News from: April 2017

Identifying hazard lands is an important responsibility for Ontario’s Conservation Authorities.    

During the last five years, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) has been conducting several hazard mapping studies on watercourses within the City of Ottawa and the RVCA area of jurisdiction. For some watercourses, old mapping will be updated; and for others, hazards maps will be created for the first time.

Studies look at identifying two main types of hazards along the watercourses: flood risk and slope stability risk. 

Flood risk studies make use of contemporary methods in hydrologic and hydraulic analysis,all the available historical records of streamflow and/or water level, and the most up-to-date topographical data to produce estimates of the 1:100 year flood discharge and corresponding water surface elevations and flood lines for the watercourses under consideration. The resulting flood risk maps identify areas along the river that are vulnerable to flooding, and where new development is to be restricted or prohibited in accordance with Provincial Planning Policies. 

These studies are being done through a collaboration involving the City of Ottawa and the Rideau Valley, Mississippi Valley and South Nation Conservation Authorities.  The City recognized a need to update its zoning schedules based on up-to-date flood risk mapping, and has provided contributions enabling the Conservation Authorities to move ahead with these studies sooner than would otherwise be possible.

Slope stability studies make use of new, highly detailed topographic data to identify toe and top of slope. This information is used to create an allowance area that serve as a flag of potentially unstable slope areas. 

When completed, the new flood risk mapping will be used by the City of Ottawa when updating its Official Plan and Zoning Schedules and in the review of development applications under the Planning Act.   Conservation Authorities will use the same mapping flood risk mapping as well as slope stability risk in the administration and enforcement of regulations made under the Conservation Authorities Act.

Currently, the RVCA is focusing its efforts on the following streams:

• Flowing Creek (Flewellyn Road to Jock River)
• Hobbs Drain (Fallowfield Road to Jock River)
• Kings Creek (Brunton Side Road to Jock River)
• Nichols Creek (Montague Boundary Road to Jock River)
• Becketts Creek (Sarsfield Road to Ottawa River)
• Bilberry Creek (Innes Road to Ottawa River)
• Rideau River (Hogs Back to Kars)
• Rideau River (Kars to Burritts Rapids)

Historical records, news clippings, photographs and local anecdotal stories and memories of past flood events can be useful in confirming the reasonableness of the calculations and resulting floodplain mapping. Local residents with this kind of information are encouraged to share their information and knowledge with RVCA’s Ferdous Ahmed (1-800-267-3504 or 613-692-3571 ext. 1170 or ).

Those interested in learning more about the project or being included on our contact list are also encouraged to contact the RVCA.

Once the technical work for individual study areas is complete and hazard mapping has been prepared, a public information session will be held to collect public feedback.  Any new information or comments will be taken into consideration in further refinement of the mapped hazard limits. 

As part of the continuing commitment to support the community and improve its already environmentally friendly operations, Carleton Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. will be planting 1,302 young, vigorous, native-Canadian trees in Ottawa. The company is the newest participant in Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation’s (RVCF) Carbon Neutral Program.

Carleton Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning is working with RVCF to calculate the amount of carbon emissions they produce (in tonnes of carbon dioxide) and then convert that into the number of trees to be planted to offset (or absorb) the carbon the company produces in their day-to-day operations.

Each of Carleton Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning’s trees is a little environmental cleaning station producing better air, cleaner water, more wildlife habitat, noise and wind buffers, increased forest cover. Research shows that lives are improved by trees, hospital recovery times are shortened and other common problems, such as stress and attention deficit disorder, become more manageable when we are in regular contact with trees and green spaces.

Carleton Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning joins a number of distinguished local companies, and many community and family events around town taking a bite out of carbon emissions and creating cleaner air for the residents of this area.

Carleton Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Ltd. is a locally owned and operated family business since 1973. Their team of dedicated professionals pride themselves on their award-winning commitment to excellence in customer service. They sell and install quality furnace and air conditioning equipment produced by superior quality manufacturers, and backed up by some of the best warranty programs in the industry.

Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is a registered environmental charity working to improve the lands and waters of the Rideau River right here at home in Eastern Ontario. They are proud to be associated with Carleton Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.

Water levels are finally receding on Christie and Bobs Lakes both of which have had high water since the two bouts of heavy rain three weeks ago.
Bobs Lake levels were high from the spring runoff in April. The rain recorded at Bolingbroke, about 90 millimetres over the four days from May 4 through 7, was similar to what fell over much of the eastern parts of Ontario. The increase of Bobs lake levels made it necessary for Parks Canada staff to release water through the Bolingbroke Dam. Christie Lake has been the unfortunate recipient of the excess water from Bobs Lake. Residents around Christie Lake are again able to access their properties to begin the cleanup process.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority will maintain a Flood Watch into next week with rain forecast for several days beginning on Sunday. Levels can be expected to increase slightly but are not expected to return to flood stage in the Rideau watershed nor on the Ottawa River. On the Rideau Canal, scheduled to open for navigation last weekend, all locks on the Rideau except Narrows and Newboro on Upper Rideau Lake remain closed as of this writing.

Note that, despite flows and levels tending toward normal or the time of year, conditions around rivers and lakes continue to be hazardous with water temperatures still cold and water levels relatively high. Everyone, especially children, are advised to stay away.

The public is encouraged to tag us or share photos of water conditions in their area at RVCA Facebook (RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/ .

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days .

Water levels have continued to recede over the weekend and are not expected to be affected significantly by rain forecast for later this week. This has led to a reduction of the coverage of the Flood Warning.

The Flood Warning is now limited to the upper Tay River where outflow from Bobs Lake has continued but there has yet to be a significant drop of the water level. Several properties around Christie Lake are still flooded. Sections of the Christie Lake North Shore Road has been under water for several days.

Flow of the Tay through Perth is declining slowly at 1 to 2 centimetres (cm) per day as water passes through from Bobs Lake. Some flooding has occurred in Stewart Park and in and near Last Duel Park in Perth.

Not as much rain as was forecast fell over the weekend. Little to no increases in levels occurred in the Rideau watershed or in the areas the RVCA monitors on the Ottawa River - Lac Deschene, Petrie Island and Boise Village. These areas are no longer under Flood Warning status as levels decline by about 10 cm per day.

The water level on the Long Reach of the Rideau River has dropped below the flood level for the access road to Hilly Lane. Flood waters have fully receded at all the rest of the susceptible areas on the Long Reach.

Rideau Canal reservoir lakes, Big Rideau, Upper Rideau and Wolfe, have all been declining with Upper Rideau dropping below the Full Supply level today.

Conditions around rivers and lakes are still hazardous with water levels that are relatively high. Everyone, especially children, are advised to stay away.

The public is encouraged to tag us or share photos of water conditions in their area at RVCA Facebook (RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.

 For residents in flood prone areas, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) suggests the most effective method of reducing flood damages is to make a plan and be prepared to execute it if necessary.