OTTAWA, Sept. 8, 2023 – If you’ve ever considered planting trees on your rural Ottawa property, there’s no better time than now.

Thanks to generous subsidies from Forests Ontario and the City of Ottawa, Ottawa landowners only pay $0.15 per tree, or about $150 per acre, to reforest their properties – compared to about $3,000 to plant the same trees through a private company. 

“It’s an incredibly good deal, and we do all the work for you,” said Ian Cochrane, forestry manager for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), which implements the program in the Rideau And Mississippi Valley watersheds. “We consider your objectives for the property, the site conditions and the types of trees that will thrive there and we make a custom plan.”

Green Acres targets rural properties within city limits with at least 1.25 acres available for tree planting. That could be an unused field, marginal or unproductive farmland or even windbreaks around crops and pasturelands. 

The full-service program is delivered by your local conservation authority and includes a free site visit, custom planting plan, site prep and, of course, the tree planting itself. Staff will also conduct survival assessments for up to five years and refill any sites with low survival.

Tree planting is a practical and cost-effective way to control erosion, increase crop yields, conserve soil and water, reduce heating and cooling costs on your property, support wildlife habitat and reduce your carbon footprint – among many other benefits. 

“I started planting trees in 2016 and the RVCA has provided me with numerous trees,” said Kinburn resident Richard Montague. He said the trees have improved water quality for him and his neighbours, while providing more privacy and adding more beauty to the landscape. 

“The RVCA has been just great,” Montague said. “If you’ve got the land, you should do it.”

Forestry manager Ian Cochrane is currently booking site visits for Ottawa properties in both the Rideau Valley and Mississippi Valley watersheds to plan for Spring 2024. South Nation Conservation Authority provides tree planting services for City of Ottawa properties within its watershed. 

Landowners in the Rideau Valley who live outside the City of Ottawa are also eligible for tree planting grants, with costs depending on the number of trees planted. 

Learn more and book a site visit today: https://www.rvca.ca/stewardship-grants/tree-planting

-30-

WESTPORT, Sept 1, 2023 – Want to own a unique piece of Foley Mountain memorabilia? How about 500 pieces? This fall, Foley Mountain fans can bring the famous Spy Rock lookout home with them in the form of a custom jigsaw puzzle. 

The non-profit Friends of Foley Mountain group is selling the 500-piece commemorative puzzle to mark 50 years since Foley Mountain officially opened as a public conservation area. The puzzle features the iconic view of Westport from the top of Spy Rock.  

This limited-edition puzzle will be available for sale this fall at Westport retailers Lower Mountain Mercantile, Village Green and Rosie Yumski's. It will also be sold at special events in the village throughout the fall. 

The puzzle includes 500 jigsaw pieces and measures 20.5 x 15 inches when complete. Packaged in a compact cardboard box, the puzzles will make perfect stocking stuffers for every Foley Mountain fan this winter.

Proceeds will raise critical funds for Foley Mountain’s outdoor education programs as well as future capital projects at the site. 

“This is a unique way to support our treasured mountain,” said Rob Struthers, president of Friends of Foley Mountain. “We hope residents and visitors will jump at this chance to take a piece of Foley Mountain home with them.”

The 833-acre conservation area is located in Rideau Lakes Township just east of the Village of Westport. It is operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and offers a range of outdoor education programs for schools, families and community groups. It also offers 10 kilometres of trails, a swimming area on Upper Rideau Lake and group camping. The conservation area officially opened to the public in June 1973 and is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. 

To learn more about Foley Mountain visit www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas. To learn more about the Friends of Foley Mountain visit www.friendsoffoley.ca. 

-30-

Thank you for your interest in booking an education program at Baxter Conservation Area. Please check out our list of Baxter Educational Programs and then review the Baxter Education calendar and complete the form to request a booking.

(WCS – R13/2023)
August 10, 2023 – Caution is advised around all waterways in the Rideau Valley Watershed following several large rain events over the last few weeks, with additional rain in the forecast. Observed rainfall amounts for the last month across the watershed are significantly more than normal. Environment Canada’s short-term weather forecast indicates we may receive an additional 50 to 100 mm of rain over the next 7 days. 

Water levels and flows in all waterways are generally higher than average for this time of year across the Rideau Valley Watershed. Although no significant riverine flooding is anticipated, water levels and flows are expected to remain seasonally high in all waterways in the Rideau Valley Watershed over the next week. 

