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Waves: The ottawa riverkeeper newsletter

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If you cannot read this newsletter properly, please read it online.

Introducing New Riverkeeper Columnist

We are delighted to announce that Katharine Fletcher will be writing a monthly column for our Riverkeeper website. Katharine is an award-winning writer and author of five guides to our National Capital Area and Quebec. Her first book, Historical Walks: The Gatineau Park Story, is a Canadian best seller.

Katharine specializes in our region’s natural and human history and frequently gives lectures and leads hikes and tours throughout the National Capital Region. Her writing focuses on fostering stewardship for wild spaces—and for the wild creatures which depend upon ecological biodiversity.

Read this month’s column about why we need shoreline protection regulations.

Good Neighbours Fight When Laws Fail Us
by Katharine Fletcher

Recently, President George Bush used his presidential powers to pardon his friend and political ally Scooter Libby. The pardon prompted presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton to express, that Bush is “elevating cronyism over the rule of law.”

Here in Pontiac, sometimes the laws designed to protect our environment are being flagrantly violated by individuals, who in turn are not being penalized by municipal councils. Why is this?

Read the full article

Is Bottled Water Safe?

Inside the Bottle

Bottled water is the number one growing segment of the beverage industry in North America. Yet, the bottled water trend has social, environmental and health impacts that can be avoided by drinking tap water. We need to support and reinvest in public tap water systems and protect our source of drinking water.

Join us at the community forum on September 29th featuring Tony Clarke of the Polaris Institute. Tony and other knowledgeable panelists will discuss the social, health and environmental impacts of the bottled water trend as well as the importance of supporting public tap water systems.

The presentation will be followed by two community action workshops aimed at developing practical steps that can be taken by community members to help curb the growing bottled water trend.


Riverkeeper urges Pontiac Mayors to Enforce Shoreline Regulations

Meredith Brown was invited to speak to the Land Use Planning Committee of the MRC Pontiac last week. At the meeting she told mayors that many cases of illegal shoreline and floodplain development have been brought forward to the Riverkeeper this summer.

Riverkeeper is pursuing this matter further with the Province and the MRC Pontiac and Ms. Brown hopes to create a precedent setting case that will act to improve compliance with shoreline regulations throughout the watershed.

Buy Art and Help Ottawa Riverkeeper

Visit the Art of Giving booth (605) at the Fall Home Show in Ottawa on September 21, 22 and 23. A portion of the onsite sales will benefit local charities including Ottawa Riverkeeper. Event Details…

Friends of the
Kipawa River Fight
for their Rights

Les Amis de las Riviere Kipawa will plead their case in the Federal Court of Canada on October 23, 2007 concerning the environmental assessment of the Laniel Dam Refurbishment which has limited access to the previously navigable sluice at the Laniel Dam. This spring the 21st Annual Kipawa River Rally had to be canceled after Public Works and Government Services Canada restricted access to the top third of this incredible white water river.

Peter Karwacki, President of Les Amis has been working endlessly on this case and I leave you with his words “Canadians! Our rivers and streams are our own, lets urge the Minister of Transport and the our government to protect them.” To learn more visit www.kipawariver.ca


Upcoming Events

Community Forum: Is Bottled Water Safe?
Saturday, September 29, Ottawa

The Riverkeeper to speak to the National Farmers Union & Bonnechere Watershed Group
Wednesday, October 3, Cobden

Join the Riverkeeper at the Awakening
Saturday October 6, Perth

Fall Paddle and Garbage Pick-Up
Saturday, October 20, Kettle Island


Great Lakes Waterkeepers Work Together

Great Lakes

Waterkeepers from Canada and the U.S. are working together to tackle many of the issues affecting the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Freshwater Ecosystem.

In September, a delegation of Great Lakes Waterkeepers met in Chicago prior to the Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference.

Meet the Waterkeepers in the Great Lakes Basin: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, Canadian Detroit Riverkeeper, Detroit Riverkeeper, Georgian Baykeeper, Grand Traverse Baykeeper, Lake Champlain Lakekeeper, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, St. Clair Channelkeeper, Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper, Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper and Ottawa Riverkeeper.

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Ottawa Riverkeeper is a charitable organization,
our business number is 862697059RR0001.

Please consider making a donation to support our work.