Dow's Lake

[J.OT13]

Dows Lake Recreational Dock Installation



The NCC is installing a new recreational dock at Dows Lake, near the intersection of Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Lakeside Avenue. This is part of an ongoing effort to improve public access to the region’s waterways and animate the shorelines.

Work will start in early April and continue intermittently until May. The dock is expected to open in May.

Project impacts

Intermittent pathway closures: The pathway near Lakeside Avenue will be intermittently closed to facilitate the creation of a new pathway leading to the dock.

Construction equipment: Expect construction equipment on-site throughout the pathway work and dock installation.

About the project

New additions include:

• A recreational dock
• A portable washroom with wood privacy screening
• Pathway slow-zone indicators
• A pathway extension connecting the dock to the existing network
• Bicycle racks
• Seating
• Landscaping

The dock will provide seating and lounging space and be available for activities like paddleboarding. The NCC is also exploring the possibility of safe swimming in the future. This dock location was chosen because of greater water depth, less aquatic vegetation, water quality, and easy access to the multi-use pathway.

The dock will be installed while Rideau Canal water levels are low to limit the impact on local ecosystems. This project involves collaboration with Parks Canada and follows a low-impact installation plan.

Process and timeline

• March: Pathway creation
• April: Dock installation
• Early May: Furnishings, pathway enhancements and site signage installation
• Mid-May: Dock opening
• Late May: Additional shoreline landscaping and project completion

Public engagement

We will invite members of the public to provide their feedback on the new recreational dock throughout the summer. An online survey will be available from May to October.

[zzptichka]

Docks are nice, but there are several canoe/kayak docks on the Canal already and plenty of Muskoka chairs around the Lake to sit.

I was really hoping they would build a swimming dock closer to downtown like the one they did at the River House. Obviously the Canal is not ready for swimming yet, but a swimming dock on the Ottawa River behind Parliament Hill or next to the revamped heating plant would be so good.

[Tesladom]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

I was really hoping they would build a swimming dock closer to downtown like the one they did at the River House. Obviously the Canal is not ready for swimming yet, but a swimming dock on the Ottawa River behind Parliament Hill or next to the revamped heating plant would be so good.

Crazy currents there

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by Tesladom

Crazy currents there

Only in April/May when you can't swim anyway.

[harls]

This artificial lake always seems to have problems with scum.

[rocketphish]

You may be allowed to go swimming in Dows Lake this summer

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Updated: May 08, 2025 at 4:43PM EDT | Published: May 08, 2025 at 9:33AM EDT



Ottawa residents and tourists may have a chance to cool off in Dows Lake this summer, as the National Capital Commission (NCC) explores the idea of allowing swimming in the Ottawa waterway.

A new recreational dock is set to open in May along Queen Elizabeth Driveway near Lakeside Avenue, as part of new attractions in the Dows Lake and Commissioners Park Area.

The NCC says the new recreational dock will be used for launching kayaks and paddleboards into the water at Dows Lake, and swimming may be allowed later this summer.

“The dock will offer space to relax by the water or launch non-motorized watercraft,” the NCC said on its website.

“Pending testing results, swimming may be introduced later in the season as an unsupervised activity.”

Dows Lake is located on the Rideau Canal between the Ottawa Locks and the Hartwell/Hog’s Back Logs.

According to the Dows Lake Pavilion website, swimming is not currently allowed in Dows Lake.

The Parks Canada website says “no diving, jumping, scuba-diving or swimming” is allowed in the Rideau Canal navigation channel or within 40 metres of a lock gate.



With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Peter Szperling

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/wo...nal-dock-in-ottawa-waterway-this-summer/

[zzptichka]

This place is a massive hit.

[J.OT13]

Hope they green light swimming.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Only in April/May when you can't swim anyway.

Or can you?

My money would be on a site on the Hull side, and I think the opportunity exists there to do an even more elaborate version of the River House swim docks. I seem to recall hearing that there was some concern with water quality that needed to be tested out.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

This place is a massive hit.

It is actually starting to get impressive how we've turned the page on treating our waterways largely as things to look at.

[rocketphish]

Cool off in Dows Lake! NCC to open new swimming spot in Ottawa on Thursday

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Published: June 11, 2025 at 1:16PM EDT

You will be able to go for a swim at Dows Lake this summer.

The National Capital Commission will dive into swimming at Dows Lake on Thursday with the opening of a new swimming spot at the recreational dock in the water at Commissioners Park in Ottawa. A media event to launch swimming in Dows Lake will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Swimming had been promoted as a possible option as part of the new recreational dock the NCC opened this summer at Dows Lake.

The dock includes Muskoka chairs and bike racks, and it’s a spot to launch non-motorized watercraft like canoes and kayaks.

“The dock will offer space to relax by the water or launch non-motorized watercraft,” the NCC said on its website in May.

“Pending testing results, swimming may be introduced later in the season as an unsupervised activity.”

The dock and safety equipment will cost $240,000.

The Dows Lake swimming location is the latest swimming spot operated by the NCC in Ottawa.

The NCC River House along the Ottawa River offers swimming, with lifeguards on duty on weekends in June and seven days a week during the summer.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/co...new-swimming-spot-in-ottawa-on-thursday/

[OTownandDown]

lol gross

I love going swimming and getting sewage-made algae wrapped around my limbs.

Have swam at Hartwell Locks, wouldn't particularly recommend. I also had a friend move here from Scotland, living near the beach at Mooney's. Took their 4/5 year old toddler daily to go play at the beach all summer about 10 years ago. Poor little guy lost all his finger- and toe-nails due to a nasty infection. Coincidence?

Good optics though, and good works by the NCC. The dock IS really nice. Now just to fix up the Dows Lake Pavilion which is looking a hot mess lately.

[Uhuniau]

I am very pro wild swimming, but I am not gonna be the first one in there.

[MarkR]

I don't even really like swimming upriver (upcanal?) at Mooney's Bay after I heard how much agricultural runoff leaches into the Rideau system. Swimming at Dow's Lake? Yuk!

[rocketphish]

Cannonballs at Dow's Lake: Return of swimming marked at new recreational dock
"We really are a water capital, and it's just so exciting to bring that here."

By Matteo Cimellaro, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jun 12, 2025 | Last updated 2 hours ago



<snip>

The Ottawa Riverkeeper is responsible for testing water quality in Dow’s Lake for the NCC, and for the entirety of this year it has passed with “flying colours,” she said.

In Ontario and Québec, levels of E. coli, a bacteria of concern that can cause infection and gastrointensional illnesses, must be under 200 per 100 millilitres of water to be considered safe for swimming, whereas in Europe the standard is 900.

“This is excellent, excellent water quality,” Reinsborough said. “And even after a significant rain event, when we’d expect in an urban area that conditions would deteriorate, Dow’s Lake is showing excellent water quality.”

The Ottawa Riverkeeper will continue to monitor Dow’s Lake water quality, five days a week.

<snip>


https://ottawacitizen.com/news/dows-lake-swimming-recreational-dock

[harls]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I am very pro wild swimming, but I am not gonna be the first one in there.

You got mad at me a while back for refusing to swim at the Aylmer beach.

Chicken.

(bock bock)

[zzptichka]

Good to see NCC moving fast on implementing their ideas. I won't be surprised if they allow booze in their parks before the City has a list of approved parks for their "pilot".

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by harls

You got mad at me a while back for refusing to swim at the Aylmer beach.

Chicken.

(bock bock)

I'm not refusing, just not rushing!

I do wish there was a human-washer at Dow's Lake though.

[zzptichka]

[J.OT13]

Claridge Icon looks great at night from afar. Can almost see the original vision.