Until the water levels and flows recede, the RVCA advises the public to exercise extreme caution around ALL WATERBODIES AND DAM STRUCTURES and remind children about the dangers of playing near open water.  All boaters and swimmers using the Rideau River and other larger water bodies are advised to exercise extreme caution due to much higher flows than normal over the next few days.

This watershed conditions statement is in effect until Friday, August 18, 2023 at 5 PM or until an update has been issued.

-end-

More Information:

Contact: Brian Stratton, RVCA Manager Engineering Services
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
613-692-6804, 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1141

www.rvca.ca/watershed-conditions

"Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is a partnership of municipalities within the Rideau Valley watershed 
created under the Conservation Authorities Act to deliver a range of programs in watershed management and
natural resource conservation."

RVCA Watershed Conditions Statements: 

• Water Safety – High flows, unstable banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
• Flood Outlook – Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts, calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high winds or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams and/or lakeshore flooding or erosion.
• Flood Watch – Flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individuals in flood prone areas should prepare.
• Flood Warning – Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities.

(WCS-LW - 2/2023)
August 9, 2023 – Watershed conditions in the Tay River and Rideau Lakes watersheds have returned to “Normal’ under the Ontario Low Water Response Program. However, the water levels in Bobs and Christie Lakes, which are used throughout the recreational season to augment the flow in the Tay River and regulate navigation in the Rideau River, are still below average for this time of year. 

Parks Canada staff continue to closely monitor these lakes and expect the water levels to approach normal levels with rain in the forecast.

With well above-average rainfall amounts across the watershed during the last month, stream flows and water levels have recovered (except as noted above) from the previous low water status and are now above average for this time of year. Looking ahead, the seven-day weather forecast suggests we may receive 25 to 50 mm of rain across the watershed.
 
Conservation Authority staff continue to monitor conditions and communicate with water managers throughout the watershed. Updates to this message will be issued as conditions warrant. 
 

More resources:

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-environment-conservation-parks

Ontario’s Low Water Response program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/low-water-response-program 

RVCA website: www.rvca.ca

Hourly and daily streamflows and water levels: https://www.rvca.ca/watershed-monitoring-reporting/reporting/streamflow-water-levels 

- end -          

More Information:
Contact: Brian Stratton, RVCA Manager Engineering Services
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

613-692-6804, 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1141

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is a partnership of municipalities within the Rideau Valley watershed
created under the Conservation Authorities Act to deliver a range of programs in watershed management and
natural resource conservation.

RIDEAU VALLEY, July 18, 2023 – In the war on invasive species, knowledge is the most potent weapon – and a free community workshop aims to arm the public with as much invasive species information as possible.

Focusing on identification and how to reduce their spread, the workshop on Saturday, July 29 will feature staff presentations as well as hands-on displays of invasive plants and animals. 

“We’re hoping more members of the public will become familiar with these species and their impacts,” said Amanda Lange, RVCA’s Aquatic Habitat Monitoring Co-ordinator. “The more people know about invasive species, the more we can collectively work to curb their spread. And by reducing the spread, we can give our native species a fighting chance and promote a more balanced and diverse local ecosystem.”

Invasive plants like Himalayan Balsam, garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed and dog-strangling vine can spread rapidly, pushing out native species and leaving gaps in the area’s biodiversity. This can reduce food supplies and resources for other species who rely on the missing native plants. Invasive plants are also often poor substitutes when it comes to erosion and flood mitigation, as their roots generally aren’t as deep or strong.

In the water, invasive aquatic species can have dramatic ecosystem impacts while also measurably changing water quality and characteristics. For example, invasive zebra mussels filter suspended particulates so effectively they can cause distinctly weedier lakes, since sunlight can reach further into the water column.

“We’re excited to welcome the public to learn what they can do in their own backyards to make a difference,” Lange said. “It’s a group effort to keep our local environment as natural and functional as possible for everyone’s benefit.”

The workshop will be held at the RVCA’s headquarters in Manotick from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 29. All are welcome, including community associations, environmental groups, property owners, students, gardeners and anyone with an interest in learning about invasive species. 

Light refreshments will be served. Advance registration is required. 

-30-

WESTPORT, July 14, 2023 – A new weekly Forest School program will cater to kids ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers this September.

The parent-assisted program will run every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30 for 12 weeks, beginning Sept. 12. 

“It’s so important to let young kids engage in risky play, explore a diverse landscape, develop their motor skills and of course receive all the wonderful benefits from being outside,” said Foley Mountain site supervisor Rebecca Whitman. “The sooner we can help children build connections to the land and nature, the better off we’ll all be.”

