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Bear Brook Watershed Study

 

South Nation Conservation (SNC), together with municipalities, community partners, and local stakeholders, is leading a multi-year study to plan for the future of the Bear Brook Watershed.

The watershed faces new challenges: rapid urban expansion, agricultural intensification, and climate variability. Recognizing these pressures, the City of Ottawa retained SNC to complete a comprehensive watershed study to guide sustainable management and protection of this important area.

Healthy watersheds support biodiversity, reduce flooding and erosion risks, provide clean water, and help communities adapt to climate change. The Bear Brook Watershed — covering 488 km² of urban areas, farmland, forests, and wetlands in Ottawa and Prescott-Russell — faces growing pressures from development, agriculture, and a changing climate. This study will identify actions to protect watershed health while supporting
sustainable growth.

SNC acknowledges that the Bear Brook Watershed is located within the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe People, and is also part of the traditional hunting and fishing territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, including the Mohawk Nation. In the spirit of shared stewardship and reconciliation, SNC is committed to working alongside Indigenous partners and local communities to safeguard the land and water for current and future generations.

 

Access the Bear Brook Watershed Study Story Map in a separate window

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What Is a Watershed Study?

A watershed study is a science-based plan that looks at how land, water, and communities interact within a watershed. It combines technical research with local knowledge to set shared priorities for protection, restoration, and sustainable management.

The Bear Brook Watershed Study will:

  • Assess current watershed conditions
  • Examine how future land use and climate change may affect natural systems
  • Recommend actions and policies to keep the watershed healthy for future generations

Study Phases

The study is being completed in three phases between 2023 and 2027:

Phase 1: Watershed Characterization (2023–2025)

  • Describes the current state and recent trends of water, natural hazards (flooding, erosion, unstable soils), and natural heritage.
  • Includes seven chapters on key themes within the watershed.
    - View the Characterization Report

Phase 2: Scenario Planning & Risk Assessment (2024–2026)

  • Examines future land use and climate change scenarios to understand risks and opportunities.
  • Includes a Class Environmental Assessment for flood mitigation options.
    - Read the Notice of Intent

Phase 3: Implementation Planning – Watershed Plan (2025–2027)

  • Develops recommendations, policies, and monitoring frameworks to guide sustainable watershed management.

Get Involved!

Community input is central to the watershed study. Residents, landowners, and partners are invited to participate at key milestones.

 

Next Steps

Feedback collected from the community will shape recommendations for stewardship, monitoring, and restoration in the Bear Brook Watershed. A summary of public input will be shared here.

Contact Us

South Nation Conservation
info@nation.on.ca | 1-877-984-2948