16, some rain on the 24 followed by cold has made for a frosty start to March. Conservation Authority staff measured the snow on the ground on March 1 finding the depth and water equivalent to be slightly above the historical average. The snow that fell on Tuesday night and into Wednesday has increased the snowpack to about 25 percent above normal for the time of year.

Weather forecasts indicate that temperatures will rise through the coming weekend and into next week to above freezing with little precipitation. That trend is expected to persist for at least the next two weeks. Generally, spring is forecast by The Weather Network to be warmer than normal and drier although there is the possibility of some further snow events and brief periods of cool temperatures.

If the warm temperatures come as forecast, much of the snow can be expected to be melted and water levels and flows to rise gradually over the next two weeks. This gradual process is expected to bring a minor peak with only low-lying areas along rivers and lakes likely to be inundated this spring.

City of Ottawa crews have begun the annual ice removal program on the Rideau River between Bronson Avenue and Rideau Falls. With the thaw expected next week and thinner ice than usual to start with, it may be easier going than in past years (more information: City of Ottawa information at 311).

Water levels on lakes and flows in the streams are presently at or slightly above normal for the time of year as a result of the January weather and thaws that happened through February. With the changing levels that can be expected over the next weeks, ice cover on lakes, ditches, local streams and rivers will be increasingly unstable. Caution should be exercised by everyone when near local waterbodies. Parents should inform their children of the risks and provide appropriate supervision.

RVCA will continue to monitor conditions and will issue further statements when or if there is an indication that the situation can be expected to change significantly.

With a definite declining trend of the water levels of Bobs Lake and Christie Lake, the Flood Watch that has been in effect specific to those lakes since April 11 is now cancelled.

With little precipitation over the last two weeks and, therefore, declining inflow to contend with, Parks Canada staff have been able to gradually bring the levels of both lakes back down to target operating ranges.

Water levels in the rest of the watershed are also decreasing and are close to averages for the time of year. However, the water is still relatively high and is cold. Caution is advised for anyone who has reason to be around water and children need to be warned of the risks.

RVCA will continue to monitor conditions and will issue further statements when or if there is an indication that conditions can be expected to change significantly.

The last significant rainfall in the Rideau River watershed on June 5 caused streamflows to increase and helped crop growth, but the effect has worn off and the lack of rain since has once again left flows dropping and crops in need of more water.

Rainfall recorded at Kemptville indicates that the Moderate Drought severity has been reached in the southern parts of the watershed. However, the drought severity overall in the watershed is still Minor but is expected to reach Moderate status late next week. Forecast rain next week is not expected to have a significant impact.

Streamflows increased to about 50% of normal after the June 5 rain but have declined again to about 15% of normal for the time of year. The present flow on the Jock River is less than what is typically seen during the annual lowest flow period in early September.

Small streams will be going dry which will put stress on the various aquatic species. Lake levels in the upper half of the watershed will continue to decline which can be expected to introduce more hazards to navigation. The challenge for Parks Canada staff to balance water levels in the reservoir lakes and the Canal will be increasingly difficult.

Staff at the Perth and the Smiths Falls Drinking Water Treatment Plants are monitoring the condition of the source waters and amending treatment as necessary.

While water conservation is recommended for everyone in the watershed as a normal practise it is less critical in the urban area of Ottawa that is served by a water system that draws from the Ottawa River. Those who have permits for taking water from surface or groundwater sources are encouraged to reduce their actual taking as much as possible and residents on wells will need to use water conservatively. Municipalities may invoke water use bylaws and residents should find out what bylaws are in effect in their municipalities regarding water use as well as outdoor fires.

Conservation Authority staff continue to monitor conditions and communicate with water managers throughout the watershed through the Rideau Valley Water Response Team. An update of this statement will be issued on Thursday, June 23.

To learn more about Ontario’s Low Water Response program visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/low-water-responseprogram. Also, visit the RVCA website (www.rvca.ca) for local conditions.

In order that we can track impacts of the drought conditions in the watershed, we request that any individuals or businesses in the Rideau Watershed who may be experiencing difficulties with their wells please contact the Conservation Authority by calling 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504, ext. 1128 or 1132.

With no rain until Monday in weather forecasts, it is expected that the drought status for the Rideau River watershed will pass the threshold from Minor to Moderate Severity by Sunday. The amount of rain forecast for Monday will do little to reverse the trend of deepening drought.

Flows in the Rideau River at Ottawa are 15% of normal for the time of year. Larger tributary streams are about 6% of normal and many small streams are intermittent or dry. Aquatic habitat is becoming limited for all species.