WANT TO HELP PREVENT MAJOR FLOODING? Take 10 MINUTES to do 3 easy things:
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#1: Contact your provincial MPP if you live in Ontario or your MNA if you live in Quebec AND your federal MP to demand that they ensure that FLOOD PREVENTION IS THE PRIORITY OVER HYDRO PRODUCTION UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO REVERT BACK. Tell them that you need them to ensure that all Dam and Reservoir Managers do the following:
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LOWER all reservoirs, head ponds and river reaches to their Lowest Operating Levels (not historical medians) immediately
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DELAY/LIMIT the refilling process until the appropriate time to ensure flood prevention as a priority above hydro production. SLOW refill until all high intensity event threats (freshet, rainfall, snowstorms, etc.) have completely passed
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INCREASE THE FLOW AT CARILLON DAM NOW to make room for the northern waters out of the Watershed
#2: Ask that your MPP/MNA and MP receive a DAILY UPDATE from the operators or the ORRPB about reservoir, head pond and river reach levels and that they ask why if the levels are not dropped as needed before freshet
#3 Contact Dr. Wayne Jenkinson (wayne.jenkinson@ec.gc.ca) to request that he brief our new federal Minister of Environment Terry Duguid on ORFA’s white paper and to encourage the new Minister to immediately action #1 and #2 as well as the 8 ways to prevent the super floods listed in ORFA's white paper.
Flood Levels and Weather
ORFA is a grassroots team of volunteers from Ontario and Québec addressing the recurrence of Ottawa River flooding by:
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giving a voice to Ottawa River property and business owners, operators and residents
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advocating for people who have experienced the destructive consequences of flooding
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focusing on finding practical and sustainable measures to prevent future floods
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researching and networking to inform and monitor decision-makers regarding the impacts of their actions and inaction
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working towards better management of reservoirs, tributaries and dams along the Ottawa River
While we know that climate change is one factor contributing to flooding, we have identified additional factors which are not related to climate change and that can be addressed by corporations and by our governments
Our mission is to advocate to governments and authorities for:
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prevention of flooding and use of unfair water management practices
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flood emergency preparedness and response
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flood mitigation
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protection of property values
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safety, health and welfare of stakeholders and floodplains
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better maintenance of the entire river/watershed system
Key achievements to date:
1 / ORFA joined the MRC Pontiac Flood Prevention Task Force
Three ORFA members attend the monthly MRC Pontiac Flood Prevention Task Force meeting established by Jane Toller, Warden, MRC Pontiac, with members of the ORRPB, Hydro Quebec, OPG and ORFA.
2 / ORFA endorsed the Clarence-Rockland Mayoral petition
Over 30 municipalities have joined together to request a 3rd party study of the management of the Ottawa River. The request was submitted in July 2023, and ORFA endorsed it on November 9th, 2023. This petition was mentioned during a private meeting with Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan in April.
3 / ORFA met with Member of the Quebec National Assembly André Fortin
In Feb 2024, three ORFA members met with MNA Fortin and provided flood-related questions for the Member to pose to the CEO of Hydro Québec after his annual presentation in the Quebec National Assembly
4 / National Flood Insurance Program funding
ORFA asked our followers to send a message to their MPs to approve the funding required in the April 16th federal budget. MP Jenna Sudds provided her endorsement publicly via our last email to followers. The funding was announced in the budget.
5 / Meeting with MP Cheryl Gallant
Two ORFA members had a private meeting with MP Gallant in March regarding the Clarence-Rockland Mayoral Petition, among other flood-related topics. In April, MP Gallant was further updated with additional information on the rising levels of the Ottawa River.
6 / Meeting with MP Jenna Sudds and MP Harjit Sajjan (Emergency Preparedness)
An ORFA member alerted MP Sudds about the sudden rise in river levels and flows in April, who then escalated to MP Sajjan. ORFA provided a briefing note, and subsequently, two members attended a private meeting with both Ministers on April 19th. Flood prevention is now a topic which Minister Sajjan will elevate among his provincial counterparts in May, as well as across his federal colleagues. He committed to asking Minister of the Environment Steven Guilbeault to personally look into the flooding issue.
7 / MP Jenna Sudds and MPP Karen McCrimmon met on April 19th
Following the meeting with ORFA members, MP Sudds and MPP McCrimmon discussed the issue of flooding. MP Sudds then contacted the ORRPB to obtain a briefing on the status of water levels of the Ottawa River as soon as possible.
The ORRPB met with Minister Sudds and MPP McCrimmon on April 26th via zoom for 30 minutes to provide a briefing and answer questions.
8 / Meeting with MP Yasir Naqvi April 26th
In response to an ORFA member's email regarding the new Federal Flood Insurance Program, MP Naqvi requested an in person meeting. Two ORFA members discussed the program's inclusions, and strongly voiced our concerns about the management of the Ottawa River. MP Naqvi has committed to contacting MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke John Yakabuski, former Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, to request a meeting. MP Naqvi will also coordinate with Minister Sudds during their weekly Ottawa caucus meetings.
9 / Response received from federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault
Following an ORFA introductory letter sent in August, Minister Guilbeault provided a two page response on Sept. 20th in which he articulated his role and the various jurisdictions who share responsibilities in water management, including the ORRPB. He made one recommendation and a few inquiries to the ORRPB. ORFA provided their response and call to action on October 2nd, 2024.