Ottawa’s Riverkeeper
on winter patrol
BY MEREDITH BROWN
S
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wHen THe ColD BITe oF wInTer SeTS groups worried about the arsenic levels at Meredith Brown is the Riverkeeper and
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In, nature casts a new, white perspective the Bayview snow dump, because these Executive Director for Ottawa Riverkeeper.
RENT on the ottawa river. Beneath the alexandra toxins are bound for the river when the An engineer by training, Meredith has
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Bridge, the river appears to be sleeping snow melts. last winter, I heard from many been advocating for better protection of
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under a layer of ice. without the buzz of people who witnessed salt-laden snow the Ottawa River since 2004. Meredith
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boaters, cottagers, rowers and paddlers, being dumped directly into our river – lives in Wakefield, QC, where her family
there is the sense that human impacts on such things are unpleasant to witness and enjoys the Gatineau River year-round.
the river are on pause – that the concerns harmful to the river.
for the river’s health can be put on hold until as the ottawa riverkeeper, it is my
next season. However, winter brings with it responsibility to respond. Thankfully,
a new set of threats to the watershed’s well- I have a diverse team of people to call
being and some unique opportunities to see upon for advice and action. our staff and
the ever-present effects of human life on it. volunteers work with biologists, engineers,
walking or skiing along the river’s shores lawyers, economists, mayors, educators
in winter can be an eye-opening experience. and regulators to dig to the bottom of
Pollutant-laden effluent that normally runs any given issue. our organization brings
into the river unnoticed is suddenly exposed people together to protect and promote
and obvious as it melts and stains the white the ecological health and diversity of the
snowy ice, leaving wounds that ooze of ottawa river and its tributaries.
liquid and vapour. Veteran snowmobilers Still, we are only as effective as those
and ice anglers know enough to stay citizens in the community who speak
away from large industrial effluent pipes up for the river, who insist on the right to
at pulp mills along the ottawa river and swimmable, drinkable and fishable water,
at Chalk river, where the nuclear facilities and who join us in actions. you can find more
release enormous quantities of hot water information on the issues affecting the river
into the river after using it to cool the on our website at www.ottawariverkeeper.
nuclear reactors. ca. over the winter, we will continue to
Sometimes concerned citizens sound the engage decision-makers in developing
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alarm. I spoke with an ice angler who pulled solutions to protect the river. In the spring,
up his auger to find women’s sanitary we will shed further light on serious issues
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products bobbing up from beneath the with the 2009 river report. I encourage
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water’s crust – a sign that sewage dumps you to become involved and report your
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don’t take a break for the holidays. I continue river observations all year-round to the
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to receive phone calls from community riverkeeper: 1-888-9KeePer.
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www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> WINTER 2008/2009 45
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