Eastern Kings fly-tier featured in national sport magazine Clifford MacDonald from CJ's Flies in Rollo Bay was pleasantly surprised when he received the 2003 Outdoor Canada Fishing magazine this week. The special issue included 10 great escapes with 72 hot spots for fishing and fun for the whole family. Listed in the hot spots are Fortune River, Souris River, Morell River and North Lake for rainbow and lake trout, salmon and even tuna, cod and mackerel. Along with the local fishing spots Mr MacDonald's fly tying business is listed with Vernon d'Eon Lobster Plugs in'Souris, MacNeill's Tuna and Deep-Sea Fishing from North Lake and fishing guide Cameron Ross from Souris West, who is in the process of becoming PEl's only certified guide. "I met (the author) Paul Marriner while we were fishing on the Morell River in the fall," Mr Ross said. "He said he was working on the article for Outdoor Canada and I told him I was planning on becoming a guide. He called a couple of months ago and confirmed the information I'd given him and said it would be included in the article. It's certanly a good plug for fishing in Eastern Kings." Mr MacDonald said the magazine article is not only good advertisement for the area, it's great to have the national exposure. "Anglers from all across the country will read that magazine, so it's pretty nice to be listed in it," he said.

A SPECIAL ISSUE of the 2003 Outdoor Canada Fishing magazine lists 10 destinations in Canada that offer great fishing along with activities that would appeal to the non-angling family members. Anne's Land, PEl is listed as a destination of choice, with Fortune River, Souris River, Morell River and North Lake as 'hot spots' for trout, salmon and tuna. Clifford MacDonald's business CJ's Flies in Rollo Bay is also included in the short article, as well as a few other local business establishments. Photo by Beverley Roach

MOTHER NATURE TOOK A big bite out of the highway at Big Pond on the North Side Road. In the early
morning hours of Tuesday, the water rose 30-40 feet to the top of the highway causing the stainless
steel culvert to become plugged with ice and debris. Ken Hoy of Transportation and Public Works said
it was too early to thoroughly assess the damage. He said the highway east of Souris Line Road would
be closed to traffic until later in the spring when conditions were more favorable to do repairs. Photo by
Beverley Roach of the Eastern Graphic published April 2, 2003.

Some drinking water showing high concentration of nitrates Levels are 15 times higher in potato areas than woodland. A trio of Island scientists has issued a warning that Island drinking water may be contaminated with nitrates and homeowners should adopt testing methods to protect their wells. "People with private wells, living in areas producing potatoes, should have their drinking water tested," says Dr . Kevin Teather, chair of the biology department at the University of Prince Edward Island. "It is at high risk of nitrate contamination." Teather isn't the only one espousing action. The alarm bell is also being sounded by Daryl Guignion, president of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation, and Todd Dupuis, regional director for P .E.I. for the Atlantic Salmon Federation. In a report entitled 'Nitrates in the Water: Do You Know What You're Drinking?', the trio contend nitrate contamination in P .E.I. rivers and groundwater is an issue that needs immediate attention. "Recent water testing reveals that nitrate levels in some Island waters are many times above normal levels and sampling shows a strong relationship between land use and water nitrate levels," said Guignion.

Dr. Kevin Teather, left, chair of the UPEI Biology Department, Todd Dupuis, regional director for P.E.I. for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and Daryl Guignion, president of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation, say Island water shouldn't be taken for granted, especially in potato-growing areas where high levels of nitrates may be contaminating well water.

The report says the Wilmot River, largely surrounded by potato fields in area of New Annan, has nitrate levels 15 times higher than levels found in rivers running through heavily forested areas like North Lake Creek or Cross River.

P .E.I. nitrates stem primarily from heavy fertilization of potato fields, according to the report, and researchers agree that Island farmers have been growing potatoes in an unsustainable manner for at least 20 years.

Legislators are being advised to adopt better land use practices to reduce the amount of nitrates that, after beingdumped on the soil, run off into the rivers.

Ironically, the same request was included in the 1997 Round Table Report on Resource Land Use which recommended financial incentives tives be provided by government to entice farmers to reduce the size of fields and install hedgerows to "hinder the flow of nutrients and silt in surface runoff'. Quite common in the 1970's, hedgerows were drastically reduced because farmers wanted the convenience of larger fields and some disliked the appearance.

"Nitrate contamination of groundwater was recognized as a global problem a decade ago and current efforts by governments and the potato industry to curb the problems are inadequate," said Teather.

Since all of P.E.I.'s drinking water (except bottled water) comes from groundwater, the report says all Islanders are susceptible to contamination.

Nitrates are known to produce a variety of tumours in organs and central nervous systems in laboratory animals. While blue-baby syndrome is the most well known human health problem associated with consuming nitrates in drinking water, studies have also linked high nitrate levels to non-Hodgkins lymphoma, colorectal, stomach, and prostate cancers, spontaneous abortion, Type 1 diabetes and even bladder cancer.

"Beyond the huge human health consideration, nitrates in water also affect fish and rivers," said Todd Dupuis of the Salmon Federation.

"When exposed to nitrate levels currently considered safe for drinking water, young amphibians and fish exhibit a number of problems including death." Dupuis said high nitrates taint rivers and estuaries creating oxygen-depleted, putrid smelling and discoloured water or dead zones.

The report says water on P.E.I. is both old and new and while old water is pure, "new" water, often contaminated with nitrates, works down through layers of rock. For that reason, nitrate levels may continue to increase for several years after remedial actions have begun.

from an article written by Steve Sharratt of the Charlottetown Guardian, published April 12, 2003.

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