News

The Rideau Lakes Need Your Help

The Rideau Lakes Need your Help….

For the past few years, we have been funding scientific research to ensure that we maintain and improve the water quality

Public Meeting – Rideau Lakes Campground Study – August 25

The Township of Rideau Lakes has called a public meeting on Thursday August 25th to review the report on the future development of campgrounds. If density, development, water quality and the lake environment concern you, please review the Agenda package (available from the Township web site) and either attend the meeting or contact your councillor to make your opinions known.…

RLEF Funds Research for Summer 2022

Three Research Projects Funded The Rideau Lakes Environmental Foundation has again funded several research projects that will add to and enrich knowledge of our local environment. Our stewardship of natural resources depends on developing knowledge of how ecosystems function. Your support of the RLEF enables us to ensure we include our unique environment in ongoing research. At the Fisheries Conservation…

Feedback wanted: TRL Campground Land Use Study

Temporary campsite or mobile home park? Changing land use patterns in what were once transient campgrounds pose challenges for the lake environment. Following an interim control by-law passed last year, the Township of Rideau Lakes has begun a study to examine the adequacy of current policies and regulations. An Issues and Options Report has been drafted, and feedback on its…

Algae a threat to Rideau Lakes Health

BRLA and URLA urge action on storm runoff The presidents of the Big Rideau Lake Association and the Upper Rideau Lake Association together addressed the Township of Rideau Lakes Municipal Services Committee about the critical question of limiting run-off into the lakes. (See the article in the Star.) Nutrients and pollutants are entering our lakes, feeding algae blooms. Toxic blue…

2022 Research Projects in Review

Understanding the lake is key to looking after it. So the RLEF has once again launched a Call for Participation for research exploring the environment of our lakes. Proposals are in, and the RLEF Board is now conducting their review. As they read, Board Members are assessing each proposal to ensure that it’s relevant, significant, feasible, and timely. We are…

Giving Shares is Tax Efficient

Reduce Tax-Liability with a Donation to a Canadian Charity If your portfolio has done well this year, you might want to consider donating shares directly to your favourite charity. A securities donation is much more tax-effective than a sale, and subsequent cash donation. You can receive a tax receipt for the full market value of your shares, and thanks to…

Where Do Tournament Bass Go? Research on Big Rideau Lake Has Answers

Bass fishing tournaments are a fixture on Ontario lakes every summer — but what actually happens to the fish after weigh-in? An RLEF-supported study published in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management tracked largemouth and smallmouth bass on Big Rideau Lake across three tournaments in 2017, and the findings are worth understanding for anyone who fishes, cottages, or cares about the health of these lakes.

URLA Shrub and Tree Program Continues

URLA Shrub and Tree Program Continues The Upper Rideau Lake Association (URLA) is pleased to announce the continuation of the tree program in 2022 to support improved lake water quality and our shoreline environment. Thanks to the continued support from the Rideau Lakes Environmental Fund (RLEF) and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), URLA members can purchase bare-root shrubs and…

Appeal sent to URLA Members

Upper Rideau residents invited to support RLEF It’s that time of year again, as charities reach out to their supporters to ask for your continued support. The annual appeal sent to Upper Rideau Lake Association members emphasized the role RLEF can play in ensuring the future of the lake. We want the lakes to be in a better environmental condition…

Help out with life insurance

Gifts to charitable organizations — like the RLEF — can have financial benefits as well. This article from The Globe outlines some of the tax benefits of naming a charity in your life insurance policy. You can reduce the taxes owed by your estate with this type of planned gift. Please remember the lake in your legacy, and support the…

Support the RLEF in 2021

Letter to Lake Residents To BRLA Members and other Friends of the Rideau Lakes: I am writing on behalf of the Rideau Lakes Environmental Foundation (RLEF), to ask for your help. Since 1991, our small non-profit foundation has worked alongside BRLA and other local lake associations to focus on protecting, improving and enhancing the Rideau Lakes. Below are three critical…