South Nation

Despite the rain received this week, South Nation Conservation (SNC) has issued a Level I Low Water Condition for its entire watershed in Eastern Ontario. 

Due to a drier than usual spring and the lack of precipitation, conditions in the South Nation River Watershed now meet the threshold for a Level I Low Water status under the Ontario Low Water Response Program.

Low Water Conditions are determined based on precipitation and stream flow indicators.

SNC has re-opened public boat launches, river access points and select Conservation Areas, with certain COVID-19 precautions in place.

Eager anglers and boaters from across South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) 4,441 square-kilometer jurisdiction in Eastern Ontario can (safely) get ready for the season.

Play structures are open, but washrooms will remain closed during the Stay-at-Home Order. Please only visit these areas with members of your own household. If using facilities, or when in close contact with others consider wearing a mask.

South Nation Conservation (SNC) donated 1,100 tree seedlings to hospital nurses for National Nurses Week as the Pandemic continues through its second year.

Frontline healthcare staff at the Glengarry Memorial Hospital, Winchester District Memorial Hospital, and the Cornwall Community Hospital received special thank you gifts of free trees from SNC during the Authority’s busy spring tree planting season.

South Nation Conservation (SNC) is helping to plant over 230,000 native trees and shrubs throughout its watershed jurisdiction this spring.

This will mark the most trees planted by SNC in a year; 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.

Public interest in conserving forest cover, along with people spending more time at home, and outdoors, during the Pandemic may have helped contribute to record tree orders.

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.