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.”

According to organizing committee chairman Sandy Roche, step one is hiring an independent consulting firm to develop a watershed management plan for the river. “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 is happy to cooperate. “The City of St. John’s is committed to the preservation of our watercourses and their natural habitat … and working with neighboring municipalities is key to our long term sustainability.”

Ellsworth added that exploring a watershed management plan for the Waterford River will put them “in a better position to improve the integrity of our river systems.”

Mount Pearl Mayor Randy Simms says “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.”

The Waterford River Watershed Study will determine the current health of the river as well as also provide recommendations on how the river’s health can be improved. Developing a common approach among the municipalities toward future development along the river will also form part of the study.

The terms for reference for the Request for Proposals are available at Mount Pearl City Hall, 3 Centennial Street, from Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.