The Nashwaak Watershed Association has developed this three-year watershed action plan (WAP) , which focuses on the Nashwaak River watershed, located in central New Brunswick. The plan identifies and prioritizes projects and actions for the Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc. (NWAI) and watershed stakeholders to take in addressing watershed problems and opportunities. The goal of this WAP is to restore and maintain the health of the water bodies within the watershed. It aims to address the chemical, biological, and physical health of the river and its tributaries, as well as community outreach, education, and involvement.
The four main goals of this action plan are:
1. Maintenance of the Nashwaak watershed a healthy, functional, and connected aquatic ecosystem;
2. Increased capacity of the NWAI to monitor, protect, and restore the health of the watershed;
3. Restoration of degraded riparian zones and salmon habitat; and
4. Increased awareness amongst residents of all ages of the importance of a healthy Nashwaak watershed.
In developing this action plan, the NWAI took into account:
- A watershed approach that considered the actions and interactions of water, plants, animals, and humans in the watershed;
- A geomorphic survey of the lower 70 km of the Nashwaak River conducted in 2016 and a 2005 soil erosion survey that outlined the major geomorphic processes happening on the main stem of the river and pinpointed areas of concern that overlapped with good salmon habitat;
- Our “State of the Nashwaak Watershed” Technical Report, which included monitoring data collected since 1995, reports written since 1995, GIS data, and information gathered from government databases and other sources;
- Public stakeholder engagement; and
- Staff time and financial constraints.
WATERSHED PROBLEMS: Based on past and current studies, major problems in the Nashwaak Watershed include:
Most of the river downstream from Stanley is in a transitional state and is widening, which has led to:
- Actively eroding river banks;
- High sediment loads that are infilling good salmon pools; and
- Degraded water quality, especially in the Penniac Stream.
- Removal of mature riparian vegetation downstream from Taymouth, which has led to:
- Unstable stream banks;
- Warmer temperatures;
- Loss of land; and
- Loss of capacity of the river to properly control flood waters
- Urbanization of the lower 10 km of the watershed, which has led to:
- Degraded water quality, especially below Marysville;
- An increase in impervious ground cover; and
- More stream crossings (culverts and bridges).
The strategy for protecting and restoring the Nashwaak Watershed involves protecting the remaining high quality habitat first and then restoring the remaining areas using a prioritized approach. To begin focusing monitoring and restoration efforts, high priority areas were defined and include:
- Areas of high quality habitat that will require protection to minimize further degradation
- The headwaters area above Stanley;
- Coldwater tributaries feeding the mainstem of the Nashwaak; and
- Deep holding pools and cold water sources between Nashwaak Bridge and Taymouth
- Areas that are contributing, or could contribute, high sediment loads to the river and would provide high restoration benefit
- The mouth of the Tay River;
- The Penniac Stream;
- Topsoil mining operations in Durham Bridge;
- The bank next to the trout ponds in Nashwaak Bridge; and
- The floodplain between Taymouth and Penniac
- Areas that are known contributors of to degraded water quality to downstream habitat
- Penniac Stream; and
- Urban areas downstream from Marysville
ACTION PLAN FOR THE NASHWAAK WATERSHED
Actions are separated into short term, medium term, and longer term groupings in four main categories:
1. Monitoring;
2. Partnerships and outreach;
3. Restoration projects; and
4. Awareness and education.
Actions from different categories may be implemented concurrently and information will be fed between, and within, the four main categories. The NWAI aims to update this WAP, along with the associated Technical Report, on at least an annual basis.
1. FILLING INFORMATION GAPS: THE NWAI WILL WORK TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF OUR ORGANIZATION TO MONITOR THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER AND USE THAT INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY AND GUIDE RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WILL PROVIDE THE MOST BENEFITS TO WATER AND HABITAT QUALITY.
HIGH PRIORITY/ SHORT TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2018)
- Restart water quality monitoring throughout the watershed
- Use this data to assess the long-term success of our restoration projects
- Monitor temperature in the Nashwaak River and its tributaries
- Investigate and characterize cold water sources of important salmon pools
- Monitor temperature of the main stem and tributaries
- Map cold-water refugia
- Asses the watershed for aquatic connectivity
- Assess 100 culverts in the lower watershed by 2018
- Continue assisting DFO with salmon return counts annually
MEDIUM TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2019)
- Assess the fish community of the river
- Investigate opportunities to protect and maintain cold water resources
LONGER TERM ACTIONS (2018 – 2020)
- Develop a plan to monitor invasive species and look at the feasibility of carrying out a removal program
- Monitor selected wetlands using the WESP-AC protocol
- Consult partners and develop programs to monitor terrestrial species-at-risk, such as the wood turtle, and/or protect their critical habitat
- Identify sources of point and non-point contamination of the river, based on water quality analyses, and design a remediation plan to reduce pollution sources
2. PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH: THE NWAI WILL WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES PERTAINING TO THE PROTECTION OF THE RIVER AND THE RESTORATION OF RIPARIAN HABITAT
HIGH PRIORITY/ SHORT TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2018)
- Develop a formalized lease agreement with the City of Fredericton to become the stewards of any city-owned land in the Greenway
- Continue fostering a relationship with St Mary’s First Nation and develop a relationship with the Maliseet Conservation Council
- Develop and conduct a private landowner outreach program aimed at:
- Improving riparian buffer zones,
- Identifying opportunities to stabilize banks, and
- Tie this into our restoration demonstration site on city-owned land.
