News

September 29, 2023

Reception celebrates 50 years of Foley Mountain

WESTPORT, Sept. 29, 2023 – Foley Mountain Conservation Area officially marked its 50th anniversary with a community reception on Friday, Sept. 22 – in the very same spot it celebrated its official opening in 1973. Past and present RVCA staff and board members, special guests, local residents and community partners gathered at the Interpretive Centre to reminisce about the conservation area’s long history in the community. The 833-acre site, owned and operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), was acquired in 1970 thanks to a donation from prominent Westport resident Harold Foley, who wished to see the property remain natural. Other…

Published in Media Release

September 08, 2023

Reforest your rural Ottawa property for only pennies a tree

OTTAWA, Sept. 8, 2023 – If you’ve ever considered planting trees on your rural Ottawa property, there’s no better time than now. Thanks to generous subsidies from Forests Ontario and the City of Ottawa, Ottawa landowners only pay $0.15 per tree, or about $150 per acre, to reforest their properties – compared to about $3,000 to plant the same trees through a private company. “It’s an incredibly good deal, and we do all the work for you,” said Ian Cochrane, forestry manager for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), which implements the program in the Rideau And Mississippi Valley watersheds. “We consider…

Published in Media Release

August 31, 2023

Commemorative Foley Mountain puzzle to support park programs

WESTPORT, Sept 1, 2023 – Want to own a unique piece of Foley Mountain memorabilia? How about 500 pieces? This fall, Foley Mountain fans can bring the famous Spy Rock lookout home with them in the form of a custom jigsaw puzzle. The non-profit Friends of Foley Mountain group is selling the 500-piece commemorative puzzle to mark 50 years since Foley Mountain officially opened as a public conservation area. The puzzle features the iconic view of Westport from the top of Spy Rock. This limited-edition puzzle will be available for sale this fall at Westport retailers Lower Mountain Mercantile, Village…

Published in Media Release

August 10, 2023

Heavy Precipitation Causing Elevated Water Levels Across Rideau Valley Watershed

(WCS – R13/2023)August 10, 2023 – Caution is advised around all waterways in the Rideau Valley Watershed following several large rain events over the last few weeks, with additional rain in the forecast. Observed rainfall amounts for the last month across the watershed are significantly more than normal. Environment Canada’s short-term weather forecast indicates we may receive an additional 50 to 100 mm of rain over the next 7 days. Water levels and flows in all waterways are generally higher than average for this time of year across the Rideau Valley Watershed. Although no significant riverine flooding is anticipated, water levels…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

August 09, 2023

Low Water Status Now ‘Normal’ in Tay River and Rideau Lakes; Water Levels Remain Low in Bobs and Christie Lakes

(WCS-LW - 2/2023)August 9, 2023 – Watershed conditions in the Tay River and Rideau Lakes watersheds have returned to “Normal’ under the Ontario Low Water Response Program. However, the water levels in Bobs and Christie Lakes, which are used throughout the recreational season to augment the flow in the Tay River and regulate navigation in the Rideau River, are still below average for this time of year. Parks Canada staff continue to closely monitor these lakes and expect the water levels to approach normal levels with rain in the forecast. With well above-average rainfall amounts across the watershed during the last…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

July 18, 2023

Invasive species the target of upcoming community workshop

RIDEAU VALLEY, July 18, 2023 – In the war on invasive species, knowledge is the most potent weapon – and a free community workshop aims to arm the public with as much invasive species information as possible. Focusing on identification and how to reduce their spread, the workshop on Saturday, July 29 will feature staff presentations as well as hands-on displays of invasive plants and animals. “We’re hoping more members of the public will become familiar with these species and their impacts,” said Amanda Lange, RVCA’s Aquatic Habitat Monitoring Co-ordinator. “The more people know about invasive species, the more we can…

Published in Media Release