Media Release
February 20, 2019
New Animated Video Shows Where Your Drinking Water Comes From
Conservation Ontario has released a short, animated video so people can learn – in a fun way – about their sources of drinking water. The new video features a young man named Matt and his dog Buddy. The animated video opens with the question “Do you know where your drinking water comes from?” The video is only about a minute in length but that is enough time to provide an overview of drinking water source protection in Ontario. The video shows the groundwater and surface water (lakes and rivers) sources of our drinking water and how we all can help…
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January 29, 2019
Members Wanted for Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Committee
The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region (MRSPR) is seeking Source Protection Committee members who are interested in protecting municipal drinking water sources in the Mississippi and Rideau Valley watersheds. The MRSPR Committee was established in 2007 as a result of the Province’s Clean Water Act. The committee guides local efforts to protect drinking water at the source and is made up of one-third municipal, one-third economic and one-third public sector representatives. The composition ensures that a variety of local interests are represented at the decision-making table as the committee works to oversee the implementation of science-based source protection plans. The committee…
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January 21, 2019 — The current very cold weather and large snow storm yesterday is creating some localized ice jams which can cause significant fluctuations in water levels as ice builds and releases. More specifically, the RVCA has received reports of ice jams in the Tay River at Port Elmsley which is causing flooding of some residential properties. There may be other areas as well where ice jams have formed and are causing localized flooding, especially along the Tay River. Since ice jams can form anywhere that there is open water, it is difficult to predict where or when they can…
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December 20, 2018
Heavy Rains will lead to Unsafe Conditions on Rivers and Lakes Throughout Rideau Watershed
December 20, 2018 — A significant weather system is expected to cross through our area over the next two days. Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting up to 40 mm of rain starting tonight, Thursday, December 20 through Friday, December 21. The forecast calls for above freezing temperatures during the day on Friday. Water levels across the Rideau Valley watershed are generally normal to slightly below normal and the amount of snow cover is slightly below normal for this time of year. The forecasted heavy rain and warm air temperatures are expected to melt most of the snow on…
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December 05, 2018
“Normal” Water Levels in Rideau River Watershed
December 5, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed is returned to “Normal” including the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed. Precipitation over the last month has brought stream flows up to historical averages throughout the Rideau watershed. Runoff from the rain and snowmelt caused levels to rise late in November. The impacts of low flows experienced throughout 2018, particularly in the Kemptville Creek subwatershed, will not be known until next spring. With inflows well below normal, fish and other inhabitants of the creek struggled to survive in the intermittent ponds left by the…
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November 23, 2018
RVCA Launches New Logo
November 23, 2018, MANOTICK, ON — The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new corporate logo. The RVCA revealed its new logo at its November Board of Directors meeting last night. The new streamlined logo reflects a modernized brand while maintaining the RVCA’s deep-rooted history in watershed management. “We’re excited to update the RVCA brand with a new design that honors our roots and represents our ongoing commitment to the watershed communities we serve,” says Sommer Casgrain-Roberston, RVCA General Manager. “We recently celebrated our 50th anniversary and completed a year-long strategic review. As…
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November 19, 2018
Friends of Foley Mountain Invest in Children and Outdoor Education with Purchase of Snowshoes
EASTERN ONTARIO, November 19, 2018 — Thanks to the hard work and fundraising efforts of the Friends of Foley Mountain, hundreds of students will be able to experience the wonder of Foley Mountain trails by snowshoe this winter. Forty-four new pairs of snowshoes arrived at the Conservation Area last week, just in time for winter programing. Foley Mountain Conservation Area, owned and operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), welcomes over 2,500 students annually to learn about nature and their local environment. Winter programing has traditionally included the opportunity for students to experience one of the oldest forms of…
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CITY OF OTTAWA, November 14, 2018 — The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) has completed a hazard mapping study for Becketts Creek from the Sarsfield Road to Ottawa River. Members of the public are invited to an upcoming open house to review regulation and hazard maps. The new mapping shows areas that are subject to natural hazards such as flooding and unstable slopes and have natural environmental features such as wetlands. The mapping will be used by the City of Ottawa when updating its Official Plans and Zoning Schedules and in the review of development applications under the Planning Act. RVCA will…
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September 28, 2018
Low Water Status Update in Rideau River Watershed
September 27, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed has returned to “Normal” except for the Kemptville Creek subwatershed which is at “Minor” Severity, down from “Moderate” Severity. Rain over the last week pushed totals above what is normal for the time of year at most climate monitoring sites in the region. The forecast is indicating more rainfall next week that will begin to restore streamflows to historical averages. The exception is at the Environment Canada site in Kemptville which has a 90 day total at 67% of normal, well below…
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September 14, 2018
Low Water Status Update in Rideau River Watershed (Sept. 14)
September 14, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed is still at “Minor” Severity except for the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed which continues to be “Moderate” Severity. The overall watershed 30 day rainfall is at 72% of normal for the time of year. The 30 day rain measured at Kemptville College is at 42%. Rainfall is slightly higher in the headwater areas of Kemptville Creek but most appears to have infiltrated into the ground, rather than into the Creek, with flows just 1.3% of normal. Aquatic species will be increasingly stressed…
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September 07, 2018
Hard Working Natural Waterfront Donated to RVCF
North Grenville, September 7, 2018 — “It just seemed like the logical choice,” said Wally Kaczkowski as he pondered his decision to donate land to the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF). “The donation benefited me and the community in many different ways.” In early 2017, Mr. Kaczkowski started to reflect on his ownership of a 1.55 acre parcel nestled along the shore of the Rideau River just north of Kemptville. Too small to develop and with dwindling interest in the property from his sons, it just didn’t seem to make sense to keep it anymore. “It is a nice chunk…
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August 31, 2018
Low Water Status Continued in Rideau River Watershed
August 30, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed remains at “Minor” Severity except for the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed which continues to be “Moderate” Severity. Flow in Kemptville Creek has continued to be very low. The amount of rain measured in the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed for the same time period is well below the historical average at both Kemptville and at the Brockville Airport near the Creek headwaters The impact of the low flow is that aquatic creatures living in the Creek are confined to smaller and smaller pools that…
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AUGUST 20, 2018, RIDEAU VALLEY AND MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WATERSHEDS – The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Committee wants your input on their Draft Amendment for the Rideau Valley Source Protection Area Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan (prepared under Ontario’s Clean Water Act). The Draft Amendment for the Assessment Report identifies: A new wellhead protection area for the new municipal well system for the Western Development Lands in Richmond Revised wellhead protection areas for the existing municipal well systems in King’s Park Richmond and Munster Potential drinking water threats in the new and existing wellhead protection areas The Draft Amendment for the Source…
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August 20, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed generally remains at “Minor” Severity except for the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed which has risen to “Moderate” Severity. Rainfall in eastern Ontario has been widely varied since late July. What rain that has fallen in the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed has had little effect on flows with much of it infiltrating into the soil and retained in wetlands. The Creek is down to intermittent pools in some sections. Beaver have been active, building dams that contribute to the ponding. At the same time,…
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August 09, 2018
Watershed Discovery Day
TAY WATERSHED — Discover and explore the Tay Watershed at the Friends of the Tay Watershed's 18th Annual Watershed Discovery Day. The event takes place on Saturday, August 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Perth Farmers' Market. For full details click here.
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