Rideau River Flood Control
In February and March, the City of Ottawa, in partnership with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, undertakes ice breaking and clearing operations along the Rideau River between Rideau Falls and Hogs Back, during the freshet (when water flow is at its peak). This allows water to flow unrestricted and alleviates possible spring flooding in flood-prone areas.
Rideau River
Flood Control Operations 2010
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Rideau River flood control operations are set to begin the week of February 15 with the cutting of the keys, weather permitting. Ice breaking operations, including blasting, are set to begin on Saturday February 27, weather and ice conditions permitting.
A Reminder to Parents and Teachers
Ice breaking operations will create open water. Children should be supervised at all times around water and warned of the dangers of open water. During ice breaking and blasting operations it is important to keep children away from the Rideau River.
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Rideau River flood control operations involve a number of steps:
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Ice control boom
An ice control boom is installed in the late fall at Strathcona Rapids to slow the surface flow to promote an ice cover and limit the volume of frazil ice (slush), anchor ice and 'hanging dams' in the river. The ice control boom increases the efficiency of ice breaking and clearing operations in February and March.
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Cutting keys
Starting above Rideau Falls, saws are used to cut keys to remove large pieces of ice along portions of the river.
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Ice breaking operations
Charges (explosives) and floating excavating equipment are used in various spots along the river to break ice apart to create open water. Ice breaking operations continue daily until the river's flow is stabilized.
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Flood control partner - Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) partners with the City of Ottawa on Rideau River flood control. The RVCA is an inter-municipal environmental agency charged with river and river-related environmental protection responsibilities for the entire Rideau Valley watershed.
RVCA assists the City's flood control operations by securing provincial funding, assisting in the evaluation of need for the ice removal program, assessing the environmental impact and implementing innovative flood control technology including the use of the Amphibex, a floating excavation machine, and the ice control boom.
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