Blog

As water flows across the land of our watershed, and through the streams and tributaries of the river, it acts differently depending on how humans use the land. Creating detailed maps of how land use in our region changes over time can be an invaluable tool in understanding the health of our watershed.

We are gearing up to implement our exciting new plans for the future. Elizabeth Logue and Patrick Nadeau are now helping guide a smooth transition to a new generation of leadership.

Constructing an eel ladder on the Carillon dam could provide our endangered and fragmented American eel population with the fighting chance it deserves.

Following a recent career fair, where youth heard from a diverse group about how they came to become water protectors, one Youth Water Leader was inspired to write about her takeaways and the various ways that life can lead you to work for our waterways.

Road salt is ubiquitous on winter roads throughout our watershed, but it has numerous negative impacts on our waterways. What can you do to reduce this unique form of pollution in our river?

In the fall of 2020 it was announced that the Carillon Dam, the most significant barrier to American eel migration into the Ottawa River watershed, would be undergoing major renovations. We’ve assembled a series of questions and answers to bring you up to speed on the relationship between the dam and this endangered fish species in our watershed.

During the pandemic many of you have been discovering new and exciting ways to get outside and enjoy the watershed. This winter you may find yourself out on the river for a walk, skate or ski, or even zipping around on a snowmobile. While these are all awesome ways to enjoy the river during the winter, it’s of the utmost importance to remember that accessing river ice is never 100% safe.

At Ottawa Riverkeeper, we have a program that gives our employees paid days off to explore new corners of the watershed. These outings are opportunities for the team to learn about and connect with the waterways and land that they are dedicated to protecting.

November 20th, 2020 saw the official opening event for a brand new piece of Ottawa City infrastructure: the Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel. What does that have to do with the river? The new tunnel is designed to help protect the river from the harmful effects of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).

Despite its cultural significance and ecological role in the Ottawa River, the American eel has dramatically declined in recent decades. This fascinating species has been heavily impacted by changes in the watershed. We believe you should know why this has happened and why American eels matter in the Ottawa River.

We are pleased to present the award to a group that has shown truly remarkable cooperation towards the stewardship and protection of our river: the members of the Pacte d’Amitié.

Water brings us together. Will you help protect it? This inspiring story from Maddie Perrault makes the case for protecting our waterways for future generations.

On November 16th Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources announced that the government was launching a review and public engagement on Canada’s Radioactive Waste Policy. We now have a chance to help the government build a stronger policy that lives up to international standards, and most importantly, protects our waterways.

Recent decisions by the Ontario government to strip Conservation Authorities of their power threaten to harm the Ottawa River watershed. We believe that you should know what this means for your future and that of the rivers, lakes and wetlands in our region.

Since 2014, Ottawa Riverkeeper and other groups have been working hard to have triclosan banned from Canadian products. In October 2020, new legislation came into effect limiting the use of Triclosan. We are disappointed in this outcome, but there is cause for optimism.

We are excited to see that our report on microplastics in the Ottawa River continues to resonate with the public. However, we are concerned that these findings have recently been misrepresented.

We’re so excited about our new cohort of Youth Water Leaders that we want you to get to know each and every one of these amazing individuals.

This World Rivers Day, we wanted to honour not only the Ottawa River and its tributaries, but also you, the people that love the watershed and make our work possible.

As the world comes together for the 2020 Global Climate Strike, we stand in solidarity with everyone fighting for the health of our planet.

Today we celebrate World Water Monitoring Day! Did you know that Ottawa Riverkeeper does its own in house water quality testing?