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Category Archives: Articles

Congratulations to Aleta Karstad and Dr. Frederick Schueler – Recipients of the Glen Davis Conservation Leadership Prize

By Linda Heron on Tuesday, May 19th, 2020
Posted in Aquatic Life, Articles, Dams, Media, Mussels, Press Releases, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

Painting by Aleta Karstad The Chute, Ivanhoe River

The Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA) is pleased to report that the WWF-Canada and CPAWS have awarded the Glen Davis Conservation Leadership Prize to Dr. Frederick Schueler and Aleta Karstad for their outstanding conservation efforts and accomplishments!!  They truly are very deserving of this incredible Prize!!

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO Fred and Aleta!!!

We at ORA were eager to nominate Fred and Aleta for this important recognition of the significant sacrifice and contribution they have both made to science, conservation and the protection of freshwater ecosystems and land all across Canada.  They have also been long-time partners and contributors of the ORA.

Read the Press Release: Continue reading →

Working with Media on Environmental Issues

By Linda Heron on Friday, June 2nd, 2017
Posted in Articles, E-Newsletter, Media, ORA Reports

Generating interest and support for environmental issues is challenging but necessary. Effective media  attention can garner public support and influence whether a corporation or government will address a problem. These notes and suggestions are meant to help others put together an action plan that strengthens your relationship with local print, radio and television media – an important step in raising awareness of issues of concern. Continue reading →

Protect Your Home From Flooding

By Samantha Restoule on Friday, June 2nd, 2017
Posted in Articles, Dams, E-Newsletter, Flooding, River Concerns

This spring has been the worst flooding Canada has seen in decades. Torrential rains have been inundating streets, homes, and forcing mandatory evacuations. Researchers write that floods are Canada’s ‘most common and costly natural hazard.’ In fact, flooding has become Canada’s biggest natural disaster problem in terms of insurance claims, which is now costing billions of dollars per year. So how can we prevent flooding, or at least be prepared when it comes? We’ve put together a list of facts and preventative measures you can take to protect your home from flooding. Continue reading →

The People’s Great Lakes Summit

By Samantha Restoule on Wednesday, May 31st, 2017
Posted in Articles, E-Newsletter, Great Lakes Protection Act, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Media, ORA Reports

On Wednesday May 17, Linda Heron (Chair & Chief Executive Officer) and Samantha Restoule (Board of Directors) had the pleasure of representing the Ontario Rivers Alliance at the People’s Great Lakes Summit (the Summit), hosted by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) in Toronto, ON.

The Summit is part of CELA’s Healthy Great Lakes program. The objective of the Summit was to bring together a broad range of individuals and organizations working to protect and restore our waters and wetlands across the Great Lakes and St-Lawrence River Basin, and to connect, share ideas, strategize about Ontario public policy priorities, and set plans for collective action. Continue reading →

Where the river begins

By Linda Heron on Monday, December 12th, 2016
Posted in Articles, E-Newsletter, Energy, Media, ORA Reports, Rail Transport, River Concerns
Dr. David Suzuki was amazed there was no jail time over this.

Dr. David Suzuki was amazed there was no jail time over this.

Mileage 111.6 and 88.7 are respectively synonymous with February 14th and March 7th of 2015. These significant numbers represent the locations and dates of the largest train derailments in the history of the province of Ontario. Two CN trains carrying Alberta tar sands crude oil derailed and exploded into huge fire balls one week and 23 miles apart, releasing millions of liters of bitumen crude oil into the environment. The first derailment, occurring in a remote wooded area, and the second at the bridge crossing the Makami River, less than 2 km from the Town of Gogama. Continue reading →

The Dark Side of Hydroelectric – Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Linda Heron on Wednesday, July 13th, 2016
Posted in Articles, Climate Change, Dams, E-Newsletter, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hydroelectric, Media, ORA Reports, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Studies & Reports

One of the most popular energy sources for Canada and globally has been hydroelectric power generation, and the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia are big fans of this particular energy source. One of the main reasons it is so popular is due to the abundance of water in Canada in the form of lakes and rivers that run throughout the provinces.

There was an article by the Montreal Gazette written back in 2011 that took a look at the Romaine River in Quebec and how it was about to turn into one of the biggest construction sites in Canada with the installation of 4 dams, 7 dikes, several large canals, and 279 square kilometers of reservoirs, all at the approximate cost of around $8 billion. What decision makers in Quebec failed to realize or choose to ignore is that harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are generated by reservoirs and they can be extensive and very damaging to the climate. Continue reading →

Algonquin Park Brook Trout Populations Threatened

By Linda Heron on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015
Posted in Articles, E-Newsletter, Fisheries, Forestry, ORA Reports, River Concerns

A summary of a presentation delivered to the Muskoka Field Naturalists (MFN) by Bob and Marj Wilton, in Gravenhurst on February 5th, 2015.   Written by John Challis, editor of “Wakerobin”, MFN newsletter.

As Mike Wilton tried to connect the dots to explain why forest management in Algonquin Park is threatening brook trout, one might confess to losing the thread.

There is a kaleidoscope of different sciences connecting cause and effect. But Mike and his wife Marj have been sleuthing through various disciplines for decades, and the evidence is stacking up. The interdisciplinary nature of their research reflects the fact that Algonquin’s ecology is an intertwining web of dependencies. Soil chemistry and rainfall chemistry, prevailing winds, hydrogeology, geology, logging techniques, road construction, invasive species, dendrology and silviculture, even glaciation: they all play a part—positively or negatively—in the breeding success of brook trout in the park. Continue reading →

Energy East Pipeline Proposal – ORA meets Petawawa Town Council

By Linda Heron on Saturday, April 18th, 2015
Posted in Articles, Energy, Media, ORA Reports, Ottawa River, Petawawa River, Pipelines, Presentations, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

On the 13th of April 2015, Dr Alan Hepburn, a member of ORA’s Board of Directors, made a presentation to the Petawawa Town Council to inform them of concerns regarding the Energy East Pipeline proposal.   Dr. Hepburn was very well received and plans to present to other municipalities along the Ottawa Valley pipeline route.

ORA is requesting that municipalities make a formal motion or declaration that they are unwilling hosts to the Energy East Pipeline as it is presently proposed.  You can find more detailed information about our concerns by checking out the presentation below.

A Daily Observer news article is posted here.

Download (PDF, 3.77MB)