Example of a typical half-day program

Example of a typical full-day program

^*Please note that we can typically accommodate two groups of up to 30 students for a total of 60 students at a time for programming. Each group of up to 30 will be led by an RVCA instructor (programs may occur simultaneously or one in the morning and one in the afternoon depending on time restrictions).

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.

Canada’s first and only carbon neutral radio station continues in its efforts to plant trees and maintain its efforts to offset carbon emissions. Ottawa’s LiVE 88.5 FM will see another 5,700 trees planted in the southern Ottawa area to offset the carbon dioxide produced annually at their Ottawa broadcast centre. This brings their total to 39,900 trees planted since they decided to go carbon neutral in 2011. This adds up to over 20 hectares (50 acres) of forest.

“LiVE 88.5 is proud to work with the RVCF to help grow and manage our expanding forest,” said Dan Youngs, Live 88.5 Program Director. “Carbon neutrality is a cause important to all of the staff at LiVE 88.5, and we’re very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with the RVCF in these short years.”

The amount of carbon dioxide equivalent produced by the regular work of the 48 full time and 19 part time employees in the LiVE broadcast centre on Antares Drive in Ottawa was calculated through the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation’s (RVCF) Carbon Neutral Program. Staff commuting and travel, office heating and cooling, energy consumption of all kinds was tallied using energy bills for a one-year period. Once the total energy consumption was known, a formula converted it into the number of trees needed to absorb or “offset” that same amount of carbon dioxide.

Over the next 80 years, these trees will absorb the same number of tonnes of carbon dioxide that the employees of the station inadvertently produce each year. The growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air taking greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere and locking it in the wood for up to 80 years. “We are grateful to the commitment and support of the LiVE 88.5 team,” says Jason Kelly, RVCF Chair. “They have inspired others to go carbon neutral and make growing gifts to the community. The Foundation’s Carbon Neutral Program offers planting options suitable for business, events and families. I think people are surprised at how affordable it is to do such a good thing.”

In addition to carbon abatement, each LiVE 88.5 tree is a little environmental cleaning station. These trees are providing huge environmental goods and services to the people of Ottawa. The trees absorb greenhouse gas, produce life-giving oxygen, clean our water supplies, provide wildlife habitat, buffer noise and wind, improve the soil and reduce soil erosion. Collectively, they make the Ottawa area less vulnerable to the worst effects of unpredictable and unseasonal heavy storms and increasing summer droughts

LiVE 88.5 FM is one of two local affiliates of Newcap Radio Inc. headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Newcap is one of Canada’s largest radio companies employing over 800 radio professionals across the country. Newcap holds 96 licences and is heard by millions of listeners each week across Canada.

Daytime temperatures above freezing forecast for the weekend and into next week will cause melting and increased levels on watercourses throughout the Rideau River watershed.

Above freezing temperatures will cause ice and snow melt over the next several days. There is sufficient snow on the ground in the lower part of the watershed to absorb most of the meltwater. However, areas to the south and west of the City of Ottawa, where there has been less snowfall, can be expected to have more runoff. In all cases, the ice cover can be expected to become unstable to various extents with weakening ice and water on the surface. Ditches and smaller streams may begin flowing and shifting ice could cause blockages at road crossings with localised road flooding possible.

Parents should ensure that children know about the hazards of playing around watercourses in the winter and all watershed residents are advised to stay off of the ice on rivers and streams and avoid ice and snow covered streambanks where footing can be unpredictable.

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and issue further statements as conditions warrant.

Our work in regulating lands has several major components.

1. Regulation Permits

We ensure that development proposals have regard for natural hazard features and the natural environment while conforming with our watershed development policies. We are authorized under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Learn more >> 

2. Municipal Plan Review

We are responsible for representing the provincial interests with respect to natural hazards (examples include flooding, erosion and unstable ground) and natural features on applications circulated under the Planning Act. We are responsible for providing advice on the interpretation of the Provincial Policy Statement. We also have agreements with the City of Ottawa and Counties in the watershed to provide comments on natural heritage features, which include significant woodlands, wetlands, environmentally sensitive areas, fish habitat, as well as rare, threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Learn more >> 

3. Board Approved Development Policies

The goal is to foster and consistently apply the development policies and guidelines that protect the environmental integrity of our watershed. Recognizing that development and changes occur within some limits and is ultimately limited by the capacity of the watershed environment is key.

4. Septic System Approvals and Re-inspections

We provide septic system approvals and re-inspection program in interested municipalities. Our role is to ensure septic systems are built property for the benefit of the homeowner and the environment. We enforce the rules and regulations defined by the Ontario Building Code. Learn more >> Ottawa Septic System Office
Learn more >> Mississippi Valley Septic System Office

5. Technical Assistance

RVCA engineering and technical staff may also provide comments on water management and natural hazard aspects of planning and regulatory applications depending on the complexity of the application.

They are also involved in preparing subwatershed reports, remedial strategies and stormwater management strategies and the design of capital work projects and major floodplain engineering studies.

