Ecology Ottawa has been supporting a small neighbourhood team in clean-up and advocating for segment of Sawmill Creek for two years now. This hidden stretch of the urban creek has undergone dramatic changes as Ottawa South as been developed, particularly as the South Keys shopping centre has grown.
[caption id="attachment_4401" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Looking North toward South Keys Mall[/caption]
Sawmill Creek is not just a stream but a watershed and thus the surrounding ecosystem and the biodiversity it supports all rely on its integrity.
The creek’s water quality and conditions rely on the conditions surrounding the stream’s edges; known as the riparian zone. Clean-up teams over the seasons have spent a lot of time picking up garbage and construction debris, but have also spoken to property owners on both sides of the stream about containing garbage receptacles.
But it is not isolated stream, but interconnected to the Rideau River, the Ottawa River, the St. Lawrence and the Atlantic; so relatively minor changes at local and regional scales can have a big effect!
[caption id="attachment_4402" align="alignright" width="300"]
Properly maintained culverts and embankments reduce erosion and road runoff[/caption]
This report takes us through a history of development, local significance and how the stream is being restored. Particularly dramatic are aerial photos of this piece of the stream from 1991, 2001, and 2011 - showing the dramatic encroachment of paved surfaces.
Read the full report here:
In Carleton University's 2014 winter term a fourth year Environmental Studies student explored the development impact on this piece of Sawmill Creek.
Latest posts
Ottawa Eco Awards 2024 - Recipients Announced!
The 2024 Ottawa Eco Awards celebrate outstanding individuals in the Ottawa community who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to environmental stewardship, sustainability leadership, and climate action. We have been thrilled with the nominations that we have received from Ottawans for our second Ottawa Eco Awards, and we are heartened to learn about the local eco champions who inspire you.
Ecology Ottawa delegates to the Environment and Climate Change Committee on the Rain Ready Ottawa program.
Ecology Ottawa was at the City Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee on April 16, 2024, to talk about the Rain Ready Program. We’ve provided our delegations below and you can also watch the recording.
Members of ECCC invited to webinar on incineration
On April 8, we invited members of City Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee (ECCC) to attend a webinar on incineration. This webinar is timely: Council is considering incineration as an option for dealing with Ottawa’s waste, since staff has warned Council that the Trail Road Landfill—which currently receives the majority of Ottawans’ garbage—will fill up soon.