To inform and influence environmental stewardship and

MISSION
To inform and influence environmental
stewardship and enhancement throughout
the Bonnechere River Watershed
Key Themes (2007-2013)
Knowledge to inform environmental stewardship &
enhancement
Volunteer and community engagement
Fostering key conversations
Knowledge to inform environmental
stewardship and enhancement
What is a watershed? An entire surface area
drained by a river and its tributaries.
From its headwaters in Algonquin
Park, the Bonnechere River
stretches 145km to Castleford
where it empties into the Ottawa
River.
The entire watershed encompasses
an area of 2400 km2, nearly half the
size of Prince Edward Island.
Over 80% of the land in the
Bonnechere River Watershed is
privately owned.
Bonnechere River Watershed
Muskrat Lake
Google Earth 2013
Google Earth
AAFC land cover / land use mapping for the Bonnechere River Watershed, 2011
Key Messages (2008-2012)

Locals value good water quality for the Bonnechere River
watershed (BRW) and are concerned about its degradation

BRWP RiverWatch results show cause for concern

Environmental decision-making in the BRW is currently not well
coordinated across municipalities and other local government

Municipalities and other levels of government need to work
together to continue to monitor the health of the BRW and with
residents to employ stewardship best practices to protect and
restore its water quality

The future of the BRW could be very different depending on the
level of local engagement in decision-making and whether a longterm or short-term perspective prevails

The need for collaborative governance and collective action
within the watershed is particularly pressing now given
impending effects of a changing climate
Ecosystem services valued
by local residents
Fresh water for drinking
Wildlife habitat
Erosion control by shoreline vegetation
Water filtering by wetlands
Spiritual/aesthetic benefits
Outdoor recreation opportunities
Carbon storage by forests
Food production
Source: Allyson Quinlan PhD 2012
Influence of local governance on sustaining
ecosystem services
MOE Lake Partner Program
Round Lake
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Lake Clear
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Golden Lake
__________________________
Hurds Lake
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< 10 ug/l = oligotrophic 10-20 ug/l = mesotrophic >20 ug/l = eutrophic
Total Phosporous
Risk of toxic algal blooms
BRWP Lake Surveys
Temperature Profiles (August 2011)
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Thermocline
_________________
_________________
Lake Clear
Golden Lake
Hurds Lake
Av depth = 11.2 m
Av depth = 8.5 m
Av depth = 8.5 m
Max depth = 42.7 m
1,727 ha
Max depth = 24.4m
3,552 ha
Max depth = 40.3 m
191 ha
Dissolved Oxygen Profiles (August 2011)
Lake Clear
Golden Lake
Golden Lake
Hurds Lake
__________________________________________
At capacity for lake trout
Health Status Comparison by % Sites in the
Bonnechere Watershed
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Poor
Fair
Good
2009/2010 (29 sites)
Health Status Comparison By % Catchment
Area in the Bonnechere Watershed
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2011 (25 sites)
Method:
2009 CEW
2010 OBBN
2011 OSAP Rapid Assessment
Poor
Fair
Good
2009/2010
2011
Rated on index of benthic
macroinvertebrates
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
2009 CEW
2010 OBBN
2009/2010
2011
Killaloe
Eganville
Douglas
2011
OSAP Rapid
Assessment
Protocol
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
RiverWatch Results by Stream Site and Catchment
BRWP RiverWatch
Water Chemistry 2010
Water Chemistry 2010
Water Chemistry 2010
Stream Assessment Comparison
No significant correspondence between the
two classifications
Ongoing RiverWatch Program efforts
Interactive web mapping application
Multivariate statistical analysis of stream condition, water
chemistry and catchment characteristics
 Regional comparison of stream condition (SMARTER)
 Collaboration with Ottawa Riverkeeper Riverwatcher
program – 2013 WQ testing pilot
 Collaboration with Centre for Sustainable Watersheds
Renfrew County Love Your Lake shoreline assessment
program 2012-13 (Lake Clear, Paugh Lake, Round Lake)
 Study on water levels and flows
 Landscape ecology assessment for farmland birds

 BRWP display at local
events
 Library series
 Celebrate Our River Day
series
 Field excursions
 Activities with Algonquins
of Pikwakanagan
 Environmental
enhancement
On-line community NYN
mapping tool
 Watershed art exhibitions
and virtual gallery
 NYN webisodes
 Social media
Fostering Key Conversations
Project collaboration
Network of
Environmental
Governance Organizations
in the BRW
 Environmental decision-making in the watershed is currently not well
coordinated across municipalities and other local government
 However, there are significant opportunities for strategically improving the
effectiveness of watershed-wide environmental governance in the region through
collaborative adaptation
Source: Allyson Quinlan PhD 2012
Influence of local governance on sustaining ecosystem services
Fostering Key Conversations

Annual Renfrew County Stewardship Forum initiated (2012)
 Climate change impacts & adaptation
 Muskoka Watershed Council case study
 Love Your Lake shoreline assessment program
 Discussions on collaborative opportunities
 Carleton ENSC project on conservation authorities vs grass
roots approaches to watershed mgmt
 Participation in Renfrew County official plan review
 Engagement with Lake POAs and Freshwater Stewards
 Ottawa Riverkeeper Riverboat gala (2013)
 Residents’ initiative on climate change adaptation
 Partnering with the visual and performing Arts
Teaming Environment with the Arts 2013
 BRWP spokesfrog Bonnie Chere
 River-inspired poetry and songs
 Stone Fence Theatre commission
Bonnechere River: Future Tense
 Photographic commission
A Glimpse in Time
 Watershed performance series Apr– Aug
Fostering Key Conversations
Proposal for a Renfrew County
Watershed Alliance
 Network of community-based organizations
 Supported by partnerships with different levels of
government (municipal, county & provincial)
 Watershed-based implementation framework
 Workplan
Nature in Your Neighbourhood excursions & guides
 Celebrate Our Rivers paddle series
 Freshwater monitoring
 Renfrew County Love Your Lake Program
 Annual Renfrew County Stewardship Forum
What future will we choose?
What’s Ours is Yours
The area is managed ‘from the
outside’ as one big natural
resource in a way that is
sustainable but alienates locals.
The Great Divide
The watershed divides with
affluent families in the north
and industrial agriculture,
mega-dump in the south.
The New Rural
The best parts of rural living are retained
and wise investments in sustaining natural
and cultural aspects of the area pay off.
Entrepreneurial Boom
The local economy booms (green
energy, construction, tourism) but the
environment is declining & the boom
may bust.
Source: Allyson Quinlan PhD 2012
Influence of local governance on sustaining ecosystem services
Futures painted by Jerome Coulas 2011
Indicators of Change across Scenarios
Relative to 2010 baseline:
Upward arrow = improvement
Downward arrow = decline Horizontal line = no change
Source: Allyson Quinlan PhD 2012 Carleton University
Influence of local governance on sustaining ecosystem services
www.BonnechereRiver.ca
So what are the
fundamental elements
for a successful
stewardship plan?
 Socio-ecological knowledge
 Community engagement
 Collaboration