The Forest School model allows students to spend most of their time outside, playing and learning through experiential, hands-on activities that promote curiosity in an active and authentic learning environment. Foley Mountain has offered Forest School programs since 2018. 

“We wanted to serve younger children, so we went with this parent-assisted model that serves a wider range of families,” Whitman said. Caregivers can help younger kids in the bathroom and help monitor risky play. It’s a great way to introduce younger kids to the Forest School environment – and the caregivers appreciate it, too. 

“Especially when they’re little, they want to share this experience with their kids,” Whitman said. 

Each week, the two-hour program will begin with free play prompts like mud kitchens, planks and boards, creature exploration, nature-based art, shelter building and seasonal activities.  Then the group will gather for a snack and story – usually around the campfire – and decide on the day’s big adventure in the forest.

Whitman said this weekly program will differ from Foley’s popular monthly drop-ins, since the same group will come together each week throughout the season, fostering a sense of community and encouraging independence and social learning.

“It’s so rich for all those developmental opportunities,” Whitman said. 

Registration is now open for the fall session at a cost of $216 plus HST. Families with slightly older or younger siblings are welcome to have them tag along.

Fall school-age and kinder Forest School programs are also open for registration. The half-day kinder program will run on Wednesdays starting Sept. 13 and the full and half-day programs for kids ages 6 to 12 will run on Thursdays beginning Sept. 14. 

Visit https://www.rvca.ca/outdoor-education/foley-mountain-ca/foley-mountain-forest-scool to learn more and register. 

-30-

(WCS-LW - 1/2023)
July 11, 2023 – Following a period of dry and hot weather, the Rideau Valley Low Water Response Team is declaring a MINOR low water status for the Tay River and Rideau Lakes watersheds (referred to as Upper Rideau Valley watershed), after officials met to discuss current watershed conditions on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Upper Rideau Valley watershed residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 10 percent. This is especially important for those who have permits for taking water from surface or groundwater sources and all residents on private, communal or municipal wells. The requested voluntary water use reduction does not apply to residents of urban Ottawa because the City of Ottawa central drinking water system draws from the Ottawa River. All residents throughout the Rideau Valley watershed should be aware of any bans or bylaws that may be in place in their municipalities regarding watering or fire bans.

Over the last couple of months, rainfall amounts have been quite variable across the Rideau Valley watershed with some areas receiving above normal precipitation (urban Ottawa) but many other areas receiving limited rainfall. In general, the average 90-day rainfall measured at climate stations in the upper Rideau Valley watershed has been below 80 per cent of normal for this time of year which represents “minor” low water severity. Stream flow values for all regulated waterways (augmented from the reservoir lakes in the Tay River watershed) range from 60 to 70 per cent of normal for this time of year. Natural system stream flow values range from 30 to 50 per cent of normal for this time of year.

Parks Canada staff are closely monitoring the water levels throughout the Rideau Canal system inside the Rideau Valley watershed. The water levels in the reservoir lakes (Bob’s Lake and Wolfe Lake) are currently well below normal and are expected to decline further unless significant precipitation is received soon. Rideau River flows downstream of Big Rideau Lake have been reduced to minimum when possible. Water levels in the Rideau River below Smiths Falls are within navigable ranges.

Looking ahead, the seven-day weather forecast suggests we may receive up to 25 mm of rain across the watershed. If received, these rainfall amounts would slightly improve the 90-day rainfall deficit and the low stream flow values discussed above if the rainfall is distributed across all areas of the watershed.

To better understand local conditions, landowners, businesses, and industries are encouraged to contact Brian Stratton by email () if they are experiencing any unusual water-related problems. 

Conservation Authority staff continue to monitor conditions and communicate with water managers throughout the watershed. Updates to this message will be issued as conditions warrant. 

More resources:

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-environment-conservation-parks

Ontario’s Low Water Response program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/low-water-response-program 

RVCA website: www.rvca.ca

Hourly and daily streamflows and water levels: https://www.rvca.ca/watershed-monitoring-reporting/reporting/streamflow-water-levels 

- end -          

More Information:
Contact: Brian Stratton, RVCA Manager Engineering Services
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

613-692-6804, 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1141

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is a partnership of municipalities within the Rideau Valley watershed
created under the Conservation Authorities Act to deliver a range of programs in watershed management and
natural resource conservation.