OTTAWA, April 24, 2026 – When Larry Chamney was looking for new volunteer opportunities in 2017, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s City Stream Watch program just made sense.
An environmental scientist and an avid gardener, Chamney liked the idea of getting his hands dirty in the name of a cleaner, greener community.
“It’s a great opportunity to get out in nature, do a bit to help protect the environment, and meet great people who are also trying to protect the environment,” Chamney said.
He began volunteering with the program’s garbage clean-ups in 2017, and just kept coming back. By the time he retired at the end of 2018, he was fully committed: whether it was an invasive species removal, shoreline planting or a long day of stream surveys, Larry was there.
He began volunteering with the program’s garbage clean-ups in 2017, and just kept coming back. By the time he retired at the end of 2018, he was fully committed: whether it was an invasive species removal, shoreline planting or a long day of stream surveys, Larry was there.
“Larry has done it all,” said City Stream Watch coordinator Rosario Castanon Escobar. “He’s done stream surveys with us in a canoe and on foot, rain or shine. He’s been to all sorts of clean-ups; he has done invasive species removals in many streams from east to west in the City of Ottawa. He’s our super volunteer.”
Stream surveys are at the core of the program, which is designed to monitor the city’s 26 streams and identify areas for natural enhancement, clean-ups or other restoration activities. Each season, four streams are surveyed in detail with help from the program’s volunteers.
Chamney said he loves the stream surveys, but he especially enjoys the invasive species removals, as it’s satisfying to help native plants reclaim the space. But no matter the event, he always enjoys making connections with like-minded stewards, including fellow volunteers, staff and the RVCA summer students.
“The students are on the cutting edge of new ideas and thinking in terms of environmental sustainability," Chamney said. “I like talking to them about what their research is and what their interests are. Some of the protocols we’re doing for stream surveys bring back memories of doing my own field work as a student.”
Castanon Escobar said volunteers like Chamney are the “true heart” of City Stream Watch.
“Volunteers are everything to this program. They do all of the work,” she said, noting that people of all ages and abilities are welcome to get involved.
“Come try it out. We have a wide range of activities. Some are a little more challenging than others, but there’s an activity for every type of person.”
To hear about future volunteer opportunities, email
A volunteer orientation will be held Saturday, May 23 at Andrew Haydon Park.
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