Key areas of expertise include: hydraulics and hydrology, plan input and review, environmental regulations, data collection and computer modeling, remediation and restoration techniques for the natural environment, project design, tendering and supervision.

6. Stewardship

Our stewardship programs provide technical and financial assistance to support private landowners who undertake environmental projects that are designed to improve surface and groundwater quality, reduce soil erosion, enhance wildlife and more. Learn more >>

7. Flood Forecasting and Flood Control

RVCA is responsible for issuing flood warnings to help reduce flood damages. We do this by monitoring weather conditions and river flows issuing flood messages (advisories and warnings) to a variety of public service agencies through the media and this website controlling development in flood-prone areas to reduce potential property damages. Learn more >> 

If you are planning to do any work near a lake, river, stream, floodplain, steep slope or wetland, you may require approval from the RVCA.

The following projects require RVCA review and approval: 

• the construction, reconstruction, erection or placing of a building or structure of any kind,
• changes that would alter the use or potential use of a building or structure
• increasing the size of the building or structure or increasing the number of dwelling units in the building or structure,
• site grading,
• the temporary or permanent placing, dumping or removal of any material, originating in the site or elsewhere,
• the straightening, changing or diverting or interfering with an existing channel of a river, creek, stream or watercourse, or changing or interfering with a wetland.
• All shorelines and watercourses, regardless of whether or not they appear on mapping, are subject to the alteration to waterways component of Ontario Regulation 174/06.

Note: As of April 1, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits will replace the RVCA's existing Ontario Regulation 174/06 under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Moving forward, O. Reg. 41/24 will be used by all Conservation Authorities.

If you are not within an identified floodplain, wetland, adjacent to a steep slope or working on the waterfront, then a permit may not be required from the RVCA. You should still contact your municipality to ensure your project meets municipal requirements. Please contact us for information.

All regions of Ontario experience flooding, erosion and slope failures. These are naturally occurring processes that have been continuously shaping and reshaping the earth for thousands of years. These processes represent a "hazard" when people and structures are located within areas directly impacted by these naturally occurring processes.

The RVCA administers a regulation made under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act known as Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation.

Note: as of April 1, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits will replace the RVCA's existing Ontario Regulation 174/06 under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act.

This regulation allows RVCA to ensure that proposed developments have regard for natural features in order to:

• prevent loss of life;
• minimize property damage and social disruptions;
• reduce public and private expenditures related to emergency operations, evacuations and restoration;
• minimize the hazards associated with development in floodplains and areas which are susceptible to erosion, which in future years may require expensive protective measures.

Looking to understand some basics about a property?

Option 1 — Map A Property

Visit our online mapping tool to search your property and explore the regulated areas in our watershed.

Option 2 — General Property Inquiry

Complete our General Property Inquiry Form to receive a map showing the mapped natural hazard (floodplain, unstable slope, wetland) or natural feature, 1:100 year flood elevations if applicable and available, links to general information, regulators and policies. Please allow for 48 to 72 hour response time for General Property Inquiries. More complex requests may take longer.

If you require formal written response to legal, real estate and related financial inquiries or require a review of historical files for specific project/proposals or technical review, please learn about our Property File Search Service.

The drought status in the Rideau River watershed is being downgraded to “Minor” because the recent warm temperatures and precipitation have caused flows to increase significantly in watershed streams.
Rain and snowmelt have caused flows in some streams to approach and, in some cases, exceed the long-term historical average flows. Kemptville Creek had low flows of .028 cubic metres per second (cms), 1.5% of average, in mid-October. Occasional thaws with rain since then have caused flows to increase in all streams and fluctuate around the average. Kemptville Creek flows have been consistently elevated since December 27 and reached three times the average on January 9th with a flow of 15.6 cms.

This is a significant contrast to the Tay River as measured in Perth, which had flows close to the average through July and August but declined through the fall as outflows from Bobs Lake fell and is presently about 60% of average. The flow measured at the outlet of Bobs Lake at Bolingbroke presently is about 35% of average for the time of year.

It remains to be seen if the present flows will be sustained. The Tay has continued to have low flows despite the weather. Also, it is unknown how much recharge of groundwater is occurring. In some areas of the watershed, there is minimal frost in the soil and recharge should be ongoing. In other areas, there has been greater freezing that has restricted recharge and, therefore, there is the possibility that the supply of water in wells may still be precarious.

For these reasons, the drought designation of “Minor” will be held through the winter. RVCA staff will continue to monitor conditions and the status will be re-evaluated after the spring freshet.

Levels in the Rideau Canal reservoir lakes, Bobs, Wolfe, Upper Rideau and Big Rideau, are presently above the long-term averages and the rule curve targets. Measurements on other lakes are not routinely available so we are unable to say what the water levels are. However, snowmobilers who use the lakes should assume that those rocks and shoals that were exposed with the low water levels could still be hazards and they should travel with caution.

All watershed residents are encouraged to continue to conserve water.

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.