Modern Niagara pledges $300,000 to Conservation Foundation — Rideau Valley residents can count on cleaner water, healthier shorelines and more climate-resilient communities thanks to a ground-breaking agreement between the RVCA’s charitable foundation and building services giant Modern Niagara. Learn about this and other happenings in the watershed — click here.

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RIDEAU VALLEY, June 9, 2021 – Beach-lovers of all ages and abilities can enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches at Baxter and Rideau Ferry conservation areas this summer thanks to the RVCA’s new accessible beach mats. 

The heavy-duty mats will help people with mobility devices like wheelchairs, walkers and strollers access the Rideau River without worrying about getting stuck in the sand. They’re part of a suite of accessibility tools and upgrades the RVCA has introduced to make its conservation areas more inclusive. 

“Investing in accessibility is a priority for us, especially as the pandemic highlights the importance of getting outside and connecting with nature,” said RVCA’s Conservation Lands Manager Chelsey Ellis. “These mats will make our beaches a more welcoming space for everyone in our watershed.”

Baxter Conservation Area is located in Kars at the southernmost edge of the City of Ottawa. Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area is located on the north shore of Lower Rideau Lake in the township of Drummond/North Elmsley.

Both boast beautiful sand beaches that are extremely popular during the hottest months of the year. But it’s difficult for someone in a wheelchair or pushing a walker or stroller to navigate the unstable sand. The mats solve that problem: they span the entire beach and even extend several feet into the water, allowing a wheelchair user to go for a dip if they choose. 

The mats, made by Mobi-Mats, are part of several accessibility upgrades recently introduced or in the works at RVCA properties. Earlier this winter, Baxter purchased a set of accessible sleds to help students with special needs participate in its outdoor education programs. 

Baxter is on the cusp of a major transformation to become Eastern Ontario’s most accessible wilderness haven thanks to the efforts of Nature For All, a fundraising campaign to upgrade the site’s boardwalks and marshland bridge to the gold standard of accessibility. The campaign, led by former world ski champion and accessibility advocate Mike Nemesvary, is now accepting public donations.

To find your local conservation area visit www.rvca.ca/conservation-areas. For more information about accessibility on RVCA properties contact. 

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(WCS-LW - 1/2021) June 8, 2021 — Due to below average rainfall over the last three months, conditions in the Rideau Valley Watershed now meet the threshold for Minor Low Water status under the Ontario Low Water Response Program. 

Watershed residents and businesses are encouraged to conserve water by limiting non-essential uses (e.g., lawn watering, car washing, etc.), for an overall consumption reduction of about 10 percent. Residents are also encouraged to consult with their municipalities regarding any water conservation bylaws that may be in effect.

Stream flow values are lower than normal by as much as 20 to 30 percent and field observations indicate that ecological conditions are becoming stressed. The average 90-day rainfall measured at climate stations in and around the watershed is near 60 per cent of normal for this time of year, which has triggered the Minor Low Water status. In the past 30 days, rainfall has been variable across the watershed, with the average amount being near 35 per cent of normal. Looking ahead, the seven-day weather forecast indicates we will receive minimal precipitation.

Following an early spring freshet this year, Parks Canada staff are closely monitoring the water levels throughout the Rideau Canal system inside the Rideau Valley watershed. Water levels in the reservoir/flow-through lakes are currently well below normal and are expected to decline further with little precipitation in the short-term forecast. Rideau River flows downstream of Big Rideau Lake have been reduced to minimum. Water levels in the Rideau River below Smiths Falls are within navigable ranges.

To better understand local conditions; landowners, businesses, and industries are encouraged to contact Brian Stratton by email () if they are experiencing any unusual water-related problems. 

Conservation Authority staff continue to monitor conditions and communicate with water managers throughout the watershed. Updates to this message will be issued as conditions warrant. 

More resources:

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-environment-conservation-parks

Ontario’s Low Water Response program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/low-water-response-program. 

RVCA website: www.rvca.ca

Hourly and daily streamflows and water levels: https://www.rvca.ca/watershed-monitoring-reporting/reporting/streamflow-water-levels. 

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More Information:
Contact: Brian Stratton, RVCA Manager Engineering Services
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

613-692-6804, 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1141

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is a partnership of municipalities within the Rideau Valley watershed
created under the Conservation Authorities Act to deliver a range of programs in watershed management and
natural resource conservation.

RIDEAU VALLEY, June 7, 2021 – It’s been a hard year for students and teachers alike, but still your teachers have helped you grow and thrive. Now's your chance to return the favour!

