LANARK COUNTY, May 13, 2022 – Lanark farmers can access even more stewardship grant options thanks to a new partnership with agricultural stewardship organization, ALUS.

The new ALUS community, called ALUS Lanark, will facilitate new grassroots, farmer-led natural infrastructure projects in Lanark County, and will be administered by staff at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA). 

While the RVCA currently offers a rural clean water stewardship program on behalf of both conservation authorities, this new partnership will expand the number of opportunities available in Lanark, specifically for agricultural properties. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with ALUS to expand our stewardship programs for farmers in Lanark County,” says Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, General Manager, RVCA. “We know many Lanark farmers want to enhance their operations for the health of their lands, livestock and the watershed, and this partnership will support them in those efforts and give them even more opportunities to do that.” 

Home to approximately 60,000 people, the county is a picturesque rural landscape of forests, lakes, wetlands, agriculture, cottages and small towns. The county also has the Rideau River and the Mississippi River passing through it and contains parts of the Canadian shield and the Great Lakes basin, important and unique natural features.

"Our county is focused on local climate change solutions," says John Fenik, Lanark County Warden. "Supporting farmers in their efforts to improve biodiversity and water quality on their lands is an important part of this strategy and is why we are so excited to partner with our local conservation authorities to bring the ALUS program to Lanark."

The new program will support farmers in the creation of an array of ecosystem projects, including reforestation, windbreaks, riparian buffers, wetland projects, tallgrass prairie, pollinator habitat and more.

“Our partnership with the County, ALUS and RVCA is a win for Lanark farmers, the community and the Mississippi watershed,” says Sally McIntyre, General Manager, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority. “Farmers are frontline stewards of the land, and this program will help them to adapt to changing economic and climatic conditions.”

These projects will contribute to the health of the farmers’ privately-owned landscape, while also benefitting the broader environment by providing support for biodiversity; reducing downstream flooding in neighbouring communities and ecosystems; and mitigating the impacts of climate change through carbon sequestration and other natural mechanisms.

“ALUS is so happy to be adding another community in Ontario,” says Alyssa Cousineau, Eastern Hub Manager, ALUS. “It’s clearer each passing year how important a healthy environment is for communities to thrive, which is why we are thrilled to see new communities adopt the ALUS model to help enrich the natural world that we all depend on.”

ALUS Lanark will be guided in its decision making by a Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC ensures that local priorities are addressed by ALUS projects. Fifty per cent of the committee members are local farmers who, in partnership with the other committee members (local elected officials, environmental experts, etc.), will determine which projects are prioritized for the ALUS program.

About ALUS 
ALUS (originally an acronym for Alternative Land Use Services) is a charitable organization that sustains agriculture and biodiversity for the benefit of communities and future generations. ALUS provides direct financial and technical support to a network of more than a thousand farmers and ranchers who deliver ecosystem services in more than 30 communities across Canada, such as cleaner air, cleaner water, carbon sequestration, erosion control, flood mitigation, pollinator support and wildlife habitat. Learn more at ALUS.ca. 

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MISSISSIPPI AND RIDEAU WATERSHEDS, May 2, 2022 — On April 20, 2022 the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) approved an amendment to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan and the Rideau Valley Assessment Report. The approved amendment took effect on April 28, 2022. 

This amendment reflects a new well to an existing municipal well system in the community of Kemptville which is owned and operated by the Municipality of North Grenville. The Kemptville well system serves approximately 5,000 people residing in the community. 

The well system affects two existing Wellhead Protection Areas in the Source Protection Plan and Assessment Report, the Merrickville Wellhead Protection Area in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and the existing Kemptville Wellhead Protection Area. An amendment to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan (including the Rideau Valley Assessment Report) is necessary to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. 

“These amendments ensure municipal drinking water systems continue to be protected through the drinking water source protection program,” said Laura Cummings, Project Manager for the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region. 

