Environmental Affairs
For information not found on this website, please email us - contact details on Executive Committee page.
Hello, my name is Nick Baets your Environmental Officer for the Ottawa Power and Sail Squadron. My job is primarily as an advocate for marine environmental issues. Over the past years I have published articles in our newsletter dealing with a wide variety of topics. You can read up on them at your leisure. On a day-to-day basis I cannot over emphasize to pay extra care in the following areas when boating:
- Handle fuel, lubricants, and coolants with care and dispose them either at your marina or municipal facilities.
- Follow government regulation when discharging grey water and sewage in inland waters and when at sea.
- Boat maintenance products are available in a wide variety, select ones that minimize the impact on the environment.
Particular concerns for our boating area are:
GREAT LAKE WATER LEVELS
Our safe and enjoyable boating on the great lakes is dependent on having accurate and current weather forecasts and real time weather data.
CPS has developed a brochure to assist boaters in finding this knowledge for the area in which they cruise. In it are links to specific websites where the necessary information will be found.
This brochure can be downloaded from the CPS website https://www.cps-ecp.ca/members under National Committees, located on the left hand side of the opening page. Then go to Environment, scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the brochure.
STOP THE SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES
Alien invasive species are plants or animals occurring in an area outside its known natural range. Examples of species that have already invaded Canadian waters are the Zebra mussel (clam), Round goby (fish), Spiney water flea (Invertebrate) Eurasian water milfoil (aquatic plant) and the Green crab (crab). They are most commonly introduced into an area by hitching a ride on a boat or trailer. You can prevent the further spread of these harmful hitchhikers by:
- Remove all aquatic plants, mussels or other visible organisms and deposit them in the garbage.
- Drain the water from your boat, including the motor, live well and bilge.
- Do not release live bait. Empty your bait bucket on land.
- Report sightings of Invasive species by calling the Ontario Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711
For more information check: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_069027.html
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority: http://www.rvca.ca/
Parks Canada – Rideau Canal: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/rideau/index.aspx
Ministry of the Environment Ontario: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment
Environment Canada: http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/
Fisheries and Oceans Canada: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/index-eng.htm
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Officer Environmental Affairs
Ottawa Power and Sail Squadron