News

February 17, 2017

Warming Trend Expected to Cause Unsafe Conditions

Daytime temperatures above freezing forecast for the weekend and into next week will cause melting and increased levels on watercourses throughout the Rideau River watershed. Above freezing temperatures will cause ice and snow melt over the next several days. There is sufficient snow on the ground in the lower part of the watershed to absorb most of the meltwater. However, areas to the south and west of the City of Ottawa, where there has been less snowfall, can be expected to have more runoff. In all cases, the ice cover can be expected to become unstable to various extents with…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

January 19, 2017

Drought Condition Downgraded to Minor

The drought status in the Rideau River watershed is being downgraded to “Minor” because the recent warm temperatures and precipitation have caused flows to increase significantly in watershed streams.Rain and snowmelt have caused flows in some streams to approach and, in some cases, exceed the long-term historical average flows. Kemptville Creek had low flows of .028 cubic metres per second (cms), 1.5% of average, in mid-October. Occasional thaws with rain since then have caused flows to increase in all streams and fluctuate around the average. Kemptville Creek flows have been consistently elevated since December 27 and reached three times the…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

December 15, 2016

Drought Condition Downgraded to Moderate

The drought status in the Rideau River watershed is being downgraded to “Moderate” because recent precipitation has generally increased flows in area streams. Kemptville Creek flows are about 130% of the historical average, or normal, for the time of year as a result of October rain and November snowmelt. Other recorded streamflows are above 60% of normal which has led to the downgrade of the drought status. However, the Tay River out of Bobs Lake has not had the same precipitation and is at only 10% of the normal flow. This indicates that the drought is not fully over despite…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

December 14, 2016

2016 Deadlines

RVCA Property Inquiry Service Deadline Friday, December 16 at 4 p.m. — if you require a property inquiry response before December 23, please submit on or before December 16. Anything received after December 16 will be processed starting on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Ottawa Septic Office Service Deadlines Friday, December 16, 2016 at 4 p.m. – deadline for OSSO inspection requests Monday, December 19 at 4 p.m. — deadlines to submit: OSSO Part 8 Septic applications (new/replacement/alterations) OSSO Septic Record Searches ORWC OBC Part 8 registration

Published in Other News

December 06, 2016

RVCA Celebrates 50 Years of Conservation

Special guests and dignitaries gathered to celebrate 50 years of conservation at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s Anniversary Celebration on November 30. Surrounded by watershed representatives, politicians, past and present staff along with numerous friends and partners, RVCA Board of Director Members looked to acknowledge the many people, projects and partnerships behind a conservation movement that started in the early 1940s. “This was our opportunity to thank those who have helped us towards our goal of a thriving and sustainable watershed,” said Lyle Pederson, RVCA Chair and Elizabethtown-Kiltey representative. “Conservation of our land and water is not something you can…

Published in Media Release

November 17, 2016

Otter-Hutton Hazard Mapping Public Open Houses

Rideau Lakes, November 14, 2016 — Members of the public are invited to an upcoming open house to review hazard maps. The RVCA has completed draft hazard mapping for Otter Creek (from Otter Lake outlet to the Rideau River) and Hutton Creek (from the Motts Mills Dam to its confluence with Otter Creek). These maps are typically known as “floodplain mapping,” but they also show areas that are prone to natural hazards such as flooding, erosion and natural environment features such as wetlands. The mapping will be used by the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley, the Township of Rideau Lakes and the…

Published in Media Release