Drinking water sources in the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region include groundwater, drawn from aquifers underground, and water drawn from rivers. The Source Protection Plan sets out policies that use a variety of tools to protect municipal drinking water sources from contamination. These tools include education, risk management planning, prohibition and land use planning. Policies in the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan first came into effect on January 1, 2015. Visit the Region’s local website at https://www.mrsourcewater.ca to find out more.

The Notice of Approval of the amended Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan for the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region is also posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry at https://ero.ontario.ca/. 

If you have questions about the approved changes, please contact Laura Cummings at 613-692-3571 ext. 1148 or . 

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Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Source Protection Authorities
Laura Cummings
3889 Rideau Valley Drive, PO Box 599
Manotick ON  K4M 1A5
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1148

OTTAWA, April 29, 2022 – Ready to make a splash as you help your local environment? You’re in luck: after a two-year pause, the City Stream Watch program is finally back – with a lot of catching up to do. 

The RVCA-led program has monitored Ottawa’s 25 urban and rural creeks and streams since 2003, relying on enthusiastic volunteers to help with annual garbage clean-ups, invasive species removals, fish and water sampling, habitat assessments and shoreline naturalization projects. 

But all of that came to a grinding halt in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic limited RVCA’s ability to welcome volunteers to help conduct this crucial work.

Two years is a long time to go without any maintenance (remember your pandemic haircut!) and now RVCA is keen to catch up with as many volunteer clean-ups and monitoring sessions as possible throughout the warmer months.

Garbage clean-ups will be plentiful this season, according to RVCA aquatic biologist Jennifer Lamoureux. She said the city’s creeks are suffering from two years’ worth of trash that has blown in from nearby neighbourhoods and roads. 

“These urban waterways need special attention to remain clean and healthy habitats for the many fish and other aquatic species that live there,” Lamoureux said. “Some of these areas are highly built up, so we need to ensure the habitat that exists is actually liveable for all of the fish, frogs, turtles and waterfowl that rely on it.”

Volunteer groups will be needed on a variety of weekends to help clean up their neighbourhood streams, from Nepean to Orleans to Barrhaven and everywhere in between.

As well, the program is seeking a team of dedicated citizen scientists who can help staff measure water temperatures, assess shoreline and instream habitat characteristics and monitor local fish populations. This work will be limited to four waterways across the city this year: Sawmill Creek in South Keys, Black Rapids Creek in Nepean, Cardinal Creek in Orleans and Barrhaven Creek in Barrhaven. Monitoring efforts rotate annually between the 25 urban and rural streams, and this set hasn’t been monitored for more than six years. Volunteers will help staff collect this crucial data on dozens of sections of each stream between May and October. 

Interested volunteers can sign up at www.rvca.ca/volunteer/city-stream-watch or email . An orientation will take place May 28. RSVPs are required for all events. 

About City Stream Watch:

The City Stream Watch Program is a community-based partnership which includes the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, Heron Park Community Association, Ottawa Flyfishers Society, Rideau Roundtable, Canadian Forces Fish and Game Club, Ottawa Stewardship Council, City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission. 

To read past monitoring reports visit www.rvca.ca/watershed-monitoring-reporting/reporting. 

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Water Conditions Statement: Flood Outlook — Lower Ottawa River

April 27, 2022 —  

The Flood Outlook Statement issued on April 14^th is still in effect for areas along the Lower Ottawa River (Arnprior to Hawkesbury). 

 Water levels and flows on the main stem of the Ottawa River are expected to increase in most locations over the next few days in response to combined snowmelt from the northern part of the basin and recent rainfall. Levels are expected to be similar to those experienced about one week ago in most locations before starting to decline. Reservoirs throughout the basin are being used to partially store runoff from the northern areas.

Residents in flood-prone areas are encouraged to closely follow changing conditions and to take necessary measures. Residents are advised to stay away from watercourses where flows are high and where banks might be unstable. Parents are encouraged to explain dangers to children. 

