Open house to discuss Niagara River health

The health of the Niagara River’s ecosystem seems to be improving, according to new scientific research conducted on the waterway.

As a result of those studies, the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan is inviting the community to an open house to discuss the potential of upgrading the status of the river – one of 36 waterways listed as areas of concern in the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the Canada-Ontario Agreement.

In a media release issued Monday, the organization run in partnership with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, says two separate scientific studies looked into water quality parameters, chemistry and plankton densities and determined that the food web base was healthy, and that there were no issues related to excess algae and plankton populations.

There has been significant water quality problems within the river in past years, negatively impacting people and wildlife.

Reports on the studies are available online at ourniagarariver.ca/ latest-news, and comments can be submitted online until Nov. 25, or in person at a public information open house, Nov. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture Lecture Hall, 2405 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, where scientists involved in the studies will be available to discuss their findings and answer questions.