South Nation

Litter can have a detrimental impact to humans, wildlife, and the environment, and can eventually end up contaminating local water sources, soil and pollute the air. And, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the COVID-19 Pandemic has Canadians using more single use plastics than ever before.

With the last bit of snow finally gone, a winter’s worth of garbage accumulation and litter is now revealed and ready to be picked up.

Typically in March, over 1,000 students would have descended onto the Oschmann Forest Conservation Area in North Dundas to take part in outdoor Maple Syrup Education hosted by South Nation Conservation (SNC), but for the second year in a row the Pandemic put a tap into SNC’s plans to bring students onsite.

Instead, SNC adapted by making virtual field trips and partnered with the Ottawa Catholic School Board to share new maple syrup education videos with over 30,000 students across hundreds of classrooms throughout the Capital Region.

An “unbeleafable” municipal and Conservation Authority commitment to improve regional forest cover and spruce up local landscapes will see both the South Nation (SNC) and Raisin Region (RRCA) Conservation Authorities partner with municipalities from across their watershed jurisdictions to safely distribute over 10,000 free trees to residents through Community Free Tree Giveaways this spring.

A Flood Outlook Statement is being issued for areas along the Lower Ottawa River. Based on current snow cover and weather forecast, it is anticipated that levels and flows along the main stem of the river from Arnprior to Hawkesbury are expected to begin to rise over the next few days but will remain within the normal range of fluctuations associated with the spring freshet period.

Weather Forecast:
Environment Canada forecasts rainfall amounts ranging from 20 to 30 mm this week until Friday, March 26. Daytime temperatures are expected to be above freezing this week and next week. Overnight temperatures will drop below freezing on March 28, which will cause the freeze-thaw cycle to resume.

Join South Nation Conservation (SNC) for a Maple Weekend on March 27 and April 3 to discover the sweet world of Ontario maple syrup at the Oschmann Forest Conservation Area in the Township of North Dundas.

Board Members appointed by South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) 16 member municipalities were confirmed at the Authority’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, March 18^th, 2021.

The 2020-2021 Board Executive was unanimously re-elected to serve for the 2021-2022 term: George Darouze, Councillor for Osgoode Ward in the City of Ottawa, was re-elected as Chair; Pierre Leroux, Mayor of Russell Township, was re-elected as Vice-Chair; and Bill Smirle of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry was again confirmed as Past-Chair.

Weather Forecast:
Environment Canada forecasts above freezing daytime temperatures this week and 5-10 mm of minor precipitation on March 10 and March 11. Nighttime temperatures are also expected to be above freezing on March 10 and March 11 before dropping to below freezing again starting March 12, which will cause the freeze-thaw cycle to resume.

Are you planning on completing a development or home improvement project this spring or summer near a river, stream, floodplain, wetland, slope, or shoreline?

To protect both people and property from natural hazards and to conserve ecologically sensitive areas, certain home improvement or construction projects within these areas may require permission from your local Conservation Authority before proceeding. This could include building a house, deck, garage, shed, dock, beach, or addition to your home.

The provincial deadline to remove ice fishing huts from waterbodies in our region is March 15^th, but South Nation Conservation (SNC) is pouring a little cold water on the date and says the sooner the better because of thinning ice conditions along the South Nation River.

SNC staff recorded ice as thin as 15 centimetres this week near some huts along the river in Casselman. The average recorded ice thickness along the rest of the river is about 19 centimetres.