Keywords Rivers

The RIDEAU CANAL links the Rideau River by a series of canals and dams to the south-flowing Cataraqui River. Thirty locks raise boats from the Ottawa River to Upper Rideau Lake, the highest point on the waterway; 14 locks lower boats to Lake Ontario. Except for a 10-km section of free-flowing river in the city of Ottawa, the Rideau is integrated into the Rideau Canal. Also part of the waterway are 2 locks linking the Rideau, via the Tay Canal, with the historic town of PERTH.

It is hard to imagine what the river was like before the construction of the waterway. The locks and dams have slowed the river, drowning rapids to create long narrow lakes and vast wetlands. Many of the lakes were once swamps. Despite - and in some cases because of - the changes, the waterway is still a vibrant aquatic ecosystem. However, the ecosystem is fragile and it is beginning to show its age. The work of Lieutenant-Colonel By has accelerated the natural aging process by clogging up the natural flow of water. Cottagers and permanent residents have built retaining walls and cleared away shoreline vegetation to make beaches and expansive lawns. This has decreased the ability of the Rideau to absorb nutrients and pollutants. At the same time, increasing use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, along with a growing population and heavier boat traffic, have all contributed to rampant aquatic weed growth. Steps are being taken to reverse this trend. In 2000 the entire Rideau Canal was designated part of the CANADIAN HERITAGE RIVER SYSTEM.

Author MAXWELL W. FINKELSTEIN

Links to Other Sites
Nature of the Rideau River
This Canadian Museum of Nature website documents the history and biodiversity of the Rideau River.