Masonry repairs at Narrows Lock beginning in October
Parks Canada has issued the following news release about work beginning soon at Narrows Lock:
In October 2016, Parks Canada will begin heritage masonry repair work at Narrows Lock 35 located on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site. Stone replacement, grouting and repointing will be completed to ensure the continued structural integrity and functionality of the lock. Some of the repairs will occur below the swing bridge, requiring the bridge to be shifted to open position for their completion. Once complete, the swing bridge will be winterized for preservation.
This work will cause intermittent delays and a potential for nightly closures of County Road 14 at Narrows swing bridge. Road closures are tentatively planned for the end of November. In order to reduce impact to the public, road closures have been planned during times with lower volumes of traffic. Final dates and details will be made public, as soon as they have been confirmed.
This project is part of Parks Canada’s unprecedented $3 billion dollar investment over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. These historic investments will mitigate health and safety risks, halt the loss of nationally significant built heritage and stimulate the economy in communities across the country.
Alternate Driving Route
Once County Road 14 is closed, the closest alternate vehicle route around Upper Rideau Lake is North Shore Road to Highway 10, travel south on Highway 10 to Highway 42. Highway 42 will take you south-east into Crosby. Signage will be posted on County Road 14 communicating the delays and alternate routes. Map attached (p. 3).
About Narrows Lock 35
In 1830, Colonel By developed a plan to build a dam and lock across the Upper Narrows forming a new lake – Upper Rideau Lake. The lock was built on a solid rock foundation with gate sluices on both the upper and lower gates. The gates were created with oak sills bolted to rock. A dam was built on either side of the lock, and a waste weir included on the south side of the lock. In the early 1830s a blockhouse was built at the site.
For More Information:
For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Rideau Canal, please visit our website: www.pc.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure. If you would like to be added to our community engagement list and receive updates on this project, please e-mail RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca and include Narrows Lock 35 in the subject heading.
FOCA Elert - September 2016
Click here to read the most recent newsletter from the Federation on Ontario Cottagers' Associations, which includes a number of articles of interest to Big Rideau Lake cottagers and boaters.
Blue-Green Algae detected in Upper Rideau Lake
An August 16th water sample taken by the MOECC on Upper Rideau has returned positive for blue-green algae containing detectible microcystin. The testing shows, however, that the levels of microsystins are below the danger level for drinking water.
For information about Blue-Green Algae, refer to our Resources page.
Managing Your Water Well in Times of Water Shortage
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has provided this reference for private well owners and groundwater users to improve existing water supplies or correct groundwater supply problems during this time of water shortage this summer - https://www.ontario.ca/page/managing-your-water-well-times-water-shortage.
Health Unit urges well users to monitor water usage and quality
The Leeds, Grenville & Lanark Health Unit has issued a warning that, because of the severe drought conditions we are currently experiencing, well users are at risk and should be testing their water and conserving it where possible. Click here for the full news release.
Drought Conditions Deepending - Areas of Watershed in Level III / Severe Drough
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has a severe drought warning for its watershed. Click here to read it.
RVCA Report - "Algae - Too Much of a Good Thing"
There have been several reports of an increased number of algae blooms on the lake this year. With the high temperatures and sun we've experienced this summer, the prevalence of algae is not surprising.
RVCA's statement released today notes a number of things lake residents can do to ensure they are not contributing to the high level of algae in our lake:
- Good septic system maintenance
- Increase plant cover on your property
- Reduce runoff from your property
Click here to read the RVCA statement.
Its important to remember that most algae blooms are green blooms, not blue-green blooms (which can be toxic). As the RVCA statment noted, algae and aquatic plants play an important role in maintaining the health of our waterbodies. But when you have too much — it can negatively impact recreational use and threaten our aquatic ecosystems.
For more information about blue-green algae, refer to the following website links:
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Celebrate Canada Day with Parks Canada
Parks Canada celebrates on July 1st with free lockage on the Rideau Canal system as well as free admission at all national parks, national marine conservation areas and Parks Canada-administered national historic sites.
As announced in Budget 2016, admission and lockage will be also be free all year in 2017 in celebration of Canada 150.
Visit www.pc.gc.ca to find out about the special events that Parks Canada is planning across the country on Canada Day.