News

June 23, 2016

Drought Expected to become Moderately Severe

With no rain until Monday in weather forecasts, it is expected that the drought status for the Rideau River watershed will pass the threshold from Minor to Moderate Severity by Sunday. The amount of rain forecast for Monday will do little to reverse the trend of deepening drought. Flows in the Rideau River at Ottawa are 15% of normal for the time of year. Larger tributary streams are about 6% of normal and many small streams are intermittent or dry. Aquatic habitat is becoming limited for all species.

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

June 16, 2016

Drought Deepening Again

The last significant rainfall in the Rideau River watershed on June 5 caused streamflows to increase and helped crop growth, but the effect has worn off and the lack of rain since has once again left flows dropping and crops in need of more water. Rainfall recorded at Kemptville indicates that the Moderate Drought severity has been reached in the southern parts of the watershed. However, the drought severity overall in the watershed is still Minor but is expected to reach Moderate status late next week. Forecast rain next week is not expected to have a significant impact. Streamflows increased…

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

June 13, 2016

230,000 Trees take Root Across Rideau Watershed

The 2016 Rideau Valley Conservation Authority tree planting season is complete with some 230,000 trees being planted across the watershed. RVCA is proud to be working with Forests Ontario to help deliver the province’s promise of 50 million trees by 2025. “We saw over 90 thousand trees planted in the City of Ottawa which is quite impressive,” said Scott Danford, RVCA Forestry Program Manager. “The remainder was planted throughout the upper and middle watershed thanks to our participating property owners.” The RVCA offers private landowners tree planting programs that help landowners get technical advice, planting plans and funding for trees.…

Published in Media Release

June 09, 2016

Weekend Rainfall Improves Drought Status

Rain on June 5 was sufficient to improve the drought status to minor severity on the Rideau watershed. Streamflows and water levels increased as a result of the rain from about 10 percent of normal for the time of year to 50 percent. However, such flows are typically seen in mid-July to early August. Little rain is forecast for the next two weeks which means that water levels can be expected to drop noticeably throughout the watershed again.

Published in Watershed Conditions Statements

June 08, 2016

Searching for New Chair of Source Protection Committee

The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Committee is in need of a new Chair. Under Ontario’s Clean Water Act, a Source Protection Committee representing multiple stakeholders is required for each source protection region in Ontario. The Source Protection Committee oversees the drinking water source protection program and the composition ensures that a variety of local interests are represented at the decision making table.

Published in Media Release

June 06, 2016

How Healthy is the Middle Rideau? RVCA Reports on State of Middle Rideau Subwatershed

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.

Published in Media Release