Watershed Report Card

Watershed health gets a C grade in our new comprehensive report card

Ottawa Riverkeeper has released its highly anticipated Watershed Report Card, revealing concerning trends in the health of the Ottawa River watershed.

Human-driven changes are degrading the Ottawa River.

The Watershed Report Card tells a story of a watershed under threat from recent human activity. Development, land use, and climate change are reshaping Canada’s capital river system.

The Ottawa River is a vital natural resource and cultural landmark.

Despite its significance to the region’s ecosystems and communities, including the wider St. Lawrence watershed, the Ottawa River has often been ignored.

Introducing Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Watershed Report Card

In this groundbreaking report, you’ll learn about the intricate balance of factors shaping the health of the Ottawa River watershed. From the impacts of human development to the challenges posed by climate change, the Watershed Report Card provides valuable insights into the current state of your local rivers and streams. This comprehensive look at watershed health is the culmination of years of research thanks to you, the community who have given your time, support, and dedication to protecting our cherished waterways.

See the full Watershed Report Card below:

WatershedReportCard_8.5x11_EN_ForWebDownload

What you can do

The Report Card identifies actionable steps you can take to mitigate the negative trends identified and lead the way for a healthier watershed.

We also lay out the actions that decision-makers need to work on, including tackling these challenges at a watershed scale by fostering collaboration between governments, Indigenous Nations, environmental groups, and you.

From advocating for habitat protection to embracing sustainable agricultural practices, each of us has a role to play in safeguarding the Ottawa River and its tributaries, for all species and all generations.

A graphic showcasing a page from the report card titled "What You Can Do" and featuring two lists of actions: As a member of the public: Advocate for sustainable land use practices. Help protect a forest, restore a shoreline, or support responsible and sustainable agricultural management. Mitigate the impact of contaminants. Learn about the sources of pollutants entering waterways, reduce your use of harmful substances like PFAS, and spread the word to encourage public action. Protect endangered species. Support habitat restoration initiatives in your local area, and advocate for infrastructure improvements that help species at risk. Become a community scientist. Join in with local community-based monitoring programs and volunteer to collect valuable data on watershed health. Get involved! Join your local watershed protection organization to learn about the issues in your area and participate in their programs. As a decision-maker: Support and respect Indigenous water rights. Advance government-to-government, nation-to-nation relationships for watershed governance. Promote inter-jurisdictional cooperation. Help to harmonize legislation and policies across federal, provincial, and territorial governments to ensure coherent water management. Take a watershed approach. Help establish governing bodies or councils that collaborate across levels of government and with non-governmental stakeholders to consider ecological, social, economic, and cultural values across the watershed. Invest in nature-based climate solutions. Improve freshwater ecosystem health and meet climate change and biodiversity targets by providing funding, tools, and information to help regions and municipalities adapt to climate change, in addition to mitigation efforts. Fund community-based monitoring. Fill dangerous gaps in data collection and build public interest in environmental protection by providing increased funding for community science at a watershed scale.

Read the full release

The Watershed Report Card was officially launched on May 22nd, at an event at the Ottawa Riverkeeper office in the NCC River House. The event was accompanied by a press release sent out to the media, which you can read here.

Thank you to the funders of the Watershed Report Card:

SM Blair Family Foundation