Environmental Issues in Our Watershed
Many problems can be observed in the watershed, often these are
man made and can have a serious impact on the environment. The most
important issues the watershed faces are:
 Many industries require the use of water to be
functional. It may be used for cleaning, cooling
or as an additive. This water may be taken from a
stream, the ground or directly from the bay. This
used water can have adverse effects on the environment
by increasing its temperature, increased bacteria
levels and even increased sedimentation in the bay.
These changes to the environment can have an adverse
effect on living organisms throughout the ecosystem.
What are we doing about it? Discharge of industrial
water has been a subject we’ve been addressing since
we are located in an area where fish plants are quite
abundant. We are continuously working to form
partnerships with industries and educate on the proper
disposal of wastewater and ways to keep our water clean.
SBWA’s communication strategy includes public outreach program
with major stakeholders such as fish plants to incorporate their
input in remediation planning.
 Agriculture has played a big role in this region’s economy and
heritage. Poor agricultural practices, however, have subsequently
been linked to very negative impacts to the environment. Improper
manure spreading and storage have been shown responsible for some
increases in bacteria in streams and rivers. The improper use of
fertilizers and pesticides are occasionally responsible for
polluting runoff water and other water sources. When these enter a
watercourse, they contribute to nutrient overload and possibly to
deposition of heavy metals that may enter the food chain through fish
and benthic invertebrates. Cattle having direct access to
watercourses may also increase bacteria levels in watercourses,
create erosion problems in buffer areas and possibly damage
streambeds.
What are we doing about it? Agriculture is a topic in which the
SBWA has showed great interest. Installing cattle fencing to
prevent animals from directly accessing the streams and rivers has
proven quite effective against bacteria contamination in
watercourses. Associated with this management tool, we often
find the establishment of alternate drinking sources, either by
wells, pumps, etc. Tree seedlings are also planted to help retain
the banks that surround the watercourses. Promoting best management practices
(BMP) and trying to help farmers make informed decisions is a
priority for the Association.
Forestry is an integral part of the region’s economy and history.
Improper cutting of buffer zones and use of machinery in and around
streams have been responsible for the destruction of fish and other
aquatic habitat throughout the watershed. Increased siltation can be
observed where poor practices have been employed. Silt can cause
adverse effects on habitat by covering fish spawning grounds,
cloaking their gills and visually impairing them. Fish habitats
have also known to be destroyed by the direct use of heavy machinery
in streambeds.
What are we doing about it? Promoting best management
practices is a tool that we have used to teach companies practices
that might not be as detrimental to our environment. The protection
of buffer zones is crucial to maintaining water quality and must be
enforced. Again, SBWA’s public outreach program allows individuals
or companies in the forestry sector to attend meetings to discuss
remediation planning. Stream restoration projects involving the use
of digger logs and deflectors have proven to be quite effective in
restoring some rivers. By these means, we are able to flush out
fine sediments that have accumulated and choke the stream. The
digger logs and deflectors naturally disintegrate with time. Many stream surveys
have also been done to determine the health of certain tributaries.
Benthic invertebrate sampling is also becoming a useful tool that the
association has utilized for determining the health of a river
system. Macroinvertebrates are quite sensitive to their environment
and their presence gives a good indication of certain living
conditions.
Some of the houses and cottages within the watershed may not be
equipped with proper septic systems since these were built prior
to the enforced regulations. In these cases, sewerage may be
draining directly into the bay causing elevated bacteria counts and
related problems. In the Shediac area, there are 3 provincially
regulated primary sewage treatment facilities. Problems arise when
this type of waste is discharged into an aquatic environment. In
these cases, it may be toxic to human health as well. This type of
waste can cause high bacterial levels in drinking water as well as
water used for bathing and other household purposes.
What are we doing about it? Public and private sewerage treatment
has been addressed in the past. Funding through
Environment Canada and the Environmental Trust Fund have permitted us
to hire an additional employee to carry out related field work and
associated computer analysis related to septic systems improvement.
This program has help gather information, allowed site visits to
identify faulty septic systems, identifyed the location of
residences with regards to the Coastal Policy zones, offered
subsidies to some residences in need and finally an education
and recognition program. A partnership between the Shediac
Sewerage Commission and the SBWA exists and will prove helpful
when setting up objectives to address the problems associated to
sewerage. The NB Department of Health and Wellness is also an
active partner and donates their time and expertise to the project.
The natural beauty and warm waters of Parlee Beach attract thousands
of visitors each summer. This can potentially affect the quality of
water in the area.
