News Release: Creating the province’s cleanest urban river: Municipalities, with Support of Rotary, Issue RFP on Health of the Waterford River

The City of St. John’s, the City of Mount Pearl and the Town of Paradise have joined forces with the Waterford Valley Rotary Club to clean up the Waterford River and to improve its health at the same time.

 

The three municipalities, with the support of the Waterford Valley Rotary Club, have issued a request for proposals to hire an independent consulting firm to develop a watershed management plan for the river.

 

The organizing committee chairman, Rotarian Sandy Roche, says, “This study is a necessary first step in ensuring that the vitality of this beautiful natural asset is maintained for future generations. What is really important here is that the study has the active support of each of the three municipalities through which the river flows. This kind of cooperation will be fundamental to the success of any management plan that is developed.”

 

St. John’s Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth says, “The City of St. John's is committed to the preservation of our watercourses and their natural habitat. We are focused on a culture of cooperation and working with neighboring municipalities is key to our long term sustainability. Through exploring a watershed management plan for the Waterford River we will be in a better position to improve the integrity of our river systems."

 

Mount Pearl Mayor Randy Simms says he is looking forward to getting this study started. “Our hope is to make the Waterford River the cleanest urban river in the country. It will be a challenge, but with our municipal and volunteer partners, I think we are up to the task,” he continues.