Ottawa Faith Community Capacity Building Program

Stormwater Management

Stormwater originating from precipitation can cause flooding and increased surface runoff. Discover how to manage stormwater and harvest rainwater for irrigation using techniques such as rain gardens and rain barrels!

• The Story of Stormwater by Green Communities Canada
• ”Rain Smart Neighbourhoods” webinar handout by Watersheds Canada and REEP Green Solutions
• Make Your Home the Solution to Stormwater Pollution brochure by Muskoka Watershed Council
• Blog Posts (Stormwater Management) by Watersheds Canada
• After the Storm: A Citizen’s Guide to Understanding Stormwater by United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Managing Stormwater At Home by EnviroCentre
• New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management – Do-It-Yourself Stormwater Solutions for Your Home retrieved from Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
• Storm Water Management by Greening Sacred Spaces and Faith the Common Good
• Understanding Stormwater Management: An Introduction to Stormwater Management Planning and Design by Ontario.ca

Rain Barrels

• 6 Easy Steps to Install your Rain Barrel by GreenUP
• Caring for Your Rain Barrel – Guide to Maintenance and Use by Reep Green Solutions
• Setting up a Rain Barrel by Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Rainwater Harvesting by Toronto and Region Conservation
• Rainproofing Checklist for Homeowners and Commercial and Institutional Properties by Green Communities Canada

Rain Garden

• Rain to Roots by Watersheds Canada and Helping Nature Heal Inc. handout
• Baxter’s Rain Garden by Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
• Build a Rain Garden by Rain Ready Ottawa and City of Ottawa
• How to Create a Rain Garden: A Guide for Homeowners! by Essex Region Conservation Authority
• How to Care for Your Rain Garden: Guide to Routine Maintenance infographic by Reep Green Solutions
• A Complete Guide to Building and Maintaining a Rain Garden by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• Rain Garden Mural by local Ottawa artist Emily-Rose retrieved from EnviroCentre
• Urban Rain Gardens by Ottawa Riverkeeper

• Earth-Friendly Gardening – Going Organic, Water Saving Tips, Companion Planting, Soil Care, Mulching, and Compost and Other Natural Fertilizers by Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Alternatives to Pesticides by Canadian Wildlife Federation
• How to Care for Your Garden Tools by Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Natural Edge – Native Plant Care Guide
• Natural Home Pesticides – Organic Garden Pest Control by Heather Rhoades, Gardening Know How
• Dig into Soil Activity Book by 4-H Canada
• Natural Edge – Wildflower Garden Guide
• Natural Edge Native Plant Database handout by Watersheds Canada
• Natural Insect Control handout by Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Planting Trees by Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Steeped in Soil Activity Book by 4-H Canada
• Tree Planting: Care Guide by Reep Green Solutions

• Healthy Yards DIY- A Beginners Guide to Building a Rain Garden by Reep Green Solutions
• Lawn Care by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• Lawn Care: Aerating, Fertilizing, Mowing, Selecting, Sowing and Overseeding, Watering, and Problems by Canadian Wildlife Federation
• Protecting Your Gardens, Lawn…and Your Lake by Love Your Lake

• Depave Paradise infographic and FAQ by Green Communities Canada
• Depave Paradise Ottawa Projects by Green Communities Canada
• Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff by United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Keep It Clean! Slow It Down! Soak It Up! by Rain Community Solutions – Green Communities Canada
• Managing Stormwater Runoff to Improve Water Quality Case Studies retrieved from Canada.ca
• Soak It Up! Toolkit 16 Actions Your Municipality Can Take to Reduce Runoff and Runoff Pollution by Clara Blakelock and Clifford Maynes, Green Communities Canada – Rain Community Solutions
• Reducing Your Runoff by Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
• Stormwater Scorecard_What Canadian communities are doing to reduce stormwater runoff and runoff pollution by Green Communities Canada and Freshwater Alliance
• LittaTrap Case Studies by Enviropod
• LittaTrap Education Resource – Stormwater Pollution: Identify, evaluate and quantify the source of marine pollution by Enviropod
• LittaTrap Installation Manual by Enviropod
• LittaTrap Operations: Maintenance Guide by Enviropod
• LittaTrap Catch Basin Insert Product Sheet by Enviropod
• EnviroBasin Product Sheet by Enviropod
• Winter Solutions – Alternatives to Road Salt: Salt handling practices for protecting drinking water by City of Ottawa
• ”Salting our Freshwater Ecosystems” handout by Watersheds Canada and University of Toronto

• City Stream Watch 2019 Summary Report by Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and South Nation Conservation
• Lake Evaluation Card by Watersheds Canada
• Inland Waters Biodiversity – What’s the Problem? by Convention on Biological Diversity
• World Wetland Day 2023 – Watersheds Canada infographic
• Lake Protection Workbook by Lake Links Planning Committee
• Yellow Fish Road Program Guide by Trout Unlimited Canada
• Yellow Fish Popping Up in Portland as Sustainable Drainage Project Kicks Off by Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
• Making a Splash Activity Book by 4-H Canada
• Protecting Canada’s Wetlands by Nature Conservancy of Canada
• What is a Watershed? handout by Watersheds Canada
• Wetlands factsheet by Hinterland Who’s Who
• Wetlands by Canadian Wildlife Federation

• How Much Habitat is Enough? by Environment Canada, Government of Canada
• Guide to Preparing a Shoreline Naturalization Planting Plan
• Rain Gardens by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• Guide to Building Resilient Shorelines manual (web)
• Resilient Shorelands infographic
• The Riparian Zone handout by Watersheds Canada

• A Muslim’s Guide to Climate Change by Bahu Trust and Kamran Shezad
• Climate Change Fact Sheet by Windsor Essex Climate Change Collaborative
• Extreme Weather Tool Kit for GTA Faith Communities adapted by Faith & the Common Good
• Urban Flooding in Ontario: Toward Collective Impact Solutions by Green Communities Canada – Rain Community Solutions
• Watershed Management Insights from an Indigenous-Led Community Flood Plain Mapping Project by Emily Amon retrieved from Green Communities Canada

• Drinking Water in Ottawa and Perth by City of Ottawa and Heritage Perth
• Source Water Protection by City of Ottawa
• Water Smart – Protecting Water from Source to Tap by City of Ottawa
• Threats to Our Drinking Water Sources by City of Ottawa

• Who Can I Reach Out to for Future Projects? handout by Watersheds Canada and Greening Sacred Spaces
• A Guide to Developing a ‘Green Team’ in Your Faith Community by Faith & the Common Good
• Faith and the Environment Toolkit by Community Environment Alliance retrieved from Faith & the Common Good

This collection of resources is a part of the Freshwater Stewardship Engagement Toolkit which was created for the Ottawa Faith Community Capacity Building Program. Watersheds Canada and Greening Sacred Spaces launched this program to provide faith communities in Ottawa and the surrounding area with the tools and resources their leaders and volunteers need to identify a freshwater stewardship need in their community. Six faith communities will lead greening projects using this information toolkit and microgrant program opportunity. Thank you to the Ottawa Community Foundation and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for making this important project possible!