River of the Ottawas
Photo credit : François Haché
Adopt the Ottawa River to:
- Better quality water
Your contribution allows us to continue to protect Quebec's rivers
The Ottawa River may not have the scale of the St. Lawrence River, but its power and the importance of its watershed (even larger than the State of New York!) raise it to second place among rivers. water in importance in Quebec. It saw the birth of New France, the excitement of the fur trade and many other key moments. It is therefore no surprise that the Quebec government designated it historical place in 2017. The Ottawa River is an oldest that has lost none of its enthusiasm.
Connaissez-vous la rivière des Outaouais?
Algonquin name
Kitchisipi (“big river”)
Source
Ottawa Lake
Length
1,271km
The Path of Explorers
Several explorers sailed the waters of the Ottawa River from the early 17th century, including Radisson, Alexander Mackenzie and Samuel de Champlain. Today, the Quebec Ministry of Tourism is proposing to survey the path of the explorers, which runs along the Ottawa River, to retrace their pilgrimages! This important fur trade axis – with the Outaoüacs, from whom the river takes its name – shaped Quebec as we know it today.
Never-ending living water
The power of the Ottawa River is a double-edged sword: we take advantage of its flow with dams, while we try to contain its unrest in the spring, when it floods the shore. Moreover, Rapides-des-Quinze was spared from a hydroelectric power station construction project in 2001 thanks to Operation Adopt a River!
One thing is certain, it is the strength of its rapids that makes it a destination of choice for those who love white water! The Rocher Fenfu channel is also recognized as one of the best places in the east of the continent to practice white water sports, including rafting.
Photo credit : Jamie McCaffrey
What are the issues facing the Ottawa River?
Landslides
Most of the land in the Outaouais region is clayey, which greatly increases the risks associated with landslides along the river. The problem with landslides is that in addition to causing considerable material damage, they also contribute to reducing water quality due to a significant, punctual and rapid entry of suspended matter into the water. river. The geographical location of the city of Gatineau, which is surrounded by the Ottawa River and the Gatineau River, increases its vulnerability. Several landslides have been observed there in recent years.
Bank erosion
As with many rivers in Quebec, the development of facilities for human activities taking place along the Ottawa River leads to a deterioration in the quality of the water and the habitats associated with this watercourse. Whether it is the stairs leading to the river, the landing stages, the artificialization of the soil or the riprap, several installations can accentuate the erosion of the banks, while the latter are essential for the regulation of the flow, at the temperature of the river. water, the creation of habitats for fauna and flora and the enhancement of recreational activities.
Photo credit : Na Thiwarat Iamsaard and François Haché/ YesSurf
Water quality
The implementation of sanitation programs in the 1980s and 1990s significantly improved the water quality of the Ottawa River, which is now recognized as good or satisfactory overall. It is, among other things, the strong flow of the river and the increasing installation, by the riverside municipalities, of purification plants, which have contributed to keeping it in good health.
Propose improvements to wastewater treatment systems
The organization Garde-rivière des Outaouais – Ottawa Riverkeeper asked the Fondation Rivières to evaluate the performance of municipal sanitation systems located in five Watershed feeding the Ottawa River, mainly on rivers Gatineau, Hare and North. Thanks to this analysis carried out in 2021, the Garde-rivière des Outaouais organization will be better equipped to raise awareness among elected officials of wastewater issues and to support them in implementing solutions!
Raise awareness among the public and elected officials about wastewater spills
Since 2020, the Fondation Rivières has disclosed the list of municipalities that stand out in terms of the intensity of their wastewater discharges into waterways, including the Ottawa River. This exercise makes it possible to distinguish municipalities which have improved their situation in previous years from those where the situation has deteriorated. THE prize list serves as a lever to encourage elected officials to make the necessary corrections to improve the health of the rivers into which wastewater is discharged.
Can you swim in the Ottawa River?
The City of Ottawa monitors water quality at Britannia Beach and Petrie Island Beach. In summer, they are supervised and without access fees. On the Gatineau side, same situation for the beaches of Parc des Cèdres and Parc Moussette. Upstream there are Burkes Road, Lamure, Pine Point, Braeside, Arnprior and Petawawa Point beaches. Some go so far as to swim there in winter, near Ottawa, by digging holes in the ice! In short, there is no shortage of options for swimming in the Ottawa River.
Chalk River Radioactive Waste Management
The nuclear waste management plant project at Chalk River Laboratories concerns several stakeholders, notably the organization Garde-Rivière des Outaouais (Ottawa Riverkeeper). The non-optimal implementation of this center could have major consequences on neighboring waterways (including the Ottawa River), ecosystems and public safety.
In April 2022, Garde-Rivière des Outaouais presented a series of recommendations to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission – the body responsible for regulating the plant – on its location, regulation, supervision as well as consultation with indigenous communities. If the project goes ahead, numerous measures will have to be put in place to ensure the protection of the environment, the public... and the river.
The Fondation Rivières is mobilizing to:
- Better quality water
Join an important mobilization movement!
Charity receipt
Fondation Rivières issues tax-deductible donation receipts, regardless of the amount. A receipt will be sent to you by email at the beginning of the year following the year of your adoption.
Organizations involved in the field
The Ottawa River was adopted by:
