“Watergate” Meeting

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 7 p.m.

KBCA Community Centre, 2 Beaverbrook Road.

Flood risk is increasing and insurance rates are on the increase.  Find out the possible causes and what you can do about it.

Kanata Beaverbrook Community Association (KBCA) presents a public forum on water, stormwater and wastewater management issues entitled:

Watergate – a discussion of water management in Ottawa’s western region.

Over the past couple of decades the communities in Ottawa’s West End have experienced massive growth and development.  In order to accommodate this growth natural waterways have been altered in the Carp River floodplain.  West End sewage is now sent to the east side of Ottawa in large collector sewers rather than being treated locally after the Watts Creek Sewage Treatment Plant was closed in 1996.  Storm water ponds and streams have been stressed to their limits.  Climate modeling predicts increased precipitation and an increase in intense storms, mainly in the form of rain.  In the last few years, many Beaverbrook homes have also  experienced repeated incidents of flooding.  The insurance industry knows that there are problems and we are seeing our premiums rise.

Please join us in a discussion of West End water management.  Presentations will be given by Glen Cairn resident Faith Blacquiere who will give us her perspective on stormwater and wastewater management in the West End.  Faith’s experience has been gained through researching the causes of the frequent flooding that has plagued Glen Cairn, and researching alternative causes of flooding which were not considered in the Kanata North and Stittsville flood investigations.   Also joining us will be Paul Renaud from the South March Highland Carp River Coalition.  Paul’s extensive research into the South March Highlands has led to Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Environment recently recognizing the Kizell system as a protected area.

Following the presentations we will conduct an interactive discussion.

Let’s hear the news, ask questions, and give feedback.  Prepare to monitor and update.

Contact for this event is Gord Henderson, gordhenderson@gmail.com

Pre-Order your 2012 South March Highlands calendar TODAY!

Contact 2012smhcalendar@gmail.com to place an order request.

There are 3 public meetings planned (May 24, 26, and June 1) and there will be several roundtables at each session (see the details below). Ideally we want to have at least one participant in each roundtable at all sessions. You are allowed to attend as many as you like!

Note that if you are planning to attend any of these meetings – you MUST RSVP by sending an email to info@ncc-ccn.ca before May 23.

Here are some facts to remind the NCC about the SMH during each roundtable workshop:

Natural Heritage Value

- In all of Ottawa only Stoney Swamp (which is much larger and already in the Greenbelt) has more total bio-diversity than the SMH. That means that the SMH the most densely bio-diverse area in Ottawa.

- City of Ottawa studies also show that the SMH has the highest floristic diversity and coefficient of conservation in all of Ottawa. That means that the SMH has more rare and sensitive species of plants than in any other area in Ottawa.

- The SMH is home to 20 documented species-at-risk. No other area in Ottawa has as many documented SAR.

Geo-Heritage Value

- The SMH is the only part of Ottawa where the Canadian Shield is on display. The Shield is iconic of Canada and its only expression in the Ottawa area needs to be protected by the NCC.

- The SMH is unique in having a large Nepean Sandstone Barren on display that is almost ½ km long. This is unique in Ottawa and dates back to the Palaeozoic Era which was about 500 million years ago.

- The SMH is unique in having visible examples of ancient springs preserved in Palaeozoic-Era sandstone – also known as unequivocal dewatering cylinders which are not seen anywhere else in the National Capital Region.

Cultural Heritage Value

- The SMH is a forest declared Sacred by the most senior Elder of the Algonquin First Nation. No other sacred forest is represented in the Greenbelt.

- The SMH has at least 4 archaeological sites that date back to the stone age – about 10,000 years ago (which is 2x the age of the Pyramids or Stonehenge). There are no Paleo-Indian historical sites in the Greenbelt.

Protective Value

- The SMH is home to 136 nesting birds – many of which also visit Shirley’s Bay (which is in the Greenbelt). Loss of bird habitat in the SMH may impact Shirley’s Bay.

- The SMH already has a documented and functioning eco-corridor with Shirley’s Bay. Loss of habitat in the SMH will impact terrestrial species in Shirley’s Bay.

- The SMH is the aquifer for North Kanata and its tributaries supply about half of the water in Shirley’s Bay wetland that does not come from the Ottawa River. This means that loss or impaired hydrological function in the SMH will impact Shirley’s Bay ecology.

The NCC’s Mission Statement for the Greenbelt states that the Greenbelt is to be an environmental showcase that provides valued ecological and cultural resources as well as demonstrating leadership in environmental stewardship. Yet those words are empty without including our most important ecological reservoirs such as the SMH.

The case for protecting the SMH is overwhelming – but we need your help in ensuring that the NCC hears it! We cannot have too much participation at these meetings and it is essential that the new voice of Canadians who care about our environment is heard.

Algonquin Native Lights Sacred Fire to Denounce Anticipated Forest Destruction

OTTAWA –  Algonquin Daniel Bernard “Amikwabe” set up a camp this morning to keep a Sacred Fire burning round the clock next to the entrance of the Beaver Pond forest at the end of Walden Drive in Kanata.  This is a personal initiative “to denounce the massacre of the wildlife and this sacred forest” in response to a declaration by Algonquin Elder William Commanda that the forest is sacred.

The landowner, KNL Developments, moved tree-clearing equipment on to Beaver Pond lands January 18 after receiving City of Ottawa approval to proceed with plans to build a housing development.  Development plans have been contested by citizens for decades, and protest has peaked in recent months.

Grandfather William Commanda, the most senior Algonquin Elder, has stated that the area is sacred to his people, and has written letters to all levels of government urging protection of the land.  Four First Nations groups, Chiefs, and Elders have written similar letters of concern (see links below).

Archaeological artifacts have been found nearby that show evidence of pre-contact civilization.  Natives and non-Natives alike are calling for a comprehensive archaeological assessment and meaningful consultations with Aboriginal peoples before any development proceeds.

On January 12, the City’s Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Subcommittee passed a resolution noting that the City of Ottawa “should be seen as an example role-model to other municipalities in Canada in respecting Aboriginal affairs” and asked the City take the lead in conducting a new archaeological survey of the entire South March Highlands.

Gordon O’Connor, MP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, recently asked the National Capital Commission to include the Beaver Pond forest in its upcoming revision of the Greenbelt master plan. Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Norm Sterling wrote letters January 17 to the Premier of Ontario and several other Ministers in support of protecting this land.

Robert Lovelace, former Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, recently wrote that “If Mayor Jim Watson were a real leader, he would know enough to realize that the incremental destruction of the last wildlands in the city needs to stop.  As a real Chief, he would be on the side of the people and the land.” (see link below)

A Sacred Fire is a peaceful religious observance.  Bernard, of the Algonquin Beaver Clan, invites others to join him and pray for the forest and the animals.  He plans to keep the fire burning until Sunday, January 23.

Members of the community are providing support to Bernard, and will be joining him throughout the protest.  All are committed to protecting the Beaver Pond forest and other environmentally sensitive areas of the South March Highlands, which is home to more than 675 species, including 19 species at risk, and recognized by the City as one of the most biodiverse areas in Ottawa

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Directions:
Exit Highway 417 at Terry Fox Drive and go North past the shopping centers.  Turn Right and take Kanata Avenue up the hill.  Proceed past Goulbourn Forced Road on the left and high school on right, to Walden.  Turn Left on Walden and proceed to the very end.