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation offers a range of commemorative programs that support a healthy and sustainable local environment for the future. Instead of trinkets and gift cards, consider planting the seeds of a thriving future, just as they have planted within you. 

Tree Planting: Each year the Foundation plants a combination of white cedar, white pine, red oak and sugar maple across the Rideau Valley watershed to clean our air, fight climate change and create beautiful natural spaces to unwind and reconnect. A single tree costs $25, while a grove of five costs $100. Ten trees cost $150 and a family grove of 25 costs $250 – just $10 a tree. More here: https://www.rvcf.ca/ways-to-give/special-occasion-tree-planting

Adopt an Acre: When you adopt an acre for $25, you protect land right here at home in the Rideau Valley. Your symbolic gift will protect more than 6,765 acres of wetlands, shorelines and forests and the many plants and animals they support. These crucial habitats are hard at work reducing our risk of floods, cleaning our water, stopping erosion and storing vast amounts of carbon to keep our communities healthy and resilient in the face of climate change. More here: https://www.rvcf.ca/ways-to-give/adopt-an-acre

Nature For All: Access to the great outdoors and its many health benefits is crucial for people of all ages and abilities. Our Nature For All campaign is fundraising to build new boardwalks and bridges at Baxter Conservation Area to the gold standard of accessibility. If this cause is close to your teacher’s heart, consider donating on their behalf to transform Baxter into Eastern Ontario’s most accessible wilderness haven. More here:https://www.rvcf.ca/nature-for-all

Online ordering makes gift-giving easy and fast. To purchase your gifts, visit www.canadahelps.org, choose your donation category and enter your information. You’ll receive a charitable tax receipt to your inbox right away. You can even send your teacher a personalized e-card in English or French.

The Foundation is a registered charity that supports the work of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, which monitors more than 4,000 km² of waterways across 18 municipalities in Eastern Ontario.

The authority is responsible for monitoring water quality, flood risks and other hazards to keep people, property and the environment safe. Planting trees is an important part of the authority’s efforts to promote biodiversity, protect our drinking water and reduce the risk of flooding.

For more information visit www.rvcf.ca or email . 

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RIDEAU VALLEY, June 1, 2021 – What do the dusty exercise bike in your basement and the abandoned dress in your closet have in common? They can now both become cash donations to Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation!

The RVCF is thrilled to become the first environmental charity partnering with GiveShop, an Ottawa-based online community marketplace.

Like other buy-and-sell platforms, GiveShop users can post new and gently-used items for sale on the app or website. But in an innovative twist, sale proceeds are donated directly to the seller’s charity of choice and the seller gets a charitable tax receipt for the full amount. 

This is an exciting new donation option for RVCF supporters, and offers huge benefits for everyone involved: 

• the seller clears out their space and gets a charitable tax receipt;
• the buyer gets a great deal; 
• the item is spared from landfill;
• users support an innovative local business;
• and the Foundation receives much-needed funds to continue supporting critical environmental programs such as tree planting, water quality research and outdoor education. 

“GiveShop expands donation options for our supporters while contributing to a more sustainable future,” said Diane Downey, RVCF’s executive director. “Partnering with this local start-up dovetails perfectly with what we are trying to accomplish in the Rideau Valley watershed.”

The Foundation is a registered environmental charity working to help protect and conserve the lands and waters of the Rideau Valley watershed in Eastern Ontario. The Foundation complements and supports the work of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority by raising funds and in-kind gifts for three major areas of conservation work: land care through tree planting, trail maintenance, and picnic tables, benches, boardwalks; river care through water quality monitoring, biodiversity monitoring, wetland inventories, invasive species removal and clean water projects; and conservation education through outdoor learning experiences, accessible programs and public events. 

How to support RVCF on GiveShop: 

1. Using www.GiveShop.ca or the GiveShop app, create an account and choose Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation as your preferred charity. Verify your account through your email.

2. To sell an item, click “Give” and choose RVCF as your charity. Post photos and a description and wait for buyers to bid or buy outright. Once an item has been sold, the funds are sent directly to the Foundation – you don’t handle the cash! You can then arrange a pick-up time with the buyer. Watch for your charitable receipt in your inbox.

3. To buy an item, visit the Foundation's marketplace page or click “Shop” and choose RVCF as your charity. Buy an item you love and enjoy it knowing it supports a more sustainable future for you and your community!

In light of COVID-19 public health guidance, we ask that all GiveShop users follow social distancing policies when meeting up to exchange items. Sellers should thoroughly sanitize items before pick-up and leave items by the door or follow a "curb-side" model when handing off the item to the buyer.

