News

May 19, 2023

Water Safety Statement: Bobs and Christie Lakes Declining to Near Seasonal Levels

(WCS – R12/2023)May 19, 2023 – The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) is terminating the Flood Watch that was previously in effect and issuing a High Water Safety message for Bobs Lake and Christie Lake.The water levels on Bobs and Christie Lakes continue to decline slowly. Although some precipitation is in the forecast for the weekend, both lakes are now near seasonal levels and are not expected to increase significantly. Parks Canada staff are closely monitoring the water levels in these lakes. Operations at the Bolingbroke Dam will take place as required to balance the levels in Bobs Lake and Christie Lake.Water levels and flows…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

May 18, 2023

UPDATE #5: Flood Warning Downgrade — Lower Ottawa River | Mise à jour no 5 : Levee De L'Avertissement de crue – Cours inférieur de la rivière des Outaouais

Water Conditions Statement: Water Safety — Lower Ottawa River May 18, 2023 – The Flood Warning for the Ottawa River issued on May 10, 2023 has been downgraded to a Water Safety Statement. Water levels along the Lower Ottawa River from Gatineau to the Grenville/Hawkesbury area are expected to continue decreasing over the coming days. Based on Ottawa River Regulating Committee forecasts, Ottawa River water levels are declining, and the rate of decline is slowing as they reach normal summer targets. There is no snow remaining in the watershed and reservoirs are now targeting summer levels. No significant rain is forecasted for the…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

May 16, 2023

RVCA’s 7 millionth tree takes root in Richmond

RIDEAU VALLEY, May 16, 2023 – The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority had seven million reasons to smile on Saturday, May 13 as it celebrated the planting of its seven millionth tree with a commemorative event in Richmond. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Elizabethtown-Kitley Mayor Brant Burrow helped plant a burr oak sapling, which served as a symbolic seven millionth tree for the ceremony. In reality, the true milestone seedling is growing somewhere in the watershed, likely hand-planted last spring in a rural landowner’s unused field along with thousands of other bare root native trees. Since 1984, the RVCA has been committed to tree…

Published in Media Release

May 15, 2023

Natural shorelines emerge victorious at Last Duel Park

PERTH, May 15, 2023 – Staff and volunteers duelled thick grass, invasive species and hardened shorelines last weekend as they planted nearly 1,200 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers along the Tay River in Last Duel Park. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) partnered with the Town of Perth to implement the major shoreline naturalization project at the former campground. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund provided funding. All told, staff and volunteers helped naturalize more than 350 metres of shoreline on May 13. The new plantings in three areas along the existing pathway left room for…

Published in Media Release

May 11, 2023

Rain barrel sale supports healthy lakes in Rideau Lakes Township

PORTLAND, May 11, 2023 – Residents worried about water quality and algae blooms in the Rideau Lakes and nearby waterways can now take matters in their own hands. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) has partnered with Rideau Lakes Township, Cataraqui Conservation and Big Rideau Lake Association to sell rain barrels this month as part of its ongoing sustainable drainage project in Portland and surrounding areas. Installing a rain barrel is an easy, inexpensive step residents can take to reduce runoff and keep contaminants out of their lake. The barrel is placed under an eavestrough or gutter to catch rainwater as…

Published in Media Release

May 10, 2023

UPDATE #4: Flood Warning — Lower Ottawa River | Mise à jour no 4 : Avertissement de crue – Cours inférieur de la rivière des Outaouais

Water Conditions Statement: Flood Warning — Lower Ottawa River May 10, 2023 — This FLOOD WARNING statement is an update to the Flood Warning issued for areas along the Lower Ottawa River (Arnprior to Hawkesbury) on May 2nd, 2023. Water levels along the main stem of the Ottawa River reached peak levels on May 5th and 6th due to above normal snow melt in the upper region of the basin this spring, combined with large regional rain events that occurred over several days in late April and early May. Based on Ottawa River Regulating Committee forecasts, it is expected that water levels…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements