The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is making the rounds to its 18 encompassing municipalities to gather signed agreements with each to continue to provide its Category 3 programs and services, a step now mandated by the province.
Category three programs at the RVCA includes tree planting, rural clean water projects, shoreline naturalization, surface water monitoring and more.
Mayor Shawn Pankow sits on the RVCA board and reiterated his support for the work they do.
Watersheds have faced several legislation changes from the provincial government, including these programs being now classified as “non-mandatory.”
Councilor Chris McGuire thinks and spoke highly of all the work watersheds do and takes issue with the province’s approach to them.
The RVCA plants about 200,000 trees per year, has funded 2,000 clean water projects since 1992, and naturalized 800 shorelines since 2009.
Story by Grant Deme
