Ottawa Riverkeeper protects our watershed

The Ottawa River is almost 1,300 kilometres long, draining an area of 146,300 square kilometres – an area substantially larger than England.

This vast watershed KATHARINE FLETCHER is so much a part of our National Capital Region, Ottawa Valley and Outaouais, it’s easy to forget what it actually symbolizes.

A life force: that’s what.

All life depends upon clean, usable water. And besides that, people use it for fun. Snorkelling, wildlife watching, swimming, paddling, skating – you name it, without clean water, our lives would be diminished and threatened.

Canada’s capital is surrounded and fashioned by water. The city lies at the confluence of three historic rivers, the Ottawa, Gatineau, and Rideau. Along the Ottawa River, tributaries like the Coulonge, Dumoine and Noire which flow into the Ottawa from the Quebec side contribute to its volume.

No argument then about the importance of ensuring its protection and cleanliness.

However, despite the presence of 200 municipalities within its watershed, plus a 16-year drinking-water advisory for the Kitigan Zibi First Nation near Maniwaki that’s deep inside the watershed, there are zero government agencies with a mandate or a plan to safeguard the Ottawa River’s health and future.

Enter the Ottawa Riverkeeper. Founded in 2001, it’s part of the International Waterkeeper Alliance, run by executive director Meredith Brown (she’s known as the Riverkeeper) and Adèle Michon, director of operations for Québec. No surprise here, because “the Ottawa” forms the border between the two provinces, and much of its watershed as well as headwaters lie in Quebec.

Ottawa Riverkeeper projects include: • “AquaHacking”: Apps for the health of the river. This year’s Ottawa River Summit in Gatineau in May saw the culmination of the AquaHacking competition. Cash prizes were awarded to teams of developers, programmers and designers to create technology-based tools to help water managers and groups like Ottawa Riverkeeper in their daily work to protect the river. Watch the Riverkeeper website for apps you can use to report pollution or share observations and data. • Who you gonna call if you go to the beach and it’s closed because of sewage pollution? The Swim Guide is a website and a free app for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® and Android. The app has tools enabling you to find the closest place to cool off, information about the e.coli levels of beaches, integrates with GoogleMaps for directions, and has simple tools for reporting pollution issues. • Ban the (micro) bead and make microplastics history: Lush Cosmetics has partnered with Ottawa Riverkeeper to ban tiny plastic microbeads found in many cosmetics and toothpaste. Riverkeeper Brown says, “The growing problem of microbeads accumulating in our lakes, rivers and oceans must be solved. These tiny plastic particles are showing up in the guts of aquatic animals and in our beer. Canada must take action to protect our valued freshwater heritage.” • Engage with the watershed. Become the river’s eyes and ears by joining the 60-plus volunteers who monitor the river from Temiscaming to Lake of Two Mountains. They test water in a citizen-science water quality test program and tell neighbours how to keep it healthy.

From river shore cleanup days to learning why natural shorelines at cottages and homes are important, Ottawa Riverkeeper is the go-to organization and website. Go. Learn why ripping out trees, shrubs, reeds and grasses from shorelines for beaches, lawns or concrete walls destroys wildlife habitat. 

ottawariverkeeper.ca info@ottawariverkeeper.ca or 613-321-1120 pollution hotline 888-953-3737

www.ottawariverkeeper.ca/ottawa-riverwater-quality