Nearly halfway through the summer season, Ottawa's beach water quality is in much better shape than it was last year. The city of Ottawa has issued very few days recommended not to swim at Britannia Beach, Petrie Island East Bay, Petrie Island River Beaches, with Mooney's Bay remaining open since testing began.
The Gatineau River is once again threatening to burst its banks and flood homes, perhaps as early as this weekend. On the Ottawa River, it's an entirely different story.
The population of the American eel is declining sharply in the Ottawa River. Environmentalists say that the main reason at the many dams and power turbines on the river. They say more needs to be done to allow the eels to migrate safely.