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Results collected during the Rideau
River Biodiversity Project found a variety
of plants and animals in this section of the Rideau River that was
surprising, considering the section passes through downtown Ottawa.
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The
swiftly flowing water from Hogs Back, along with such features as
underwater tree trunks, rocks and small bays, creates a diversity
of habitats. These diverse habitats support an abundance of insects
and fish, notably smallmouth bass and muskellunge. |
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Pickerelweed,
Pontederia cordata, near St. Patrick
Street in Ottawa. |
This section is particularly favourable to
aquatic plants. The depth of the River and the speed of the current
vary from one place to another. This variance allows many types of
habitats for the plants and supports their diversity. |
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Levels
of native freshwater mussel populations are extremely low in this
section of the River, primarily because of the invasion of exotic
zebra mussels and changes in environmental
quality in recent decades.
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Zebra mussels (Dreissena
polymorpha) cover the ladder and walls of the Hartwells
lock in Ottawa. |
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Throughout
the Project, phosphorus
was present in high concentration. Usually this causes excessive plant
growth, thereby creating dense plant beds
and large floating mats of
decaying algae, but this is not happening in the Brewer Park area. |
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During
the Project, levels of E.
coli bacteria were low enough to permit swimming in this section
on most days. |
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- Brewer Park is one of the best sites for biodiversity in the
downstream stretch of the River (see
map). Thanks to the replanting and cleanup efforts of local
community groups, diversity of habitats
has been restored, thereby providing support for a variety of
insects, birds and fish. [16]
- Between May and November, swans that are descendants of swans
given by Queen Elizabeth II
can be seen along this length of the River.
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| See a detailed
map of the Rideau River between Hogs Back and the Rideau Falls. |
This unique section of the Rideau River flows
through the City of Ottawa from the lock station at Hogs Back to the
Rideau Falls.
At the top of the Hogs Back falls, the Rideau
River separates into canal and river; both flow into the Ottawa
River. The canal ends with a series of eight locks that form an
impressive "ladder". The Rideau River ends with the magnificent
Rideau Falls.
This section of the River is relatively undisturbed
because boat traffic is restricted to the canal. Parklands line
the shore, where the mature trees and shrubs buffer the effects
of urban development. The River increases in depth towards Rideau
Falls.
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| Muskellunge, Esox
masquinongy. |
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