What are we doing about it? A technical committee was formed to
share information between the different agencies involved in water
quality within our watershed. This includes members of SBWA,
Department of fisheries and oceans Canada, NB Department of
Environment and local government, Parlee Beach, NB Health and
Wellness and Environment Canada. These partnerships allow the
SBWA to better understand the environmental conditions that exist
in the Parlee Beach area since the park is responsible for its own
water testing. Staying in contact with these agencies allows us to
help in the process of better managing this precious resource.
The desire to live along the coastline has caused a shortage in
available waterfront lots. To compensate for this problem, people
are finding new areas and methods to build their homes. In some
cases, the infilling of marshes and estuaries has become a problem.
These marshes have a vital role in the protection against storm
surges, erosion, providing a habitat for fish, waterfowl and other
birds. They also participate in cleaning water that eventually
makes its way back to our drinking water supplies.
What are we doing about it? We have worked on the Community
Wetlands Atlas. This project results from a need for a
comprehensive digitally represented GIS (Geographic Information System) database for wetlands
within our watershed. Many individuals, groups and agencies have
identified the need for the Community Wetlands Atlas. The atlas
will help assess and monitor the status, loss and changes in coastal
wetlands through time. We will therefore be able to develop
habitat management strategies, set goals for biodiversity and
endangered species recovery plans, target limited resources for
conservation and restoration programs, support NB Environmental
policies and wetland conservation programs, and finally identify
information gaps. Also, we are keeping a close eye on an anticipated
coastal wetlands policy that would better protect some provincially
designated wetlands. This would be an important tool in the
protection against the destruction of this important and vital
resource.
Many local contractors rely on raw materials that have to be taken
out from quarries. One of these quarries is present at the
headwaters of the Shediac River. These open quarries can cause an
impact to the environment by increasing the levels of heavy metals
found in water. These heavy metals can enter the food chain via
fish and benthic invertebrates and can cause impacts throughout the
ecosystem.
What are we doing about it? Water testing is a crucial tool
in obtaining reliable information on the quality of water in certain
areas. Further implementation of sampling sites could also help
determine exactly and to what extent the impact these quarries
are having on the neighboring streams and rivers.
It is not uncommon to come across abandoned vehicles in secluded
regions. These vehicles are sometimes stored indefinitely for
parts. They can be unsightly, dangerous to the public and
potentially dangerous to ground and surface water. The danger
with abandoned vehicles is that they often carry petroleum products
that may leak and seep into the ground or surface water and
eventually contaminate it. Once contaminated, it is not suitable
for consumption by animals or humans.
What are we doing about it? Public education plays an
important role in preventing pollution from abandoned vehicles.
Spreading the message on environmental concerns and on the possible
hazards related to incorrectly disposing waste material continues
to be included in the presentations and educational materials that
are developed. Partnerships are also being formed to work with
various agencies to find a solution in order to properly dispose
of such pollution.
Coastal flooding caused by storm surges is a great concern to
residents in the area. Many homes have fallen victim to the
destructive nature of the sea as a result of big waves, high
tides and the movement of ice. Coastal flooding and storm surges
have lead to millions of dollars in damages in this region alone
in the last couple of years. These storms occur naturally and
unfortunately cannot be controlled. The loss of coastal land due to
land development unfortunately often implies the loss of wetlands
acting as natural sponges that protect land from erosion and
flooding.
What are we doing about it? Working with other agencies
such as the Beaubassin Planning Commission, the Greater Shediac
Sewerage Commission and by using GIS and GPS software, we will
be better able to suggest areas that may be more vulnerable to
coastal flooding and storm surges. These areas could therefore
be avoided when land developing and construction is being planned.
The Community Wetlands Atlas, a detailed description of the wetlands
within our watershed, will help us determine such lowlands that
are vulnerable to flooding. The community wetlands project also
has a communication strategy that includes a partnership between
scientists and researchers. It will highlight the vital importance
of wetlands.
The Shediac Bay is home to approximately 400 boats that dock at
either the Shediac or the Pointe du Chêne Marina wharves. The bay
also attracts many boaters from outside the region. The main problem
with boating is the possible disturbance of resting and feeding
wildlife. Boats may also damage wildlife habitat or disperse
young waterfowl. Vegetation may be removed by the actions of
propellers, possibly accelerating shoreline erosion. As a result,
we often observe increased sedimentation in water. Fossil fuels
such as gas and oil from boats often seep into the water through
leaks or unintentional acts, leading to its pollution. Litter from
boats can accumulate and affect bird and fish habitat. Wastewater
has also been occasionally discharged directly from boats into the
bay.
What are we doing about it? We have conducted interviews
with boaters to determine concerns regarding the health of Shediac
Bay. We will try to get a better idea of the equipment on board
such as holding tanks. We are also continuously working on ways to educate
and inform boaters on the proper disposal methods of wastewater
and the importance of being environmentally friendly.
For more information on activities relating to improving our watershed please see "Projects".
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