JASON SETNYK
Cornwall City Council received the St. Lawrence River Institute’s annual update at a recent meeting, hearing from Executive Director Jeff Ridal and Program Leader of Research and Technical Services Matt Windle.
The River Institute reported 2024 revenues of $2,371,082 and expenses of $2,416,890, as the organization continued its growth.
In the presentation, Ridal also referenced the institute’s Sustainability Fund, which now holds the former city endowment and is overseen by the River Institute.
Windle outlined research that translates into conservation action, including measuring nutrient levels in St. Lawrence River tributaries, local waterways that feed into the river, mapping invasive species across the region, and testing nature-based shoreline erosion approaches.
Contaminants
Council voted to receive the River Institute’s annual report and presentation. During questions, Councillor Fred Ngoundjo asked about chemicals such as PCBs and overall water quality.
Ridal said the region is “very fortunate” to have high water quality, but noted legacy contaminants in sediments, PCBs in parts of the south-shore corridor and mercury along the Cornwall waterfront, and said PFAS are increasingly driving fish consumption advisories.
Asked about the biggest challenge, Ridal said habitat, particularly wetlands and shorelines, can be “easily degraded and hard to recover.”
Windle said water levels have varied sharply in recent years, and climate models suggest swings could become more pronounced as precipitation events grow more extreme.
The River Institute has begun construction on a new environmental DNA lab funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund.
5,574 participants
On the education side, the River Institute reported 5,574 participants across 142 workshops in English and French, and highlighted youth climate programming.
The update also referenced the Great River Rapport and a River Strategy involving 60 regional collaborators.
The annual River Symposium drew 130+ in-person attendees, 600+ online views, and 29 presentations.
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