VIDEO: Aerial footage of the Carp River

(PHOTO: Dr. Steven Cooke and students beside the habitat pond at the Carp River Restoration area. Photo by Janet Mason.)

Here’s an interesting perspective of the Carp River, south north of the Queensway:

Here’s some background about the video, via the Ottawa Stewardship Council: 

In fall 2017 a student team from the Group Research in Environmental Science Project at Carleton University are undertaking a study that will form the basis for monitoring programs and future research projects.

The Carp River Restoration Project commenced in 2016 and  incorporates approximately 6000 metres of stream restoration, habitat improvements (ponds and wet meadows), and recreational pathways in a large, rapidly urbanizing area running parallel to Terry Fox Drive in Kanata.

The student’s project will assemble available information about the Carp River before and after the restoration to establish a baseline description of the restored section. The baseline information and the restoration’s objectives will serve as the foundation on which to base an educational and interpretive program, begin monitoring programs, and conduct research projects related to the efficacy of the restoration.

We are partnered with the Friends of the Carp River for this project.  Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority is providing subject matter expertise.

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And more background from Friends of the Carp River:

…The third year Carleton University Environmental Science students completed their project about the Carp River Restoration area along Terry Fox Drive in Kanata.  The students outlined four recommendations related to the restoration:

1. adding interpretive signs to educate and engage the community;
2. monitoring water quality, particularly conductivity, which is a result of metal ions and toxins from road salting that can adversely affect some species causing infertility or death;
3. monitoring by “citizen scientists” of the changing ecosystem of plants, animals, invasive species, and water quality as the site matures; and
4. engaging schools in nature education programs on the site including building bird and bat boxes, and recording species.

The students prepared a short video about the site… The view shown in the link is from a point halfway along the restored river, looking north from over the Queensway.  Terry Fox Drive is to the right.