2016 Municipal Information Sheet Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Merrickville-Wolford

Stewardship Services Stewardship staff use RVCA monitoring results to pursue targeted • Stewardship staff use RVCA monitoring results to guide targeted stewardship activities on key areas for maximum impact. stewardship activities on key areas for maximum impact. • 5 Rural Clean Water projects approved in Merrickville-Wolford in 2015 — $11,000 was allocated to projects valued at $50,796; from 2002-2015, there have been 42 approved projects in • 2 beaver dams surveys in 2013 and 2015 on South Branch of Merrickville-Wolford — $72,248 was allocated to projects valued Kemptville Creek downstream of North Augusta identified, at $296,655; 1,223 clean water projects approved watershed- measured, photographed and mapped beaver dams and lodges. wide between 2002 and 2015 — $2,178,350 allocated to projects • 30+ landowners contact RVCA annually to register their concern valued at $10,135,501. and ask for advice on best management practices relating to • 109 Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program projects nuisance beavers. Staff provide information packages and can approved in the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region produce imagery maps to help landowners identify beaver dam between 2007 and 2015 — $521,000 was allocated to projects locations and property ownership in problem areas. RVCA may be valued at $853,770. able to assist municipalities with beaver dam surveys in difficult • 46,400 trees planted in Merrickville-Wolford since 1984, $51,088 access areas if it is unclear where the problem dams are and who fundraised, $90,654 provided in value; 5.25 million trees planted owns the land. watershed-wide on public and private land since 1984; 239,555 trees were planted watershed-wide in 2015. Conservation Land Management Services Grant programs and stewardship advice help property owners, • 2,800+ hectares of sensitive natural areas are protected and businesses and municipalities restore and improve the health of maintained by the RVCA and our partners at the Rideau Valley our watershed. Conservation Foundation, including ten developed conservation areas watershed-wide. • 72+ hectares of natural areas located in Merrickville-Wolford — 2016 Municipal Information Sheet • 6 shoreline naturalization plantings completed by RVCA’s Naftel (40.8 hectares) and Fournier (32.16 hectares). Shoreline Naturalization Program in Merrickville-Wolford since the • 10,000 students enjoy conservation education programs at Baxter program’s inception in 2008. In total, 823 seedlings have been and Foley Mountain Conservation Areas. planted along 688 metres of shoreline for a total project value of • All areas operate in accordance with site-specific management $4,665 with landowner contribution of $801. plans, which include input from the public, development plans, • 45,180 native tree and shrub seedlings and potted stock planted annual maintenance and capital responsibilities. Merrickville-Wolford along 15.7 kilometres of watershed shoreline through the Shoreline Naturalization program since 2009; 250+ landowners/ partners and 1,200+ volunteers; total project value: $486,491. Management of conservation areas protects vulnerable habitats and • 74 beaver removed after RVCA completed a beaver dam and Who we are and what we do: Our ongoing priorities are: valuable natural resources. elevation survey on North Branch of Kemptville Creek in 2011-2012. RVCA is one of Ontario’s 36 Conservation 1. Improve water quality

RVCA, local landowners and the municipalities of North Grenville Auth o rities. Since our formation in 1966, we have 2. Protect water supplies and Merrickville-Wolford to remove beavers and breach dams on a RVCA provides high quality curriculum-based environmental education partnered with our local municipalities, residents, 3. Manage flood risk and erosion hazards

YEAR S 1966-2016 13 kilometre reach of North Branch of Kemptville Creek. The work programs to children – building the future guardians of our watershed. businesses, service clubs, schools, environmental 4. Restore watershed habitats was completed at a cost of about $3,000 and the remaining funds of and lake associations, community groups and 5. Increase conservation lands

$2,000 were applied to keeping seven dams open. p rovincial and federal governments to deliver • 193 beaver have been removed overall and 37 dams were prog r ams and services that protect and manage We achieve these priorities through our:

breached or removed on Kemptville Creek since 2003. This work the natural resources we all value and count on in 1. Watershed Science and Engineering Services

was done in partnership with the municipalities and local Merickville-Wolford Levy 2016: $19,293.04 th e Rideau watershed. 2. Planning Advisory and Regulatory Services landowners to reduce flooding caused by nuisance beaver activity. 3. Stewardship Services Project value is $26,000. For every levy dollar our municipalities invest, the RVCA provides As one of our 18 member municipalities, the 4. Conservation Lands Services • 150 butternut seedlings planted in Merrickville-Wolford. In total, two dollars worth of service. We are able to double this municipal Village of Merrickville-Wolford is a valued partner. over 20,000 butternut seedlings have been planted in eastern investment by maximizing other sources of funding enabling We thank you for supporting 50 years of Ontario. RVCA collects seeds each year from healthy butternut us to do more work in the watershed. conservation in the Rideau watershed and look trees that are endangered because of the butternut canker. forward to working with council and residents on the next 50. 2016 Municipal Information Sheet Merrickville-Wolford

