Media
Release
March 15, 2012
RVCA to Host
Tay Open House
The Rideau Valley Conservation
Authority (RVCA) and its partners invite Tay
watershed residents to join them at an upcoming open house. RVCA staff will be at the Perth Legion on April 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to present
the Tay River Subwatershed Report 2011 and introduce residents to
RVCA and partner programs designed to help landowners improve their watershed
health. A formal presentation will take place at 6 p.m. and those interested in
networking can come at 5 p.m. to enjoy barbecued hotdogs and burgers (while
supplies last).
The Tay River watershed drains 800 square
kilometres. It begins its journey at Carnahan Lake, south of the Town of Sharbot Lake
and meanders northeast. The Tay drains water from 55 lakes like Bobs, Crow,
Eagle and Long
Lakes. It flows through
rich farmland and the Town of Perth before
emptying into the Lower Rideau
Lake at Port Elmsley.
The Tay River
Subwatershed Report
2011 summarizes the Tay’s health by looking at four indicators: forest cover,
wetlands, shoreline vegetation and surface water quality. With the completion of
this report, residents and municipalities in the area now have a reliable set of
baseline information for tracking future trends and for targeting stewardship
activities.
The health of any watershed is heavily influenced by
the good stewardship activities and decisions taking place on the land every
day,” says Martin Czarski, RVCA
Watershed Ecologist. “Landowners in the Tay are
definitely doing their part to improve, protect and restore the watershed’s
natural features.” Mr. Czarski is quick to add that the RVCA and other partner
agencies can help support landowners with technical guidance and grants for
on-the-ground efforts.
“We can provide technical guidance
and financial assistance to people interested in carrying out best management
practices on their properties,” says Andrea
Klymko, RVCA Lake Planning/Shoreline Stewardship Program
Manager. “We can help with tree planting, shoreline naturalization, shoreline
erosion protection, livestock fencing, fish habitat enhancements, garbage clean
ups, and more.” The upcoming open house looks to connect Tay landowners with incentive programs which can often
cover from 50 to 100 percent of project costs.
Subwatershed
reporting is part of the RVCA’s watershed management mission that recognizes the
connections between local awareness, local concern and local action as we work
for environmental protection, preservation and enhancement. This information is
used for decision-making at all levels (individual, family, municipal, county,
provincial). These monitoring efforts help us better understand watershed trends
and help focus resource management actions where they are needed the
most.
This is the third subwatershed report following the release
of the Middle Rideau River Subwatershed
Report 2009 and the Jock River Subwatershed Report 2010. The Tay will be updated in 2017.
For a copy of
the Tay River Subwatershed Report 2011, visit
www.rvca.ca and look under “What’s New” or contact the RVCA at
1-800-267-3504.
- end -
For more
information:
Martin Czarski, RVCA
Watershed Ecologist
613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1163
[email protected]