- Participate in the Provincial Water Strategy
MEDIUM TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2019)
- Develop and conduct an outreach program aimed at topsoil mining operators to:
- Investigate legislation and ensure it is adhered to,
- Improve buffer zones, and
- Improve best management practices.
- Maintain and expand relationships with universities, NGOs, corporations, government, other watershed groups, and other institutions to:
- Exchange ideas,
- Improve the capacity of NWAI, and
- Source summer students and interns.
- Work with municipalities and local service districts to increase the resiliency of the Nashwaak watershed ecosystem to moderate the effects of climate change.
- Work with municipalities and private landowners to develop strategies to protect water quality in the river
LONGER TERM ACTIONS (2018 – 2020)
- Develop relationships with rural communities in the watershed to:
- Promote land management and stewardship, and
- Increase our volunteer base.
- Develop the capacity to work with other stakeholders such as the forestry or mining sector
- Work with partners to explore the option of becoming a land trust or obtaining land from private landowners \
3. BANK STABILIZATION, REFORESTATION, AND RESTORATION PROJECTS: THE NWAI WILL WORK TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF DEGRADED AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN HABITAT IN OUR WATERSHED TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER AND TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOURS AMONGST RESIDENTS
HIGH PRIORITY/ SHORT TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2018)
- Stabilize an eroding bank on city-owned land (Greenway) to use as a demonstration site and for outreach, with a focus on bioengineered solutions.
- Continue to restore riparian vegetation at Marysville Flats and Neil’s Flats, following the Management Plan for each area
- Identify opportunities to restore riparian vegetation and/or stabilize banks on private and public land
- Focus efforts around Taymouth and between Durham Bridge and Penniac
- Prioritize areas that will be most beneficial to salmon habitat
- Stabilize and reforest eroding banks near cold water tributaries in Stanley
- McPherson Brook and/or the unnamed tributary behind the arena
- Develop a stock of at least 1,000 seedlings annually in the Tree Nursery, following the 2015 Nursery Management Plan
MEDIUM TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2019)
- Investigate the feasibility of stabilizing the eroding bank near the Trout Ponds in Nashwaak Bridge
- Investigate the feasibility of stabilizing the area near the mouth of the Tay River
- Investigate the issue of runoff from logging roads in the upper watershed
- Remediate the top barrier culverts to restore migratory fish passage to upstream habitat
LONGER TERM ACTIONS (2018 – 2020)
- Stabilize banks and restore riparian vegetation on privately owned land with the goal of restoring five properties by 2020
4. AWARENESS AND EDUCATION: THE NWAI WILL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATION WATERSHED CITIZENS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NASHWAAK WATERSHED, THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IT PROVIDES, AND THE PROTECTION OF WATER AND HABITAT QUALITY.
HIGH PRIORITY/ SHORT TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2018)
- Continue to promote “the Nashwaak Greenway” as a brand
- Strengthen education partnerships within the watershed community
- Further develop the “Upstream/Downstream” program to include grade four students
- Produce new and innovative educational materials
- Engage all four schools in the watershed
- Work towards educating the population in general about the value of the ecosystem services provided by the river, the floodplains, the forests, and the wetlands
- Share monitoring data and scientific reports in a public-friendly format on our website and social media
- Develop new community event ideas to broaden NWAI’s membership and volunteer base
- Partner with other NGOs to hold joint community events
- Implement components of the NWAI Communication Plan such as volunteer “calls to action”
MEDIUM TERM ACTIONS (2017 – 2019)
- Develop interpretive signage for installation along the Nashwaak Greenway
- Conduct a “backyard floodplain forest” or “rain garden” campaign to encourage private landowners to plant native species along their shoreline
- Use social media to promote benefits and overcome barriers
- Promote the value of cold-water resources to the public
- Develop an annual “watershed report card” to be shared with the public
- Develop an advocacy plan around the issue of soil mining
LONGER TERM ACTIONS (2018 – 2020)
- Encourage the public to report environmental violations
- Explore awareness opportunities through new media, such as phone apps
- Develop more opportunities to engage volunteers in citizen science programs that deepen our collective understanding of the watershed
- Use water quality issues as a catalyst to get rural and urban communities to improve land management
- Empower watershed citizens to help influence sustainable practices and policies
DESIRED OUTCOMES
HEALTHIER WATERCOURSES, FLOODPLAINS, AND RIPARIAN AREAS
By developing and implementing the objectives necessary for monitoring and maintaining water quality, temperature, and connectivity, combined with the restoration of the highest priority eroded banks and barrier culverts, our goal of protecting and maintaining the Nashwaak watershed as a healthy ecosystem will be achieved.
INCREASE IN CAPACITY OF THE NWAI TO MONITOR, PROTECT, AND RESTORE THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER
By developing relationships and sharing information with other watershed groups, NGOs, First Nations, universities, corporations, and other institutions, our goal of increasing our capacity to monitor, protect, and restore the health of the Nashwaak River will be achieved.
RESTORATION OF DEGRADED RIPARIAN ZONES AND ATLANTIC SALMON HABITAT
By developing and implementing our objectives for monitoring water quality and aquatic connectivity, combined with private landowner outreach, and by identifying and restoring highest priority eroded banks and barrier culverts, we will build the local framework necessary for implementing the identified restoration and management projects. Therefore, our goal of restoring degraded riparian zones and salmon habitat will be achieved.
INCREASE IN AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY NASHWAAK WATERSHED
By developing and implementing new educational and awareness programs, by sharing our reports online in a public-friendly format, and by working towards educating the public about the ecosystem services provided by the watershed, our goal of increasing environmental awareness amongst watershed residents will be achieved.
