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How healthy is the Middle Rideau? Readers can learn all about it in the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) Middle Rideau Subwatershed Report. This information-loaded report summarizes the subwatershed’s health by looking at four indicators: forests, wetlands, shorelines and water quality. This is the second subwatershed report for the Middle Rideau and compares baseline information that was collected in 2008. Changes are small, but understanding how to prevent cumulative long-term changes is essential.

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) new PayByPhone service is going to make visits to local conservation areas easier. Cash payment is no longer required. Complicated paystations are not an issue. As long as you have a phone or computer, you are covered.

“Paying at our remote conservation areas has always caused challenges,” says Kristy Giles, RVCA Conservation Lands Manager. “By using this PayByPhone service, it allows visitors to pay online through their phone or from their home computer, making it exceptionally convenient and reliable.”

The City Stream Watch Program is looking for volunteer “scientists” to help monitor, protect and cleanup Ottawa streams. Now is the best time to get involved as a Stream Watch Training Session will be held for volunteers on Saturday, May 28. The training session will welcome new volunteers and familiarize them with the basics of stream sampling and environmental data collection.

“The City Stream Watch program is driven by volunteer participation and gives the community a chance to contribute to the health of their local streams,” said Justin Robert, City Stream Watch Coordinator. “By helping to assess these unique urban features, volunteers play a crucial role in environmental protection and enhancement.”

Canada’s first and only carbon neutral radio station continues in its efforts to plant trees and maintain its efforts to offset carbon emissions.

In 2016, Ottawa’s LiVE 88.5 FM will ensure another 5,700 trees are planted in the southern Ottawa area to offset the carbon dioxide produced annually through normal station operation. This brings their total to 34,200 since they decided to go carbon neutral in 2011.

An unusual amount of snow for this time of year is expected to cause lake levels in the upper part of the Rideau River watershed to rise as the snow melts over the next several days.

Water levels can be expected to increase throughout the watershed but levels to flood stage could occur on Bobs and Christie Lakes. With the level of Bobs Lake close to the Full Supply Threshold, water has to be released. However, the release is being done as gradually as possible to minimize the impacts on both lakes. While levels are likely to increase downstream of Christie Lake, no flooding is expected.