News from: November 2016

From October to December 2014 the landlocked Brewer Park Pond and former artificial swimming hole was reconnected to the main channel of the Rideau River. The newly connected pond boasts increased biodiversity with the creation of a new, vibrant wetland and pond with shoreline plantings, breeding bird habitat, amphibian habitat, turtle nesting beds and basking logs. The pond will provide improved spawning, nursery, rearing and feeding habitat for the local fish community in the Rideau all year round. This part of the Rideau River is home smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, walleye and muskellunge.

Project Highlights:

• 16,000 square metres of new, functioning wetland and fish habitat in the heart of the City of Ottawa
• 1,000 truckloads of soil removed to contour pond into more productive habitat
• 120 community volunteers helped plant over 1,600 trees, shrubs and aquatic plants in and around the pond
• 8 weeks of construction from October to December 2014
• Numerous basking logs, root wads and log piles installed as habitat for turtles, fish, amphibians

Ecological benefits:

• Reconnected pond allows fish species year-round access in and out of the pond into the main river
• Eliminates the potential for fish kills as a result of low oxygen conditions in the pond over winter and summer months
• Altered elevations creates conditions suitable for more diverse aquatic vegetation
• New functional spawning, nursery, rearing and food supply habitat created in the restored wetland for fish in the adjacent reach of the Rideau River
• Provides new and enhanced winter and summer refuge areas for fish
• Increased biodiversity.
• Enhanced wetland improves water quality in the Rideau River

Project Partners

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Fish Biology & Conservation Physiology Lab
• Carleton University
• Minto
• Muskies Canada
• MNRF
• City of Ottawa
• Ottawa South Community Association
• Richcraft

Information
Jennifer Lamoureux
Aquatic and Fish Habitat Biologist,
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

613-692-3571 ext. 1108

If you live on a lake and are interested in recording water levels (weekly or every two weeks) and feel you have a good location for a staff gauge to be placed (permanent dock, flat rock etc..) then we would appreciate your help in our monitoring levels on watershed lakes.

For more information, please contact:
Justin Robert
Hydrometric Data Coordinator
Department of Engineering and Regulation
Ext. 1194

The drought status in the Rideau River watershed is being downgraded to “Moderate” because recent precipitation has generally increased flows in area streams. 

Kemptville Creek flows are about 130% of the historical average, or normal, for the time of year as a result of October rain and November snowmelt. Other recorded streamflows are above 60% of normal which has led to the downgrade of the drought status. However, the Tay River out of Bobs Lake has not had the same precipitation and is at only 10% of the normal flow. This indicates that the drought is not fully over despite there being snow on the ground. Some of the smallest streams in the upper watershed still have minimal flows.

All watershed residents are encouraged to continue to conserve water. With the onset of cold weather and reduced recharge of groundwater, residents who take from wells could still find low supplies of water.

Along with the four Rideau Canal reservoir lakes, levels on the other lakes in the watershed have also had lower levels than residents are used to through the year. A threat to boat navigation through the summer, rocks and shoals that were exposed with the low water levels will be a threat to snowmobilers once icesheets are established.

Relevant information sources are as follows:

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

Ontario’s Low Water Response program

RVCA website

Hourly and daily streamflows and water levels

In order that we can track impacts of the drought conditions in the watershed, we request that any individuals or businesses in the Rideau Watershed who may be experiencing difficulties with their wells please contact the Conservation Authority by calling 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504, ext. 1128 or by email (instructions at http://www.rvca.ca/low_water/index.html ). There is also the Drought Impacts Map application on the RVCA website under Watershed Conditions.

Conservation Authority staff continue to monitor conditions and communicate with water managers throughout the watershed through the Rideau Valley Low Water Response Team. An update to this message will be issued as conditions warrant.

RVCA Property Inquiry Service Deadline

Friday, December 16 at 4 p.m. — if you require a property inquiry response before December 23, please submit on or before December 16.

Anything received after December 16 will be processed starting on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. 

Ottawa Septic Office Service Deadlines

Friday, December 16, 2016 at 4 p.m. – deadline for OSSO inspection requests

Monday, December 19 at 4 p.m. — deadlines to submit:

• OSSO Part 8 Septic applications (new/replacement/alterations)
• OSSO Septic Record Searches
• ORWC OBC Part 8 registration

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) partnered with the National Capital Commission (NCC) to design and construct a small wetland adjacent to the Ottawa River. This new wetland is located close to Remic Rapids along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway. The feature is 0.15 hectares and consists of a shallow basin that is a water supply for wildlife as well as amphibian breeding and bird foraging area. Volunteers and NGO community groups provided clean up and planting assistance. The wetland provides a unique and highly visible habitat feature along the National Capital Commission Ottawa River Pathway.

Benefits of the Project

• Altered elevations creates areas for more diverse aquatic and terrestrial plant life
• Provides new and enhanced habitat for wetland wildlife
• Provides quiet area for water fowl and shorebird nesting, rearing and feeding
• Installed woody structures creates more diverse habitat
• Installed sand and pea stone creates turtle nesting and basking areas
• Common buckthorn (invasive species) removal allowed for more native plant growth

Project Partners

Information

Jennifer Lamoureux
Aquatic and Fish Habitat Biologist,
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority


613-692-3571 ext. 1108