March 27, 2017, EASTERN ONTARIO — The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) Board of Directors celebrated World Water Day with release of their 2017 Annual Report. The report highlights the many achievements and on-the-ground projects that happened throughout the over 4,000 square kilometres of the Rideau watershed — activities that focus attention on the importance of water and supports World Water Day values.

“RVCA is committed to supporting watershed health and the principles promoted through World Water Day,” said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, RVCA General Manager. “It is fitting that we release our 2017 Annual Report on this special day and share how RVCA and its many partners are working to support human health and well-being through sound management and protection of the natural systems around us.”

World Water Day 2017 looks to nature-based solutions to help solve many of our water challenges. The challenge is to do more with ‘green’ infrastructure wherever possible. Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will rebalance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods. These globally endorsed concepts and principles are fully supported by the RVCA and guide its local conservation work.

RVCA and its many partners (municipalities, farmers, property owners, conservation groups, businesses and academia) recognize the value of water and the benefits of nature. RVCA looks to protect the health of the Rideau watershed and the people who live in it through environmental monitoring and reporting, on-the-ground restoration and stewardship, conservation lands and education, development review and approval and flood forecasting and warning.

“Without natural features like forests and wetlands, we wouldn’t have clear air to breathe, clean water to drink, rivers to boat, swim and fish in, water and soil to support agriculture and industry and green spaces to explore and relax in,” said Ms. Casgrain-Robertson. “Simply put, nature sustains life.”

Highlights for 2017 include:

• $752,192+ in grants distributed to landowners who undertook stewardship projects
• 274,550 trees planted (5.97 million planted since 1984)
• 200,000 visitors to conservation areas annually
• 10,200+ students experienced RVCA Outdoor Education Programs
• 9,700 trees and shrubs planted along shorelines through RVCA’s Shoreline Naturalization Program
• 3,000 hectares of conservation land protected and managed
• 1,191 hours from 262 volunteers invested in Ottawa’s City Stream Watch program to research and clean up city streams
• 1,187 Planning Act applications received (minor variances, site plan control, subdivision applications, etc.)
• 628 applications for new or replacement septic systems received
• 380 hours donated by 25+ volunteers to help monitor and sample Watershed Watch lakes
• 348 septic re-inspections completed in participating municipalities
• 300 applications received for work along wetlands, shorelines and waterways (Section 28, Conservation Authorities Act)
• 42 kilometres of trails maintained for public use at local conservation areas
• 40 flood forecasting and warnings messages issued in 2017
• 39 lakes and 58 river and stream sides monitored for nutrients, E.coli and other parameters
• 16 wells monitored for ground water quantity and quality
• 6 invasive species removals and 5 stream clean ups on tributary streams in Ottawa
• release of the Jock River Subwatershed Report and 12 Jock catchment reports
• posting of 6 subwatershed reports and 66 catchment reports online at watersheds.rvca.ca

“Today’s investment in local water and watershed health will ensure a sustainable future — one that supports local communities, economies, tourism and recreation,” said Ms. Casgrain-Robertson. “Thanks to everyone who helped us achieve our 2017 goals and we look forward to continued support and success in 2018.”

For your copy of the RVCA 2017 Annual Report, visit www.rvca.ca or call 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 for a hard copy. To see what’s in store for 2018 take a look at our 2018 Budget and Work Plan which is also available online at our website.

EASTERN ONTARIO, March 12, 2018 — The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) has completed hazard mapping studies for Flowing Creek and Hobbs Drains — tributaries of the Jock River. Members of the public are invited to an upcoming open house to review regulations and hazard maps.

These studies provide new mapping that show areas that are prone to natural hazards such as flooding and erosion and have natural environmental features such as wetlands. The mapping will be used by the City of Ottawa when updating their Official Plan and Zoning Schedules and in the review of development applications under the Planning Act. RVCA will also use the mapping to guide the review of development applications submitted under the RVCA’s Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation.

The goal of this mapping is to help ensure that sound planning decisions are made — keeping people and property safe. Accurate engineered hazard mapping is the foundation of effective floodplain and resource management.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the open house and/or provide comments on the mapping. Conservation Authority staff welcome historical records of past flood events, news clippings, photographs and even anecdotal stories to help confirm the reasonableness of calculations and resulting hazard mapping.

Flowing Creek and Hobbs Drain Regulations and Hazard Mapping
Public Open House
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
4:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Johnny Leroux Stittsville Community Arena Hall
10 Warner-Colpitts Lane, Stittsville

For those unable to attend the open house, mapping can also be seen online at www.rvca.ca/flowing-creek-and-hobbs-drain-hazard-mapping-studies. To understand how mapping may affect your property or to provide comments, please contact an RVCA Resource Specialist at or complete an online property inquiry form at www.rvca.ca/regulations-planning/general-property-inquiries.

This study is 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. The RVCA is currently working on several studies in the Ottawa area. For a complete list on ongoing work, please visit www.rvca.ca.

March 9, 2018 –The winter of 2017-18 has been one of wide variations and periods of record cold.

First snow on the ground to start this winter was relatively early at the beginning of November but little more fell until after December 28 followed by the onset of the record cold temperatures including -30 degrees on January 1. After ten days of frigid temperatures, a few days of warm temperatures reduced the snow cover significantly. That warm spell ended with a flash freeze. Precipitation in all its forms and widely varying temperatures continued through January into mid-February. Since February 19, maple syrup weather (above freezing during the day, freezing temperatures at night) gradually eliminated the snow cover so that, when Conservation Authority staff did the March 1 snow survey, there was no snow to measure.

