Jun 27, 2009
Canadian Museum of Nature – From 1998 to 2000, some 30 scientists representing every discipline, assisted by numerous partners and volunteers, focused intensely on the Rideau River and its rich biodiversity. The Rideau River flows for 100 km through Ontario, Canada. From its beginning at Upper Rideau Lake, near Smiths Falls, the River flows generally northward. Before hurtling into the Ottawa River at Ottawa, Canada’s capital, it passes through varied landscapes, which are at first forested and agricultural but become increasingly developed. The historical value of the Rideau Canal, as well as the ecological value of the lakes and rivers that comprise it, were recognized in 2000 with the designation of the Rideau Canal Waterway as a Canadian Heritage River. The Rideau River Biodiversity Project was initiated with the goal of recording the River’s biodiversity, of determining its bill of health, and of working towards its preservation, all with the close co-operation of the community.