December 2014 – Restoration Project
One of the main goals of the Carp River Action Plan is moving forward. Ducks Unlimited Canada has obtained $500K of funding needed to undertake a major wetland restoration and habitat creation project along 0.6km of privately-owned river front downstream from Richardson Side Road. Key support from Councillor El-Chantiry secured 50% of the funding from the City’s Environmental Resource Area Acquisition Reserve Fund.
Check out the interview with the landowner in the West Carleton Review’s 1 January 2015 article: Portion of Carp River to be Restored, by Jessica Cunha.
July 2014 – Carp River Monitoring Program
Does 1 inch of rain equal a 1 foot rise in the Carp River?
Since August of 2012, volunteers have been monitoring rain fall and water level at 6 locations along the length of the Carp River. The data are sent to the MVCA for analysis to correlate rain fall with the rise and fall of the Carp River.
Data from volunteers are integrated with data from three MVCA flow gauges in the river, which are located at Maple Grove in Kanata, Richardson Side Road, and Kinburn.
The MVCA has been monitoring flow rates at Kinburn since 1972. These are measurements taken at a single point in the river, but some conclusions can be drawn. There is less water flowing in the Carp River averaged over the year likely due to lower snow fall, but there is more water in the river in the summer:
- The maximum annual flow has been decreasing. This correlates with less snow melt.
- The mean annual flow has decreased slightly.
- The maximum summer flow has been increasing, likely due to more frequent and larger summer storms.
- Mean summer flows are increasing. While a trend in higher temperatures should lead to more evapotranspiration, it is believed that summer flow rates are higher due to more hard surfaces upstream.
- The minimum summer 7-day mean flow has been increasing.
For more information, go to our Carp River Monitoring page.
May 2014 – Canoe the Carp River Event a Success!
The Friends of the Carp River and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) hosted 10 boats and 20 people in their “Canoe the Carp River” event on 25 May. The event was held to introduce people to the natural beauty of the Carp River, which is the only river to lie entirely within the City of Ottawa.
Canoes and kayaks launched at the village and paddled upstream to the Huntmar Bridge, returning to Carp for a round trip distance of about 11 km.
Boaters saw natural areas and wildlife along the route: forests, wetlands, a turtle, muskrat, and herons. Also visible was evidence of past dredging in the straightened channels and high banks, and runoff from pastures and fields without plants on the river bank to buffer it.
Thank you to Karson Kartage for use of their portapotty, to Tubman Funeral Home for use of their parking lot, and to Sue P. for refreshments. The West Carleton Review published an article about our event: Friends Paddle the Carp River.
Read West Carleton Review reporter Derek Dunn’s comical account of his “race” down the river with fellow paddlers: Sojourn Along the Might Carp Definitely Not a Race.
May 22 & 23 – Over 1000 Trees and Shrubs Planted
Volunteers and staff from the MVCA planted over 1000 trees and shrubs along the Carp River and one of its tributaries. Funding for the trees was provided through the Ottawa Stewardship Council’s Carp River Green Banks program. The expected impacts of this project include filtering agricultural runoff from entering the Carp River and stabilizing the banks to prevent further erosion. Both of these issues contribute to poor water quality. The shrubs/trees planted will also create new habitat for wildlife with food and shelter.
Trees and shrubs were also planted in the Craig Side Road area where blockages were removed in the fall.
2014 – Volunteers Needed for Stream Assessment
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority is running a City Stream Watch Program on Huntley Creek this spring and needs volunteers help to complete it. Huntley Creek flows from Highway 7 east of Upper Dwyer Hill Road to the Carp River (North of Richardson Side Road).
The program will run from June 9, 2014 (Monday –Saturday) until June 27, 2014.
During the assessment volunteers will work closely with experienced staff members to survey the creek. Wearing hip waders, a group will wade up the creek taking detailed measurements and site characteristics every 100m. Each group will consist of 2-3 volunteers and 1-2 staff members. The stream survey will run from 9am-3pm, which includes meeting at the site, training, putting equipment on, hiking to the creek and completing the survey.
When: Monday – Saturday, 9am-3pm from June 9 – June 27
Where: Different meeting sites based on the day
Why: To engage individuals of the local community while at the same time collecting valuable monitoring data which can be used to create restoration plans.
The schedule is based on what days volunteers are available. This program offers excellent hands-on and educational experience while at the same time giving you a chance to meet new people and give back to nature!
Please contact Alyssa Boivin at MVCA if you are interested in participating. Include the following information:
- Date (s) of availability
- Shoe size (for hip waders)
- Phone number
14 March 2014 – Buy a Rain Barrel to Support the Carp River
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) is selling rain barrels to raise funds to support their Stream Watch programs. $10 from the purchase of each rain barrel will help the MVCA meet their water monitoring goals in the Carp River and Mississippi River watersheds.
Rain barrels capture and store rainwater collected from roofs through downspouts. They provide chlorine-free and fluoride-free water that is ideal for flowers, vegetables, lawns, shrubs and trees. It will save you money and help you conserve this precious resource.
Pre-Order your rain barrel online at www.rainbarrel.ca/mvca or call Alyssa at 613.253.0006 ext. 267. Pick up is on Saturday, 26 April in Carleton Place or Kinburn. Each base model rain barrel costs $55. For details, see www.mvc.on.ca/buy-a-rain-barrel-today/
Volunteers will be needed at the pick-up points to help with loading the barrels. Contact Suzanne Mcfarlane at MVCA if you’d like to help.
4 March 2014 – Carp River Action Plan – Tree Removal
The Friends and members of the West Carleton Snow Mobile Club cleared downed trees and branches behind the Diefenbunker and near Craig Side Road to improve canoe and kayak passage.
Only debris above the water line was removed in order not to disturb fish habitat.
Thank you to Mike Asquini and Peter Giles of the West Carleton Snow Mobile Club
We also cleared some trees near the village of Kinburn.