As was the case this year, the snow was gone from a thaw in late February for the March 1 snow survey in 2000. Some snow fell afterward but the amount measured on March 15 was a fraction of normal. The maximum flow that year was relatively minor at 245 cubic metres per second (30 year average is 320 cms as measured at the monitoring station Rideau River at Ottawa).

Snow forecast for the next few days will restore the cover to some extent but Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) are forecasting precipitation around normal for the rest of March. If the weather happens as forecast, a flow similar to that in 2000 can be expected which will cause minor inundation of the lowest lying areas along the Rideau system.

City of Ottawa crews began the annual ice removal program on the Rideau River between Rideau Falls and Bronson Avenue several weeks early in response to the February thaw and related increased flows. Crews will work to keep the ice from reforming until the spring freshet occurs (for more information: City of Ottawa information at 311).

Levels and flows on the Ottawa River are close to normal for the time of year. Flooding in 2017 was caused by a major weather system that produced significant rainfall over a large area in western Quebec and eastern Ontario. Such an event is not indicated in present MSC forecasts.

Water levels on lakes and flows in the streams are presently at or slightly above normal for the time of year as a result of the February weather. With the changing levels that can be expected over the next weeks, ice cover on lakes, ditches, local streams and rivers will continue to be unstable. Caution should be exercised by everyone when near local waterbodies. Parents should inform their children of the risks and provide appropriate supervision.

RVCA will continue to monitor conditions and will issue further statements when or if there is an indication that the situation can be expected to change significantly.

March 9, 2018 –The winter of 2017-18 has been one of wide variations and periods of record cold.

First snow on the ground to start this winter was relatively early at the beginning of November but little more fell until after December 28 followed by the onset of the record cold temperatures including -30 degrees on January 1. After ten days of frigid temperatures, a few days of warm temperatures reduced the snow cover significantly. That warm spell ended with a flash freeze. Precipitation in all its forms and widely varying temperatures continued through January into mid-February. Since February 19, maple syrup weather (above freezing during the day, freezing temperatures at night) gradually eliminated the snow cover so that, when Conservation Authority staff did the March 1 snow survey, there was no snow to measure.

As was the case this year, the snow was gone from a thaw in late February for the March 1 snow survey in 2000. Some snow fell afterward but the amount measured on March 15 was a fraction of normal. The maximum flow that year was relatively minor at 245 cubic metres per second (30 year average is 320 cms as measured at the monitoring station Rideau River at Ottawa).

Snow forecast for the next few days will restore the cover to some extent but Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) are forecasting precipitation around normal for the rest of March. If the weather happens as forecast, a flow similar to that in 2000 can be expected which will cause minor inundation of the lowest lying areas along the Rideau system.

City of Ottawa crews began the annual ice removal program on the Rideau River between Rideau Falls and Bronson Avenue several weeks early in response to the February thaw and related increased flows. Crews will work to keep the ice from reforming until the spring freshet occurs (for more information: City of Ottawa information at 311).

Levels and flows on the Ottawa River are close to normal for the time of year. Flooding in 2017 was caused by a major weather system that produced significant rainfall over a large area in western Quebec and eastern Ontario. Such an event is not indicated in present MSC forecasts.

Water levels on lakes and flows in the streams are presently at or slightly above normal for the time of year as a result of the February weather. With the changing levels that can be expected over the next weeks, ice cover on lakes, ditches, local streams and rivers will continue to be unstable. Caution should be exercised by everyone when near local waterbodies. Parents should inform their children of the risks and provide appropriate supervision.

RVCA will continue to monitor conditions and will issue further statements when or if there is an indication that the situation can be expected to change significantly.

Project Status: Complete

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) has completed a hazard mapping study for both the Hobbs Drain and Flowing Creek — tributaries of the Jock River.

These maps are typically known as “floodplain mapping” and they show areas that are prone to natural hazards such as flooding, erosion and natural environment features such as wetlands. 

When completed, the mapping will be used by the City of Ottawa when updating their Official Plan and Zoning Schedules and in the review of development applications under the Planning Act. RVCA will also use the mapping to guide the review of development applications submitted under the Province’s Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend our open house (date to be announced) and/or provide comments on the mapping below. Conservation Authority staff welcome historical records of past flood events, news clippings, photographs and even anecdotal stories to help confirm the reasonableness of calculations and resulting hazard mapping. For those unable to attend the open house, comments can be sent to Ferdous Ahmed, RVCA Senior Water Resources Engineer at .

These mapping studies are being completed as part of the City of Ottawa Hazard Mapping Project.

These studies are being done through a collaboration — known as the City of Ottawa Hazard Mapping Project — involving the City of Ottawa and the Mississippi Valley, Rideau 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. The RVCA is currently working on several studies in the Ottawa area. Get more details on RVCA ongoing Flood Risk/Hazard Mapping Studies here.

February 16, 2018 – Significant rainfall forecast for Monday and Tuesday along with melting snow can be expected to cause river flows and lake levels to rise.

Going on iced over waterbodies is not advisable for the next several days until levels decline and colder temperatures can restore the integrity of the ice. As the snowmelt and rain runoff moves through the Rideau system, the ice cover can be expected to shift and, in some places, break up. This could lead to ice jamming at culverts and bridges which could cause localized flooding. Ponding water on the surface will make walking on the ice treacherous.

Parents should ensure that children understand 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 icy and snow covered streambanks where footing can be unpredictable.

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