Trent-Severn Waterway and Heritage Canal

IUCN Management Category V (Protected Landscape)

Biogeographical Province 1.05.05 (Eastern Forest)

Geographical Location Located within the southern portion of Ontario. The Trent-Severn portion is close to Toronto, and links Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario. The Rideau is close to Kingston and Ottawa, linking Lake Ontario to the Ottawa River. The waterways lie between 44°00'-45°24'N and 75°42'-79°48'W.

Date and History of Establishment The Rideau Canal was built between 1826 and 1831 as a critical link in the military supply route between Upper and Lower Canada. By the mid-19th century, the canal had become a busy commercial artery. It is also recognized as one of the best preserved 19th century canals still in active operation in the world. The Trent-Severn Canal was built between 1834 and 1920 and was an important route for the shipment of lumber and other goods. Today, recreation is the main use. In 1972, administration and control over the heritage canals was transferred to the Canadian Governments' agency responsible for National and Historic Parks - now called Environment Canada, Parks. Following a joint Canada/Ontario study, the two levels of government signed an agreement in 1975 called the Canada-Ontario Rideau, Trent, Severn Agreement (CORTS) to co-ordinate their activities towards achieving the goal of developing a distinctive environmental corridor.

Area The Rideau-Trent-Severn corridor is 680km long, ranging in width from 2-30km.

Land Tenure Land tenure is mixed in both corridors with 140 jurisdictions, departments and commissions being involved at all levels of government. There is also a great deal of private land involved with over 40,000ha of land publically owned.

Altitude The highest point in the waterway systems is at Balsam Lake with an elevation of 255m above sea level. The lowest elevation is at the Ottawa River with an elevation of 40m above sea level. However, hills along the corridor reach an elevation of 363m above sea level.

Physical Features The Rideau section contains 16 lakes along or directly accessible from the main channel. It also contains two rivers, the Rideau and the Cataraqui. The Trent-Severn section has 17 lakes along the main channel and four principal rivers - The Trent, Otonabee, Talbot, and Severn Rivers. The geology of the Rideau section varies from a plain of limestone or sandstone covered with shallow, poorly drained soil, to rocky Precambrian Shield areas where bedrock is a mixture of granites and metamorphic rocks, with a shallow soil cover. The geology of the Trent-Severn is characterized by the Precambiran and the Ordovician Era, with its limestone bedrock. The Canadian Shield is hilly and broken, contrasting with the flat limestone section.

Climate There are four pronounced seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall with minimum temperatures as low as -35°C and maximum temperatures as high as +34°C. Rainfall varies between 76-96cm annually and with between 162cm and 284cm of snowfall. Snow is on the ground 80 to 120 days but with over 200 days without snow cover.

Vegetation There is marked variation in the vegetation along the length of the corridor. The dominance of vegetation types is primarily determined by the presence of the Canadian Shield. Where the waterway runs through the Shield, the mixed deciduous forests characteristic of southern Ontario give way to coniferous forests. Wetlands, with their own vegetative association, occur along the waterway.

Fauna The fauna is characteristic of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Forest Region and includes: white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus, beaver Castor canadensis, mink Mustela vison, otter Lutra canadensis, porcupine Erithizon dorsatum and raccoon Procyon lotor. The endanged Eastern Massassauga rattlesnake Sistrurus catenatus occurs along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay.

Cultural Heritage Numerous archaeological and historic sites are found along the waterway corridor. These sites include Indian encampments and burial grounds, petroglyphs, settlers' homes, numerous dams and locks, defensible structures, and other features of the waterways' rich cultural heritage. The Rideau Canal is itself of national historic significance.

Local Human Population Numerous cities, towns and villages are situated along the length of the corridor and close to the most densely populated portion of Canada, and within a day's drive of about 60 million people in Canada and the U.S.A. In summer months, due to the waterway's great recreational appeal and the presence of many summer cottages along its length, the population swells dramatically. Local economies have a diverse base, ranging from livestock production to manufacturing and tourism.

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Today, the Rideau is an important recreational waterway for thousands of boaters, cottagers and other visitors. The waterway is easily accessible by car, boat, bus, and rail. The waterway is open for navigation from mid-May to mid-October. Different types of accommodation are available, including campgrounds, hotels and motels, and even staying on one's boat or yacht. Recreational facilities along the waterway are numerous and highly variable.

Scientific Research and Facilities Trent University in Peterborough, the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and Queen's University in Kingston are within the waterway corridor. In addition research on water quality, fisheries and other concerns is carried out by relevant agencies.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management The two heritage canals are now administered by Environment Canada, Parks. The management goal for the Rideau, Trent-Severn corridor is "To develop a distinctive environmental corridor wherein a wide variety of recreational opportunities are available to users in a safe, pleasant and interesting environment and where optimum recreational use is achieved for the greatest number of people without causing significant environmental damage". Specific objectives include maintaining or enhancing: clean air and water; adequate undeveloped open space; preservation and interpretation of the human and natural historical environment; an adequate number of public use areas; adequate commercial development; and satisfactory private development. The CORTS agreement resulted in the preparation of a set of co-ordinating policies to guide all levels of government and private sector activities towards the achievement of the CORTS goal and objectives. The policies call for action in the areas of pollution control, water management, land use, tourism and recreation, and heritage conservation. Major management activities are those undertaken to ensure safe and enjoyable use of the waterway corridor (lock operation and maintenance etc.), and environmental quality. Much co-ordination and co-operation occurs to implement the policies. Nearby significant protected areas are Georgian Bay Islands National Park (14.2 sq.km.), St. Lawrence Islands National Park (0.8 sq.km.) and Frontenac Provincial Park.

Management Constraints Water pollution is a dominant concern. Encroachment on open space by poorly planned vacation and permanent home developments was and to some extend continues to be of concern. Major wetland wildlife areas and lake shorelines have been lost to cottage development in the past. A decrease in fish populations has been noted.

Staff Environment Canada, Parks devoted 170 and 240 person years in 1982-83 to the administration and management of the Rideau waterway and the Trent-Severn waterway respectively. Other agencies also provide staff for different aspects of the waterway corridors' management.

Budget Operating expenditures by Environment Canada, Parks alone in 1982-83 were $10.9 million (Canadian). Capital expenditures by Environment Canada, Parks were $2 million (Canadian). Expenditures of others involved in the management of the waterway corridor are not available.

Local Addresses

Rideau Canal, 12 Maple Avenue N, Smith's Fall, Ontario, Canada K7A 1Z5.

Trent-Severn Waterwway, P.O. Box 567, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 6Z6.

References

Canada-Ontario Rideau-Trent-Severn Study Committee. (1975). The Rideau Trent Severn: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Inforamtion Canada: Ottawa.

Canada-Ontario-Rideau-Trent-Severn Waterway. (1975). CORTS Agreement.

CORTS. (1982). Canada-Ontario Policies for Rideau, Trent-Severn Corridor. Canada-Ontario.

Other pamphlets prepared by Environment Canada, Parks available through addresses above.

Date August 1987