Happy shopping! For more information contact . 

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MISSISSIPPI AND RIDEAU WATERSHEDS, May 27, 2021 — The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region (MRSPR) is seeking a Source Protection Committee member who is interested in protecting municipal drinking water sources in the Mississippi and Rideau Valley watersheds. 

The MRSPR Committee was established in 2007 as a result of the Province’s Clean Water Act. The committee guides local efforts to protect drinking water at the source and is made up of one-third municipal, one-third economic and one-third public sector representatives. The composition ensures that a variety of local interests are represented at the decision-making table as the committee works to oversee the implementation of science-based source protection plans. 

The committee is looking for one public sector representative to liaise on behalf any of the following seats: environmental, non-governmental organizations, First Nations and general interest. 

“If you have experience and knowledge in this sector and have an interest in protecting drinking water sources, we hope you will apply,” said Marika Livingston, Mississippi-Rideau Source Water Protection Project Manager. “Among other qualifications, these positions require a multi-year commitment, an ability to understand scientific and technical reports and attendance at the two or more Source Protection Committee meetings held each year. Applicants must also live or work in the Mississippi or Rideau watersheds.” 

Future work of the Committee includes the review of new scientific and technical information to ensure that the Source Protection Plan and its supporting reports remain current and relevant. 

Further details regarding these part-time positions including descriptions of roles and responsibilities and an application form are available online at www.mrsourcewater.ca. A small per diem as well as expenses (mileage and meals) will be paid while working on Source Protection business. 

Applications will be accepted until July 5, 2021. 

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RIDEAU VALLEY, May 20, 2021 – 2020 was a year like no other, but Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) staff and conservation partners worked diligently to serve the watershed while keeping everyone safe during the global pandemic. 

“We are very proud of how quickly and efficiently RVCA staff were able to pivot in 2020,” said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, RVCA General Manager. “We faced challenges head on and were busier than ever.”

The RVCA’s 2020 Annual Report highlights a banner year for some departments, including a 50 per cent increase in visitors to its 11 conservation areas and record numbers of planning and development applications. Staff also navigated significant changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, introduced in the final weeks of 2020.

The RVCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities across the province tasked with watershed management to protect people, property and environment. For 55 years, the RVCA has provided quality programs and services based on this watershed model for the people who live, work and play in the Rideau Valley watershed. Programs range from tree planting to water quality monitoring to flood forecasting. They serve a watershed of more than 4,000 km², stretching from Central Frontenac to Merrickville-Wolford and downriver to the City of Ottawa. Through science, stewardship and education, the RVCA strives to manage local natural resources sustainably to ensure a healthy watershed for the future.

“Our programs protect the health of our watershed and the people who live here,” said Casgrain-Robertson. “But we don’t do our work alone. We are grateful to our many partners that help us achieve our goals – our municipalities and countless individuals, organizations and businesses.” 

2020 Highlights

• 300,000 visitors to RVCA’s 11 conservation areas (an increase of 50 per cent).
• $396,488 in grants allocated to farmers and landowners for projects to improve water quality, valued at more than $1.3 million. 
• 231,050 trees planted in the Rideau Valley watershed, bringing our total to 6.6 million trees planted since 1984.
• 14,554 trees and shrubs planted on 92 waterfront properties to naturalize shorelines.
• 1,844 students participated in curriculum-based outdoor education programs, before staff pivoted to providing online resources for teachers and parents. 
• 1,422 Planning Act applications reviewed, 1,099 property inquiries completed through Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act and 724 septic system applications processed for new or replacement sites in Ottawa and Tay Valley Township.
• 1,385 free butternut seedlings distributed to replace dead and dying endangered butternut trees.
• 156 sites sampled for water quality on lakes, rivers and major tributaries.
• 44 sites sampled in spring and fall for the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network.
• 3.1 kilometres of shorelines naturalized with trees and shrubs. 
• 8 Rideau River and 3 Ottawa River flood messages issued.

Significant changes to the Conservation Authorities Act were also introduced in late 2020. The RVCA is grateful for the local support for conservation authorities that resulted in improved amendments and inspired the province to work more collaboratively with conservation authorities and municipalities moving forward.

“Thank you to everyone who helped us through a challenging year,” said Ms. Casgrain-Robertson. “We are grateful for your continued support and commitment to watershed health and resilience.”

For your copy of the RVCA 2020 Annual Report, visit www.rvca.ca or call 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 for a hard copy.

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