Media Release
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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August 09, 2018
Convert Marginal Land or Abandoned Farm Fields into Thriving Forests – For a Couple Dimes A Tree
OTTAWA WEST and RIDEAU WATERSHED — If you have marginal land or abandoned farm fields, now is the time to take advantage of significant subsidies to covert the land to forests. “Many landowners are choosing to make their land more productive and enjoyable by planting trees,” says Scott Danford, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) Forestry Program Manager. “There are significant subsidies available to help landowners plan, prepare and plant their forests. Planting two acres will cost landowners less than $300.” Typical costs for the RVCA’s full-service tree-planting program are $0.15/tree ($120/acre). The RVCA and its planting partners covers all additional costs.…
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This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed has been reduced to Minor Severity. Longer range forecasts indicate warmer and dryer than normal through the rest of the summer and into the fall. If that forecast comes to pass, flows and levels can be expected to fall well below normal. Present conditions are generally close to normal but because of declining flows and forecasts, the low water status is being reduced from Moderate to Minor Severity rather than being withdrawn entirely. Record rainfall was measured at several climate monitoring stations in eastern Ontario…
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MISSISSIPPI AND RIDEAU WATERSHEDS — 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…
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TAY SUBWATERSHED, July 24, 2018 — Thanks to special funding through the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) is covering costs for shoreline restoration projects to landowners in the Tay Subwatershed. Landowners whose land drains into the Tay River or one of its 14 catchments (portions of Central Frontenac, Drummond/North Elmsley, Rideau Lakes, South Frontenac and Tay Valley Townships) could be eligible for full cost coverage for shoreline naturalization planting and partial funding for tree planting and livestock restriction fencing projects. RVCA and the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation were awarded $25,000 by the Great Lakes…
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July 20, 2018
“Moderate” Low Water Condition in Rideau River Watershed
July 19, 2018 – This statement is to advise that the low water status in the Rideau River watershed is now at Moderate severity. Rainfall in the last 90 days, measured at climate stations in and around the watershed, is about 60% of the normal amount for the time of year which is the threshold for Moderate Severity Low Water. Rain presently forecast for much of next week will be welcome but is not expected to have a significant impact. Longer range forecasts indicate temperatures above normal and precipitation below normal through the rest of the summer and into the…
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July 10, 2018
“Minor” Low Water Condition in Rideau River Watershed
July 10, 2018 – This statement is to advise that present conditions in the Rideau River watershed are now at the threshold for Minor Low Water status under the Ontario Low Water Response Program. Rainfall in the last 90 days, measured at climate stations in and around the watershed, is about 80% of the normal amount for the time of year which is the threshold for Minor Low Water. The present heat wave with several daytime high temperatures above 30 degrees has burned lawns and wilted plants in gardens. Lake levels and streamflows are below normal for the time of year but are…
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July 03, 2018
RVCA Celebrates Six Million Trees Planted
RIDEAU VALLEY WATERSHED, July 3, 2018 — The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) celebrated the planting of their six millionth tree on Thursday, June 28. This special tree is hidden among the over 275,000 seedlings planted this spring throughout the watershed — somewhere in the over 4,000 square kilometres of ground between the City of Ottawa and South Frontenac Township north of Kingston. This achievement was celebrated with a ceremonial tree dedication at the RVCA’s Perth Wildlife Reserve. Thanks to the many, community-minded funding partners, over $5.7 million has been raised to support tree planting since 1983 — much of…
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RIDEAU WATERSHED, June 21, 2018 — How healthy is the Tay River? Readers can learn all about it in the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) Tay River Subwatershed Report. This information-loaded report summarizes the subwatershed’s health by looking at four indicators: forests, wetlands, shorelines and water quality. This is the second subwatershed report for the Tay River and compares baseline information collected from 2006 to 2017. Changes are small, but understanding how to prevent cumulative long-term changes is essential. The Tay River begins its journey at Carnahan Lake, south of the Town of Sharbot Lake. From there it meanders northeast, draining water from…
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June 06, 2018
RVCA Plants 275,000 This Spring!
EASTERN ONTARIO, June 6, 2018: The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) is pleased to report that 275,000 healthy native tree seedlings have been planted in the Rideau Valley this spring. These young trees add to the total as RVCA and its planting partners strive to plant a total of 6.5 million trees by 2020. Tree planting is one of the most practical ways to take care of our watershed and the wider environment. RVCA’s reforestation programs are a great way for landowners to improve their property by: Increasing forest cover Improving wildlife habitat Increasing biodiversity Protecting soil from erosion Improving water…
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CITY OF OTTAWA AND MONTAGUE TOWNSHIP, June 4, 2018 — The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) has completed a hazard mapping study for Nichols Creek from the Montague Boundary Road to the Jock River. Members of the public are invited to an upcoming open house to review regulation and hazard maps. The new mapping show areas that are subject to natural hazards such as flooding and erosion and have natural environmental features such as wetlands. The mapping will be used by the City of Ottawa and Montague Township when updating their Official Plans and Zoning Schedules and in the review of development applications…
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May 25, 2018
Baxter Pond Restoration Celebrated
May 25, 2018, OTTAWA — Funding partners and over 60 guests gathered to celebrate the opening of the newly refreshed and rehabilitated Baxter Pond. Located at the Baxter Conservation Area, the Baxter ASL Pond is visited annually by over 5,000 students from kindergarten to university looking to learn about pond ecology. It is home to frogs, fish, turtles, birds and aquatic invertebrates and visited by children who get to observe the diversity of life hiding along its shores and in its cool waters. It is here where students learn about freshwater pond habitat and how animals adapt to life under…
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May 22, 2018, OTTAWA — The City Stream Watch Program is looking for volunteer “scientists” to help monitor, protect and cleanup Ottawa streams. Now is the best time to get involved — a Stream Watch Training Session will be held for volunteers on Saturday, June 2. The training session will welcome new volunteers and introduce them to the basics of stream sampling and environmental data collection. “The City Stream Watch program is driven by volunteer participation and gives the community a chance to contribute to the health of their local streams,” said Chelsey Ellis, City Stream Watch Coordinator. “By helping…
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May 17, 2018 — RIDEAU VALLEY WATERSHED — More than 30 new classes will be visiting the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s two flagship outdoor education centres thanks to special funding through the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation, the Ottawa Community Foundation and TD Friends of the Environment. Subsidies are now available to cover busing costs for schools visiting Baxter and Foley Mountain. Separate subsides are also available to priority schools visiting Baxter who need assistance covering program and busing costs. Baxter Conservation Area, located in the City of Ottawa near Kars and Foley Mountain Conservation Area in Westport will welcome some…
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May 15, 2018 – By this statement the Flood Warning issued on April 30 for Bobs and Christie Lakes is terminated. The water level on Bobs Lake has receded to the ‘Full Supply’ threshold. No significant rain is presently forecast for the next four days. Therefore, levels on both Bobs and Christie Lakes can be expected to continue to recede toward normal summer levels over the rest of the week. Rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday is not expected to be enough to raise levels again. Caution is still needed around lakes and rivers with water still cold and above…
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