Shaping the future of the Bear Brook watershed

You can now check out the Bear Brook watershed characterization study conducted by the South Nation Conservation Authority. Photo provided by South Nation Conservation Authority.

If you live in the east end, or simply just love to visit the area, chances are you’ve interacted in some capacity with the Bear Brook watershed.

Over the past two years, the City has engaged the South Nation Conservation Authority to conduct a study on the Bear Brook watershed. The Bear Brook watershed covers a whopping 488 square kilometres and includes urban areas, farmland, forests and wetlands in east Ottawa and Prescott-Russell. It is also home to over 78,000 people. The study will continue over the next several years. It will assess the current conditions of the watershed, examine how future land use and climate change may affect the surrounding ecosystem and recommend actions and policies to keep the watershed healthy for future generations.

Phase one of the watershed characterization study includes a detailed look at the current conditions of the watershed and is now available to read online on the South Nation Conservation Authority website (in English only). For those who prefer a more high-level summary of the report, you can also check out the interactive story map.

Get involved! Join us for an open house or submit your feedback online.

Whether you live in or around the watershed or simply enjoy visiting some of the beautiful paths and boardwalks within the area, you’re invited to come to a public open house on Thursday, November 13 from 6 to 8 pm to learn more about the study. The open house is being held at the Bear Brook Community Centre (8720 Russell Road) and staff from both the City and South Nation Conservation will be onsite to answer any questions you might have.

How we care for the watershed impacts thousands of people who live within it across two municipalities. Land developments or even extreme weather in one part of the watershed can impact communities who live in another part.

You can help the City and South Nation Conversation make recommendations on what actions we can take to protect the watershed’s health, while still supporting sustainable growth. Your feedback will help shape recommendations for environmental stewardship, how changes should be monitored and how future land developments are handled. If you can’t make it to the open house but still want to share your thoughts, you can find the feedback form on the Bear Brook watershed Engage Ottawa page.

Keeping our watersheds healthy helps more than just Ottawa residents. Healthy watersheds support biodiversity, reduce flooding and erosion risks, provide clean water and help communities adapt to climate change.