Watershed Health

Spring has finally sprung! The sun’s out, the weather is warming, and the days of blowing snow and ice are finally behind us. We can now look back after we’ve crunched the data on an especially salty year in the National Capital Region.

A new program with Ottawa Riverkeeper is trying to better understand the invasive species reports we have received in the watershed. A recent report of European water chestnut in the southern part of the Ottawa River underscores the importance of being able to map the presence and distribution of these species. While this isn’t something we celebrate, it clearly highlights why early detection is critical to limiting the spread of invasive species.

As summer draws to a close and temperatures begin to cool, you might expect algal blooms to disappear along with the heat. But surprisingly, there can be an increase in blooms in early fall. So what is driving this seasonal resurgence?

Ottawa Riverkeeper staff recently took part in a boat washing activity at the Aylmer Marina, hosted by OZero and the City of Gatineau, and we came away inspired!

European Water Chestnut is choking parts of the Ottawa River, but what does it take to remove it? This summer, Ottawa Riverkeeper staff joined COBALI and the Kitigan Zibi Guardians Program in a hands-on effort at Baie de Lochaber to tackle this invasive species.