The Mississippi Valley, Rideau Valley, and South Nation Conservation Authorities, and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry monitor water levels and weather forecasts as part of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Program. Updates are provided as conditions change.

The Ottawa River Regulating Committee will be reassessing forecast conditions and 
providing hydrological condition updates on its website daily at www.ottawariver.ca/forecasts/.

To view current flood warnings across Ontario, visit: www.ontario.ca/law-and-safety/flood-forecasting-and-warning-program.

This FLOOD OUTLOOK STATEMENT is in effect until May 18, 2022 at 5:00 PM. No further updates will be issued unless the forecast or conditions change. 

Definitions:

• Water Conditions Statement: Water Safety: indicates that high flows, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for such users as boaters, anglers and swimmers but flooding is not expected.

• Water Conditions Statement: Flood Outlook: gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high winds or other conditions.

• Flood Watch: potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities.

• Flood Warning: flooding is imminent or occurring within specific watercourses and municipalities.

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Communiqué sur les conditions du bassin versant : Perspective de crue – Cours inférieur de la rivière des Outaouais

Le 27 avril 2022 — 

Le bulletin de prévision des crues émis le 14 avril est toujours en vigueur pour les régions situées le long du cours inférieur de la rivière des Outaouais (d'Arnprior à Hawkesbury). 

On s'attend à ce que les niveaux et les débits d'eau du cours principal de la rivière des Outaouais augmentent en de nombreux endroits au cours des prochains jours, en raison de la fonte de neige combinée aux récentes précipitations dans la partie nord du bassin. Les niveaux devraient être semblables à ceux d'il y a environ une semaine dans la plupart des endroits avant de commencer à baisser. On utilise les réservoirs du bassin pour stocker partiellement les eaux de ruissellement provenant des régions du nord.

Les résidents des zones sujettes aux inondations sont invités à suivre de près l'évolution des conditions et à prendre les mesures nécessaires. Il est conseillé aux résidents de ne pas s'approcher des cours d'eau dont le débit est élevé et dont les berges pourraient être instables. 
On conseille aussi aux parents d'expliquer ces dangers aux enfants. 

Les offices de protection de la nature des rivières Mississippi, Rideau et de la Nation Sud ainsi que le Ministère du Développement du Nord, des Mines, des Richesses naturelles et des Forêts surveillent les niveaux d'eau et les prévisions météorologiques dans le cadre du Programme de prévision des crues et d'avertissement du public. Des mises à jour sont communiquées au fur et à mesure que les conditions changent.

Le Comité de régularisation de la rivière des Outaouais réévaluera les conditions prévues et diffusera des mises à jour concernant les conditions hydrologiques sur son site Web tous les jours à www.ottawariver.ca/forecasts/. Pour consulter les avertissements de crues actuels à travers l'Ontario, visitez : www.ontario.ca/law-and-safety/flood-forecasting-and-warning-program.

Ce COMMUNIQUÉ DE PERSPECTIVE DE CRUE est en vigueur jusqu'au 18 mai 2022 à 17 h. Aucune autre mise à jour ne sera publiée, à moins que les prévisions ou les conditions ne changent.

Définitions :

• Communiqué sur les conditions des bassins versants – Sécurité aquatique : indique que des débits forts, de la glace fondante ou d’autres facteurs peuvent être dangereux pour des utilisateurs comme les plaisanciers, les pêcheurs à la ligne et les baigneurs, mais qu’une crue n’est pas prévue.

• Communiqué sur les conditions des bassins versants – Perspective de crue :préavis de crue possible basé sur des prévisions de pluies abondantes, de fonte des neiges, de forts vents ou autre.

• Veille de crue :possibilité de crue pour des cours d’eau et municipalités spécifiques.

• Avertissement de crue : crue immimente ou en cours pour des cours d’eau et
  municipalités spécifiques.

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