Riverwatch

What do farmers, scientists, mayors, conservationists, Algonquin community members, and community leaders have in common? Last month, they all came together on the shores of Lake Temiskaming for the annual Building Ties meeting to talk about something that connects them all: the health of the lake.

A new petition seeks to mandate filters on washing machines to prevent microfibres from entering our waterways. Microfibres are especially prevalent in the Ottawa River, as confirmed by research conducted by Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Riverwatcher volunteers.

Ten years ago, Ottawa Riverkeeper first launched community-based monitoring programs. Today, we look back on the incredible projects and volunteers that have helped to deepen our collective understanding of the Ottawa River watershed!

On February 7th, 2023, Riverkeeper Laura Reinsborough presented to the Members of Parliament who sit on the Standing Committee on Science and Research to make the case for community science as a vital tool for better understanding our world and getting communities involved in scientific inquiry.

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.