Due to distancing regulations the WCDR’s “April 4 Public Meeting” was replaced with a recorded AV presentation by the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board/Secretariat, the ORRPB. This information has been enhanced to put a specific West Carlton-Britannia Reach-Lake Deschene’s perspective on how the river works, the factors influencing our water levels, and some common misconceptions.  To make the material more digestible it has been split into one 21 minute video discussing the factors that can and can’t contribute to spring flooding here ( https://youtu.be/vbuZYSmfsfQ ) and a 49 minute presentation on the operation of the reservoirs & dams, including Cabonga and Chats Falls (https://youtu.be/Gf79FT-zhV8 ). Everyone living in this area should take at least 21 minutes to understand how this part of our ecosystem works.

Unfortunately we had distancing, technical, and editing issues so the material isn’t as entertaining as we would have liked. There is very useful information but you shouldn’t listen while driving or operating heavy machinery.

Special thanks to ORRPB’s Michael Sarich and Manon Lalonde who made a significant effort to customize this material and incorporate most of the advance questions, Jennifer Gardiner and Jordan Hughes of OPG for their support, and Paul Asmis and West Carleton Online for providing the local context.

WCDR is an association of five of West Carleton’s leading Not-For-Profit Community Associations, including the CBBCA,  that works collectively to prepare for and respond to area emergencies. WCDR works with other leading agencies to address gaps in the tapestry of emergency response and recovery services that support volunteers and victims.