South Nation

From the headwaters near Brockville to where it empties into the Ottawa River near Plantagenet, the South Nation River offers endless summer recreational opportunities for the whole family on its 175 km waterway
in Eastern Ontario.

“With pandemic event restrictions lifted, we’re excited to fully welcome back and support all the great activities available in and around the South Nation River this summer,” explained John Mesman, South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) Community Lands and Outreach Lead.

South Nation Conservation (SNC) welcomed eight students and recent graduates to its team this summer, thanks to support from the Federal and Provincial Governments. 

SNC is a regional leader in summer student employment; every year, the Conservation Authority hires local students from across its 4,441 km² jurisdiction in Eastern Ontario.

Community groups across the South Nation Watershed united throughout April and May to make the area where they live, work and play a little cleaner! 

Through a partnership with the City of Ottawa’s Clean Up the Capital Initiative, Unsmoke Canada and the Findlay Creek and Greely Community Associations, South Nation Conservation (SNC) also helped provide free trees and shrubs to volunteers who helped clean up local communities and the Leitrim Wetland.

South Nation Conservation (SNC) is thrilled to host its annual Youth Fish Camp this summer! To kick off the 13^th year, an additional camp and location have been added to the schedule to reach more youth across the watershed.  

The popular youth summer camps are held in July and August 2022 at the Cass Bridge Conservation Area in Winchester, High Falls Conservation Area in Casselman, Jessup’s Falls Conservation Area in Plantagenet, and new this year, the Cardinal Legion Way Park in Cardinal.

Weather Forecast:

A Water Safety Statement is being issued based on Environment Canada’s latest forecast that calls for additional rain this week, totaling up to 25 mm by Sunday, May 21^st, in areas across the SNC jurisdiction. 

Environmental Conditions:

Water levels and flows are elevated from recent rainfall. Intense periods of rainfall could lead to slippery conditions and rapid increases in water levels and flows. 

Risks:

This year South Nation Conservation (SNC) is once again on path to plant a record number of native trees and shrubs across its 4,441km² jurisdiction this spring. 

Beating last years record by a few hundred trees, over 230,000 trees will go into the ground in 2022. The previous record dates to 1993 when 193,000 trees were planted by the Conservation Authority, and the average amount of trees typically planted annually by SNC is about 150,000. 

A sure sign that summer is right around the corner is the reopening of South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) seasonal properties!

SNC is installing safety and debris booms ahead of its water control structures throughout the region, including Crysler, Casselman, Russell and Plantagenet. Once water levels allow, the next step is to install docks at the following Conservation Areas and partner boat launching sites:

South Nation Conservation (SNC) offered a look back on 75 years of conservation during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 21^st, 2022: from the beginning in 1947 when the Authority was established to address concerns of poor land, water quality and forestry practices, to present day achievements that include improved floodplain mapping to help protect people and property from natural hazards and forest conservation efforts across Eastern Ontario.

The Flood Outlook Statement issued on April 14^th is still in effect for areas along the Lower Ottawa River (Arnprior to Hawkesbury). 

A Flood Outlook Statement is being issued for areas along the Lower Ottawa River (Arnprior to Hawkesbury). Based on forecasted precipitation and anticipated snow melt, levels and flows along the Ottawa River are expected to increase over the next few days as a result of the onset of the spring freshet in the Ottawa River basin.