Phosphorus Levels in the Rideau

One important issue affecting the waters of the Rideau is the amount of phosphorus in its tributaries and lakes. Phosphorus is the primary nutrient for aquatic plants. If there are high levels of phosphorus then excessive plant growth can be expected to occur.

Results of sampling in the Kemptville Creek sub-watershed indicate that there is are high levels of phosphorus. The problem is Barnes Creek, a small tributary that enters Kemptville Creek on the east side of the town of Kemptville that typically has reletively high concentrations of several parameters, not just phosphorus. For the 85 samples from barnes Creek, the average concentration was 856 micrograms per litre (ug/l) of total phosphorus (TP) and all but 1% of samples had concentrations above the Provincial Water Quality Objectives (PWQO). Barnes Creek certainly needs attention.

Kemptville Creek:

• Beavers impacting water levels
• High levels of nutrients in surface water 
• Groundwater resources
• Publiceducation and outreach
• Development pressure and impacts in Kemptville

Jock River:

• Water quality
• Water quantity
• Wildlife management
• Groundwater resources
• Sustainable land use
• Community awareness 

Tay River:

• Water quality
• Water quantity
• Surface and groundwater
• Residential demands
• Lack of data on physical and biological attributes of the watershed

Lower Rideau Watershed:

• Development and Stewardship practices
• High levels of nutrients from tirbutaries
• Invasive species
• Intense shoreline development
• Loss of shoreline vegetation 

Rideau Lakes Watershed:

• Water quality
• Recreation
• Commercial fishing impacts
• Shoreline development
• Reduced shoreline vegetation
• Increased runoff
• Multi-agency regulations

Adapted from RVCA: Annual Rideau Valley Watershed Checkup 2006