Watershed Science and Engineering Services Planning Advisory and Regulatory Services

• The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan came into effect • Stream Characterization Program assessed North Branch of • 7 Conservation Authorities Act applications were received in • 1,015 Planning Act reviews were received in 2015. on January 1, 2015. The plan, required under the Ontario Clean Kemptville Creek along with Irish Creek, Dales Creek and Barbers Merrickville-Wolford in 2015. Under Section 28 of the • RVCA is available to review and approve private septic systems Water Ac t, focuses on policies to protect municipal sources of Creek catchments for fish community, thermal regime and Conservation Authorities Act , the RVCA is required to regulate under Part VIII of the Ontario Building Code at no cost to drinking water. We provided policy interpretation, implementation instream conditions. development on hazard lands (floodplains, steep slopes, unstable municipalities. RVCA currently provides this service to the City of tools and other support to municipal staff to ensure the legally • 3 water quality sites tested as part of RVCA water quality baseline soil) and in environmentally sensitive areas (wetlands, shorelines, Ottawa and Tay Valley Township in partnership with MVCA and binding policies are well understood and undertaken in time to monitoring. valley lands). Over 90 percent of applicants receive approval SNC. We also provide septic re-inspection services which are meet compliance deadlines. In addition, at the request of the • 2 water quality sites tested as part of the Provincial Water Quality each year. currently used by Tay Valley Township, North Frontenac, Central municipality, we provided a specially trained Risk Management Monitoring Network. • 266 Conservation Authority Act applications were received in 2015. Frontenac, Rideau Lakes and Drummond/North Elmsley. Official and Inspectors that are required to enforce the Clean • 1 site sampled as part of the Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring • 37 property inquiries were responded to regarding properties in • RVCA follows the provincial DART protocol established by MNRF Water Act Part IV policies within the township. Merrickville- Network on Barbers Creek in spring and fall. Merrickville-Wolford. This included preparing clearance letters for and OMAFRA to provide a simplified approvals process for Wolford Township received provincial Source Protection Municipal • Headwater Drainage Feature Program sampling in Irish Creek, property sales. municipal drain maintenance and repairs. Implementation Funding to cover most costs associated with Dales Creek and Barbers Creek to characterize the amount of • 9 Planning Act reviews were undertaken in 2015 in Merrickville- source protection plan implementation. water, sediment transport and storage capacity within valuable Wolford — all severances. The Province requires the RVCA to • The Middle Rideau Subwatershed Report 2015 will be issued in headwater drainage features. It also identifies opportunities for provide advice to municipalities on Planning Act applications that 2016 along with detailed data sheets for its ten catchments. The stewardship and restoration. pertain to regulated areas (hazard lands and environmentally report is a compilation of water quality, forest cover, wetland cover • 80 square kilometres of hazard mapping (floodplain, steep slopes, sensitive areas). We also review them for the protection of natural and riparian cover data shows the health of the subwatershed and unstable soils, wetlands, shorelines and valley lands) is complete heritage features and water. Our input includes policy advice and if its health is improving or declining. This is the second reporting in Merrickville-Wolford. This mapping is used by municipalities technical reviews of site specific studies looking at stormwater cycle for the Middle Rideau following the 2010 report. and the RVCA to ensure sound development that protects people, management, environmental impact, setbacks and aquatic habitat. Municipalities and RVCA use these reports to make policy and property and the environment. program decisions and to focus resource management and • RVCA monitors and forecasts hydrometric conditions to be able to stewardship actions where they are needed most. warn municipalities and residents about rising waters and where • The Kemptville Creek Subwatershed Report was issued in 2014 flooding may occur locally. This information is used by RVCA staff adhere to professional standards and provincially Sound, professional planning and regulations services avoid expensive along with detailed data sheets for six catchments that flow into municipalities to initiate their emergency response plans. approved procedures. fixes and costly liability that can result from bad decision-making. the creek. We will be able to assess watershed health in 2019 and • RVCA also monitors and forecasts hydrometric conditions to be target projects for improvement. able to warn municipalities and residents about low water conditions. This information is used by municipalities and the province to respond accordingly to the conditions at hand. Science-based information is critical for long-term watershed By sharing RVCA technical staff (engineers, biologists, geoscientists), management. It must be the basis of decision-making, program planning advice costs are much lower than if municipalities were to development and policies. retain these services individually.

Flood Forecasting protects public safety and helps minimize damage while Low Water Response ensures optimal management of scarce resources.