Although the greatest focus of concern locally is the period from mid-March to mid-April when flooding is prone to occur, Larissa Holman of the Ottawa Riverkeeper says the nature and pattern of flooding is a moving target when discussing the Ottawa River.
She’s that organization’s Director of Science and Policy, and spoke of the challenges facing the 1200 kilometre long river system at the Kitchissippi-Ottawa Valley Chapter of the Council of Canadians 5th Anniversary Celebrations recently in Renfrew.
Holman is worried the federal government is easing up on the definition of species at risk to accommodate the pressures for development.
Comments will close on the Federal Plan to move things along more quickly on July 22nd.
This past Spring, MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller suggested it may be time to revisit the option of adding another reservoir to the river system. Toller is referring to reviving a 1979 federal-provincial study that proposed building a new, large upstream reservoir – either in Northern Ontario or western Quebec – to give the Ottawa River system more “holding power” and reduce spring flooding. The warden wants governments to update that study and reconsider building the reservoir.
Building another reservoir would require greater scrutiny before it could proceed.
Larissa Holman understands a significant number of Valley residents feel frustrated by the status quo.
The River Keeper’s Director of Science and Policy says there are 14 factors the organization uses to determine the “Report Card” for the Ottawa’s health- and the current “C+” grade shouldn’t stand for Complicity.
By Rick Stow
