New boundaries welcome farmers in both watersheds to apply for stewardship funding RIDEAU AND MISSISSIPPI WATERSHEDS, October 16, 2024 – After three successful seasons as ALUS Lanark, the environmental stewardship program for farmers will now be available to all agricultural properties within the Rideau Valley and Mississippi Valley watersheds.  The expanded ALUS Mississippi-Rideau program will help farmers complete ecosystem projects such as reforestation, windbreaks, riparian buffers, wetland projects, grassland and pollinator habitat, delayed cut/grazing, and clean water projects. Farmers are eligible to have project costs covered in part or in full, and they may be eligible to receive annual payments for…

RIDEAU AND MISSISSIPPI WATERSHEDS, October 8, 2024 – Public consultation is now open for several policy amendments to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan. Proposed policy changes apply to the management of road salt, fuel tanks, agriculture, pesticides, fertilizers, chemical storage, snow storage and other potential drinking water threats near municipal wells or intakes. The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan is a locally developed plan to keep our municipal drinking water safe and clean. It is required under the Clean Water Act, 2006. This Plan is overseen by the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region, and has been in effect since 2015. This plan contains policies for activities that have been determined to…