Pollution ProbeWhat is the OGWA Project?

• A free, searchable, bilingual, interactive watershed information tool
• Designed by watershed community and stakeholder representatives to promote:

1. the watershed approach
2. the community right to know and understand
3. improved communication and decision-making for a healthier river watershed

• Built using free open source software
• Uses standardized geospatial data and metadata
• Where possible linking to data through distributed networks i.e. data that is “closest to source”

What is the purpose of OGWA?

“To demonstrate an approach to overcome the jurisdictional challenges of watershed management through data-sharing and communication, and to provide the public with the tools required to actively participate in informed “place-based” decision making.”

Why we are only focused on five subwatersheds of the Ottawa River?

The sub-watersheds of the Ottawa River watershed are extremely large; the Ottawa River alone stretches over 1200 kilometres. While a long-term vision for the OGWA application includes a geographic expansion and coordination with other developing projects to include the entire watershed of the Ottawa River the scope of this project is limited to the area around the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau.There are over a million people living in this area and so it is here we see the biggest human impact.

The scope of OGWA includes five sub-watersheds of the Ottawa River, namely the Gatineau, Lievre, South Nation, Rideau and Mississippi. All data and information accessible through the OGWA website is specific to this geographic area covering parts of Ontario and Quebec. In order to advance public understanding and organizational management of water resources, a basic understanding of the size and features of the watershed is important.

The OGWA Project integrates watershed management on both sides of the Ottawa River in addition to providing a comprehensive public educational tool to improve the management of one of the region’s most valuable resources - the Ottawa River. OGWA takes an ecosystem approach, utilizing a watershed boundary, rather than political boundaries, for the inclusion of collaborating partners, data, and information.

Who do I contact for more information?

Please contact webmaster:

Sasha Kebo
skebo(at)pollutionprobe.org

Pollution Probe - Project Lead

Pollution Probe is a Canadian charitable environmental organization that

• Defines environmental problems through research;
• Promotes understanding through education; and,
• Presses for practical solutions through advocacy.

Pollution Probe is dedicated to achieving positive and tangible environmental change.

 

Acknowledgments

The OGWA project team would like to thank Rick Findlay for his vision, guidance and support, and Elli MacDonald for creating and developing this Atlas. Additional support and reviews have been provided by Julie Sommerfreund, Sasha Kebo, Fabio Tonto, and Matthew Rettalack.

OGWA Volunteers 

The OGWA project team would like to thank our army of volunteers who have been an invaluable resource throughout the development of this website:

• Josh Morton
• Leslie Gordon
• Yvan Abel
• Edwin Wong
• Myrosia Humeniuk
• Vahid Ghaffari
• Eugenio Landeiro Reyes
• Bill Allen

Imagery Sources

All of the images on this site have been sourced from Flickr's Creative Commons (CC).

 

Funder

GeoConnections: The Ottawa-Gatineau Watershed Atlas Project has received financial support from GeoConnections, a national program initiative led by Natural Resources Canada. GeoConnections and its program participants are working to enhance the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure, an on-line resource that enables decision-makers to access, combine, and apply geographic information to gain new insights into social, environmental, and economic issues.

GeoConnections

 

 

Partners

COBALI: COBALI’s mission is to protect, enhance and promote the resource of watershed area of the Lièvre River and the resources and habitats associated with them, within a framework of sustainable development, in consultation with the players in the water, through the development, implementation and monitoring of a watershed master plan.

COBALI

COMGA: COMGA (Gatineau River Watershed) is a not-for-profit organization whose mandate is the improvement of the water quality of the Gatineau River watershed, with an aim towards sustainable development. It is a major player in the integrated water management of the watershed.

COMGA

Conservation Ontario: Conservation Ontario is the umbrella organization that represents Ontario's 36 Conservation Authorities. Conservation Authorities are local, watershed management agencies that deliver services and programs that protect and manage water and other natural resources in partnership with government, landowners and other organizations.

Conservation Ontario

CREDDO: The Council for the environment and sustainable development of the Outaouais Region is one of 16 regional environmental councils across Quebec. As such, it is a privileged intermediary in the region, with the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.

CREDDO

Institute for Watershed Science, Trent University:The Institute for Watershed Science is a partnership between Trent University, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Sir Sandford Fleming College. The Institute aims to further the understanding of physical and ecological processes governing watershed function and to transfer this knowledge to support resource management decision-making.

Trent University, Institute for Watershed Science

Mississippi Valley Conservation: MVC is one of 36 conservation authorities in Ontario. MVC plays a major role in the conservation, enhancement and development of the Mississippi Valley by way of watershed planning, integrated resource management programs, and conservation awareness.

MVC

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority: The RVCA is an environmental protection and advisory agency that works with local municipalities, government agencies, special interest groups and the general public. RVCA strives to protect watershed resources. Their goal is to have clean water, natural shorelines and sustainable land use throughout the Rideau Valley watershed.

RVCA

The Coalition of Watershed organizations of Quebec (ROBVQ): ROBVQ is a non-profit organization established in November 2001 and recognized by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks of Quebec as an entity for implementation of integrated watershed management in Quebec.

ROBVQ

South Nation Conservation: SNC and its local expert staff and managers administer: Water Resource Planning and Management; Forestry Services; Fish & Wildlife Planning and Management; Environmental Awareness and Education; Environmental Planning and Engineering; and Septic Systems Inspections in the South Nation River watershed.

South Nation/Nation Sud

 

Supporters

 

Abitibi-Bowater: AbitibiBowater produces a broad range of forest products marketed in more than 90 countries around the world. AbitibiBowater strives to integrate all three pillars of sustainability, namely environmental, social and economic, into their business practices.

Abitibi-Bowater

City of Gatineau: The City of Gatineau is the fourth largest city in Quebec, and is located on the banks of the Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau rivers. Gatineau has the second highest proportion of foreign-born citizens in the province.

Ville de Gatineau

City of Ottawa: Founded in 1855, Ottawa is the capital of Canada and is located on the banks of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau rivers. Ottawa City Council representing the city’s 23 individual wards, addresses community needs and priorities with services from fire and police services, to public libraries, to clean water, to fast and efficient transit.

CoreFusion: coreFusion is a Hosting Solutions Provider specializing in Messaging and Collaboration technologies.

coreFusion

Federation of Canadian Municipailities: With more than 1,775 members, FCM represents the interests of municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction. Members include Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities, and 18 provincial and territorial municipal associations.

Ministry of Natural Resources - Kemptville: The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) manages and protects Ontario's natural resources for wise use across the province. The Ministry of Natural Resources works collaboratively with a wide variety of partners: environmental organizations, private resource sector industry, fish and game associations, researchers, and other government agencies of all levels.

Ministry of Natural Resources - Kemptville

National Capital Commission (NCC): The NCC is a Crown corporation that was created by Parliament in 1959 as the steward of federal lands and buildings in the National Capital Region, with a mandate and mission to build the Capital region into a source of pride and unity for Canadians.

vdoLife.com: vdoLife.com is a vibrant online application development company dedicated to providing tools for the next generation of the internet. vdoLife.com is Ottawa-based, and specializes in web-design and online video.