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Waves: The ottawa riverkeeper newsletter

Ottawa Riverkeeper is preparing for a busy spring and summer and we would like to let you know of a list of events we will be participating in and hosting in the next few months, as well as keep you up to date on a few issues and let you know What’s New with Ottawa Riverkeeper in 2005.

Coming Events

Sunday May 15 – Carp River Walk and Learn. How much do you know about the development that is taking place in the Carp River Watershed? How will proposed development affect the function of this significant tributary of the Ottawa River? Ottawa Riverkeeper has been studying the watershed plans and we have some concerns. Come out and learn more about this watershed and how The Friends of the Carp River are trying to remediate sections of the river. For more information please visit the events page on our web site.

Saturday April 23 – Jock River Canoe Race. Ottawa Riverkeeper Meredith Brown along with her family will be entering the annual Jock River Canoe Race. If you are interested in joining in on the fun, the following link will give you all the information you need: jock river race. Hope to see you there!

Saturday April 30 is River Clean Up Day! Ottawa Riverkeeper is working with local community groups and businesses to clean up areas along the Ottawa River. This year we will be working with Mountain Equipment Co-op to clean up the Mud Lake / Britannia Conservation Area. We will be at the parking lot at Mud Lake to hand out clean up kits provided by the City of Ottawa. Be sure to bring your binoculars as Mud Lake is known for its excellent birding. Following the clean up, all participants can meet at Bate Island between Noon and 1pm for a BBQ lunch hosted by Moe’s Newport Restaurant. A hamburger and drink will be provided for all participants. For more details on the event and directions to get to Mud Lake, click here. If you are interested in participating, please email Kim Mann at outreach@ottawariverkeeper.ca

Sunday June 12 is National Rivers Day. To Celebrate National Rivers Day, Ottawa Riverkeeper will be organizing a paddle on the Ottawa River – suitable for all levels of paddlers but you must have your own boat. Details will be on our website soon!

Saturday June 18 is the Ottawa Riverkeeper Triathlon at Westboro Beach. Ottawa Riverkeeper is the official charitable organization for this event that is being organized by Somersault Productions. Half of all the team entry fees and all donations will be awarded to Ottawa Riverkeeper to support our organization. If your business or work place wants to show their support for a clean and healthy Ottawa River, come out and challenge the Ottawa Riverkeeper triathlon team! For more information regarding the triathlon, please visit our events page or see the Somersault Website.

Volunteers NEEDED! As the charitable organization it is up to us to ask for volunteers to help make this event a successful one. We need a number of volunteers on the day of the event to work at various stations including registration, water tables and handing out timing devices. If you are interested in helping out or know someone, please contact Kim Mann at outreach@ottawariverkeeper.ca

Wednesday June 22 – Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Annual General Meeting. The meeting will be held at Mountain Equipment Co-op from 7-9 pm. This meeting is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about our organization and how they can become involved or help out. The agenda includes a sneak preview of our annual River Report and the election of new board members. This year we have a few openings for new members to sit on our Board of Directors. For more information, visit our website or call Meredith at 864-7442.

What’s New

Ottawa River Report. We will be launching the 1st annual Ottawa River Report this fall. This report will introduce readers to the Ottawa River ranging from its ecological significance and health to current initiatives within the watershed. A report will be available for all members in a PDF format and hard copies will be on sale.

Heritage River Designation for the Ottawa River. As you may already know, there are people working on both sides of the river to have the Ottawa River designated as a Canadian Heritage River. Nicole Desroches, one of Ottawa Riverkeeper’s directors, is co-chair of the Ottawa River Heritage Designation Committee. The Committee will be submitting a nomination request shortly with hopes of having the river designated in time to celebrate The City of Ottawa’s 150th anniversary. For more information please visit the committee’s website.

City of Ottawa Water Purification Plant. I have been asked by some members for an update on the pollution issues at the city’s two water filtration plants. As you may be aware, these plants discharge their sludge from the filtration process directly into the Ottawa River. The sludge is high in aluminum and the levels exceed the amount they are legally allowed to dump. Environment Canada originally ordered the City to stop dumping the toxic sludge from the Lemieux plant into the river by Sept 9, 2004. This deadline has been extended until September 2005. The City intends to solve the problem by piping the sludge to ROPEC (the City’s wastewater treatment facility), however this will not happen until 2007 (at the earliest). First, the City must build the necessary infrastructure, which includes building a new digester at ROPEC. In the meantime, the sludge continues to pour into our river.

Chats Falls Boat Bypass Update. We have had some success influencing the approvals for the Chats Dam Boat Bypass. The proponent has changed their plans to have the downstream launch site at Morris Island Conservation Area, then at Willola Beach, due to strong opposition to those ecologically sensitive and significant sites. They have now submitted their project for approval with the downstream location being at Ferry Road where the Quyon Ferry docks. The upstream launch location is still slated for Lavergne Bay, an ecologically sensitive shallow bay that is known for its important fish habitat and wetland. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Ministry of Transportation. Once those reviews are completed, the proponent must announce a period for public review and comment. Ottawa Riverkeeper will keep members informed on these important dates. If the project gets approval at the provincial and federal levels, the City of Ottawa has committed to spending $350,000 toward the project. Currently boats can get around the dam on the Quebec side where facilities already exist at Quyon and Norway Bay.

Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Process Under Review. The Ontario government formed an advisory panel to recommend ways of improving the province’s Environmental Assessment process. The Panel submitted its report ume%201.pdf and recommendations to the Minister of the Environment on March 15, 2005. The Panel’s report outlines proposed improvements for Ontario’s environmental assessment process. The Ministry of the Environment is seeking input from all stakeholders and interested parties with regard to the recommendations contained in the Panel’s report. Submissions related to this report are welcomed before July 4, 2005. For details on where to send your comments, please visit the Environmental Bill of Rights website.

NEW! Membership Fees

Ottawa Riverkeeper is celebrating its 4th year of operation. We have ambitious plans and goals but we can’t achieve them without your support. In order to meet our goals we are now asking members for financial support through membership fees. Fees range from $10 for students and seniors, $35 for individuals, $50 for families, $100 for Friends, $500 for Guardians and $1000 for Patrons. For a list of member benefits, or to print up a membership form, please visit the membership page of our website. Soon we will be ready to take payments online but until then, we ask that you mail your completed membership forms and cheques to the address included on the membership form. We wish to express our thanks to everyonewho supported Ottawa Riverkeeper by becoming a member and we will be considering all of our current members to be FOUNDING MEMBERS. Therefore, if you are a registered member you will always be recognized as such. However, we encourage all founding members to consider joining at the current membership rates to receive our benefits and to allow our organization to continue to be a watchdog and voice for the ecological health of the Ottawa River. With every new member our voice gets stronger!