The Nashwaak Watershed

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Campbell Creek Restoration

The Campbell Creek Restoration Project is a four-year project that started in 2019. The project is a partnership between NGOs, Wolastoqey communities and organizations, and the City of Fredericton. A major part of the restoration is the removal of the >100-year old Campbell Creek dam that was built to provide water to the Marysville Cotton Mill. The dam was undersized, a public safety liability, and has never provided fish passage.

By removing the dam and restoring access to Campbell Creek, anadromous species like Atlantic salmon will be provided with a net gain of quality spawning and rearing habitat. This will provide access to 33 km2 (over 22 km of stream length) of high-quality spawning and rearing habitat as well as a cold-water source.

Campbell Creek has now been removed – Jump to a video documenting the dam removal and restoration process.

Campbell Creek Dam, 2017

The NWAI has collected environmental, physical, and biological data at Campbell Creek since 2017. We have written a baseline conditions document that will allow us to compare pre- and post-removal conditions.

In 2020, the headpond was drawn down using gravity siphons and a notch was cut in the dam. Engineering plans were developed and the permitting process was initiated.

  • A notch was cut in the dam to prevent the headpond from filling up
  • The headpond in December 2020
  • The headpond began greening up quickly after it was drawndown
  • The headpond in October 2020

In September 2021 the Campbell Creek Dam was fully removed, and free flow to the stream was restored for the first time in 100 years. Multiple fish rescues were conducted throughout the removal process to mitigate fish mortality in the construction zone, and we were pleased to find numerous Atlantic salmon parr and American eel downstream of the dam. Requisite Watercourse and Wetland Alteration and Archeological Research permits were acquired prior to any construction work.

Due to the age of the dam and the location of the headpond along a potential paleo-shoreline that might have been utilized in the past by Wolastoqey, an archaeological survey of the site was necessary. Provincial archeologists completed 3-D photogrammetric scanning and dendrochronology of the oldest parts of the dam, which were comprised of timber. Test pitting and monitoring was carried out by Colbr Consulting prior to and during the construction process to document any evidence of historic land-use of the site.

Archeological technicians from Colbr Consulting conducting test pitting in the former headpond.

After being tested thoroughly for potential toxins and contaminants the concrete of the dam was laid to rest on-site, buried and covered in topsoil to be revegetated with grasses and trees. The newly-established stream channel was reconstructed to facilitate fish passage by roughening the stream bottom and creating a series of riffles and pools.

The newly constructed creek channel with buried dam concrete in the background. The concrete was covered in topsoil and geotextile erosion blankets, then seeded with grasses and planted with tree seedlings.

In addition, the planting of trees and shrubs to restore the former headpond to upland Acadian forest will provide approximately 6.5 acres of habitat to terrestrial species. The overarching goals of the headpond restoration were to facilitate restoration of riparian and upland forest community and structure, while allowing more vulnerable sites to revegetate naturally, as well as mitigating erosion of the streambanks and downstream sedimentation. 

The former headpond was planted with over 3000 native Acadian forest species including: red oak, eastern white pine, red spruce, yellow and white birch. Due to tricky site access, which did not allow vehicle entry into the headpond, all vegetation had to be carried into site by hand. Planting was carried out with the support of Community Forests Canada.

NWAI and Community Forests Canada staff coordinating the delivery of tree seedlings in August 2021.

In addition to tree planting, over 900 native riparian shrubs were staked and planted along the newly established river banks and the construction zone was seeded with the appropriate grass by hand to mitigate erosion and sedimentation.

Campbell Creek-post removal 2021 – looking upstream
Campbell Creek-post removal 2021 – looking downstream

Moving forward into 2022 and beyond, we will continue to plant additional riparian species along the streambanks, as needed. A heritage display commemorating the dam’s history, but most importantly aspects of the much longer history of traditional Indigenous use in the area will be installed in 2022. We will also continue to monitor biological, physical, chemical parameters to assess the impacts of this intervention through to 2024.  

Flow monitoring
eDNA for species-at-risk
CABIN Sampling
Post-removal monitoring will continue through to 2024, and will include water quality monitoring, eDNA, CABIN, and flow monitoring.

The removal of old dams is critical for restoring ecosystem health, fish habitat, and fostering climate change resiliency. A free-flowing Campbell Creek provides improved water quality, landscape connectivity, and regulation of the flow of water and sediment downstream.

Check out this video documenting the dam removal and restoration process:

The Campbell Creek Restoration Project is a partnership between the Nashwaak Watershed Association, the Maliseet Nation Conservation Council, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, St. Mary’s First Nation, the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick, and the City of Fredericton

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Recent News

We’re hiring!

February 1, 2023

To protect or retreat: Scores of homes at risk of erosion

January 30, 2023

Province Provides Only Partial Protection To River

July 20, 2022

Thinking about reducing your impact? Here’s some inspiration!

July 18, 2022

NWAI on Twitter

@ASDWLimelight @ASDWLimelight @MusicAsdw Check it out

- 48 days ago

Mr. Woodcock's talented gr 12 FHS music class joined us at Marysville Flats this week! We talked climate change and floodplain restoration. We're excited to hear what they create from their Nashwaak River trip. Kudos to the NB Dept of Ed for supporting this awesome experience! https://t.co/6nGyCy7XBP

- 49 days ago

Thanks for supporting this outdoor learning opportunity. Come visit anytime. It was a pleasure to spend time talking about water, climate change and floodplain restoration. @ASD_West @ASDWLimelight @FHSkats @CityFredGov @CityFredRec #eaunbwater #mynashwaak https://t.co/ALhfzSS123

- 51 days ago

Thanks @mla_mike for leading crown land conservation! https://t.co/ObSdrLvBcq

- 53 days ago

@Andrew__Holland @mla_mike @Gov_NB @NCC_CNC Excellent work!

- 53 days ago

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

6 hours ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
A big thank you to everyone who who whooo joined us and @atlanticducks for the first of our three Owls, Stars and Snowshoes events. It was beautiful evening to be in the winter forest with you folks ❄️🌲🦉#nighthike #owlcalling #community #hotchocolate #nashwaakwatershed ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

4 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Though still SOLD OUT, we wanted to make sure everyone knew that our event has been moved to Sunday the 5th due to the extremely cold forecast tomorrow. Same time, same place, same adventure. If you have tickets and this is news to you, please check your junk mail for any missed Eventbrite updates. Cheers ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

4 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Interested in learning more about how fellow watershed landowners are handling flooding? Check out a recent article on the owners of Durham Bridge RV Resort Ltd.and their experience along the river. To see this article which also features Sabine Dietz of CLIMAtlantic , check out the News section of our website, or follow the link here: www.nashwaakwatershed.ca/category/news-events/ Photo: Kari Davis, who owns Durham Bridge RV Resort, says she got a bit of a fright in her first winter on the property in 2018 when an ice jam on the Nashwaak River sent a surge of water over the banks. (Photo: John Chilibeck/Legislature Bureau)#MyNashwaak #eauNBwater ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Mail:
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
P.O. Box 314, Station “A”
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y2

Office:
181 Westmorland Street
Fredericton, NB
E3B 3L6
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Phone: 506 447-9699
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