RIDEAU VALLEY, Oct. 25, 2024 – The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is seeking feedback from the public on its mandatory hazard management programs, as part of the development of a Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy required under Ontario Regulation 686/21. 

All residents, landowners, municipal partners, agencies and businesses in the Rideau Valley are invited to complete a survey on the delivery and improvement of mandatory programs and services including Flood Forecasting and Warning, Drought or Low Water Response, Land Use Planning advisory services and application of development regulations in natural hazard areas. 

Natural hazard areas include river or stream valleys, unstable soils or bedrock, areas affected by flooding, erosion or dynamic beaches, and wetlands.

The survey is open until November 18, 2024. Survey results will be used to prepare an interim Watershed Management Strategy, which will be followed by more extensive stakeholder and public consultation in 2025 to inform a more detailed and comprehensive Watershed Management Strategy. Next year’s Strategy will dive deeper into RVCA’s work and will encompass all programs and services as the RVCA prepares a new Strategic Plan.

Take the survey

For more information contact  or visit www.rvca.ca to learn more about our programs.

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RIDEAU AND MISSISSIPPI WATERSHEDS, October 16, 2024 – After three successful seasons as ALUS Lanark, the environmental stewardship program for farmers will now be available to all agricultural properties within the Rideau Valley and Mississippi Valley watersheds. 

The expanded ALUS Mississippi-Rideau program will help farmers complete ecosystem projects such as reforestation, windbreaks, riparian buffers, wetland projects, grassland and pollinator habitat, delayed cut/grazing, and clean water projects. Farmers are eligible to have project costs covered in part or in full, and they may be eligible to receive annual payments for the ecosystem services they’ve added to their property. 

The program is jointly administered by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) as part of their broader complement of stewardship programs and grants. Under ALUS Lanark, a total of 44 projects created 320 acres of habitat enhancements on 19 properties. By expanding the reach of the program, it will accelerate those successes and spread them across the region for the benefit of all.

The new ALUS Mississippi-Rideau program will cover 8,500km² which encompasses 31 municipalities and is home to approximately 986,000 people. In this region, agriculture is the backbone of many local communities and farmers have been stewards of the land for generations. ALUS recognizes the value of their stewardship efforts and provides financial support to enable farmers to continue producing food and commercial goods while protecting and enhancing habitat, biodiversity and clean water.

“We’re thrilled to expand this partnership with ALUS to reach even more farmers across the watershed,” said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, General Manager of the RVCA. “We’ve seen a steady uptake from Lanark farmers, and there is a growing interest across the watershed. We’re grateful to local farmers for all they do, so we’re excited to provide additional incentives so they can complete more conservation projects that improve the health of our watershed, our communities and local farmland.”

MVCA’s general manager said partnerships like this help farmers to pursue Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) and related projects during tough economic times. 

“The farmers know these projects can enhance their operations including their water management, and ALUS makes it possible to take the leap,” said Sally McIntyre, MVCA’s General Manager.

ALUS Mississippi-Rideau will continue to be guided in its decision making by a Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) to ensure local priorities are addressed by approved projects. Fifty per cent of the committee are local farmers who, in partnership with the other committee members (local elected officials, environmental experts, etc.), will determine which projects are prioritized for ALUS funding.

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.

• Program sessions offered for ages 4-6, 6-8, 6-10 and 8-13. Children must be the minimum age for the group by December 31, 2024.
• Cost per child is $55/full day or $30/half day
• We will do our best to accommodate your requests but reserve the right to alter the schedule based on demand.
• 2025 Spring Forest School dates are listed below, and registration will take place in early 2025.

Tuition subsidies for the forest school program may be available for those who qualify. Please contact for more details.

Winter Forest School

Baxter will be offering PD Day programs this school year! The days will be themed by our outdoor education staff depending on the season and time of year such as Outdoor Survival Skills, Navigation, Winter Wonderland, Animals and Habitats.

Come join us for a day in the Forest!

Please submit your request for Baxter PD Day Programs using our Registration Request Form. We are looking forward to welcoming your child(ren) to Baxter for days of exploration, outdoor learning, and play.

PLEASE NOTE that filling out this form does not necessarily guarantee a space in the program but begins the registration process. We will send registration packages out on a first-come, first-served basis, including the program handbook and other necessary documents, to complete registration and payment.

PD Day Program Details:

• We are excited to offer programming for the following age groups: 6-12.
• Children are eligible for a session if they are six years old by December 31, 2024.
• Cost per child is $55/full day.
• The program will run from 9 AM to 4 PM each day.
• You can register for all sessions for your school board or one at a time.
• Our PD Program days will be run out of Baxter’s Interpretive Centre.
• There are no before or after care options for our PD Day Program.