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Issue #21 February 2010 Souris River Watershed Committee Co-ordinator: Fred Cheverie Funding Partner: Souris & Area Branch of The PEI Wildlife Federation Souris River Recreational Fishery Meeting
Fred Cheverie, local watershed coordinator gave a presentation on the work that the Souris Branch has done on Souris River over the past few years. He also led the group with some with some possible options that the directors of the Souris Branch put forward for discussion. A Summary of the regulation changes proposed by Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation. - Delay the opening of the angling season on Souris River until May 15th, with the exception of Harmony Pond which would open on April 15th. - Extend the season on Souris River by one month (closing October 15th). - Catch and release on Souris River after September 15th using single barbless hook, artificial fly or lure. - Souris River will be restricted to use of single barbed hook from May 15th to October 15th, with the exception of Harmony Pond. - The brook trout nursery east of the Souris Line Road will have a conservation closure for the duration of the angling season. Following this section of the meeting the anglers wanted to bring forward their concerns that they observe as major problems facing the recreational fishing community in Eastern PEI. Major issues: Cormorants: Eastern PEI is plagued with an overpopulation of Double Crested Cormorants. Fred indicted that the Souris Area Branch has received nuisance permits to remove cormorants in fresh water and this has worked well. It was unanimously agreed that they would like to get these permits earlier in the spring. Action: Beavers: Many Eastern PEI streams are dying because of beaver impoundments. Fred indicted that he and his crew are doing their best to deal with beavers but there are so many in various rivers, it is difficult to manage them. A new program was attempted this winter with Souris Area Branch locating dams and providing maps with locations of active beaver communities to trappers. Financial support from Atlantic Salmon Federation, Wildlife Conservation Fund, Souris Wildlife Branch and Dept of Fisheries and Oceans were utilized in determining beaver locations and removal. Action: Seals: Seals are appearing in salt water estuaries and up into fresh water areas. Action: Clam digging: - Forced water harvesting created serious sediment problems in Colville Bay in 2009. This caused serious sedimentation in both directions with tides which affected recreational anglers. The group unanimously opposed this method of harvest. Fred Cheverie indicated that letters were sent from the Souris Branch to PEI Dept. of Fisheries and DFO. His understanding was that they were researching the problem. Action: Since this meeting the executive of the Souris Wildlife Branch has met with staff at Fish & Wildlife Division. A plan is been presently developed to hopefully implement these regulation changes and to address the concerns put forward by the recreational fishers. Souris Wildlife Branch Presents Awards
At the Elementary School level, the winners were as follows: 1st – Jayne Robertson, 2nd – Kaitlyn Cole, 3rd – D.D. McSween. At the High School level the following people took home prizes: 1st – Mari Humphrey, 2nd – Carolyn MacDonald, 3rd – Jane Hanlon. The University students who had winning photos were: 1st – Laura O'Connor, 2nd – Jocelyn Bridges, 3rd – Michelle Veskasey. In the adult category the winners were: 1st – Melissa MacInnis, 2nd – Carolyn Gallant, 3rd – Joanne Dunphy.
In the category for best Wildlife Video, the winners were: 1st – Siobahn Drummond, 2nd – Melissa MacInnis, 3rd – Paul Chisholm. Don Cheverie from Sydney , Nova Scotia garnered the grand prize donated by MacPhee's Home Building Center. All winners were chosen by a panel of judges with expertise in photography and wildlife.
Basin Head Watershed Planning
This committee has met several times including a “day meeting” which featured a fabulous meal prepared the ladies of Eastern Kings. Fred Cheverie and Garry Gregory are presently developing a “Draft Plan” with guidance and input from the Basin Head Steering Committee. This draft watershed plan will be brought to the stakeholders of Eastern Kings at a public meeting at Eastern Kings Recreational Center in March 2010 for community approval with the date to be announced later. Salmon Redds/ Fall Assessment Our four pristine rivers, North Lake, Priest Pond, Cross River and Naufrage were walked late last fall for general assessment purposes and also a count of Atlantic Salmon redds were done. Naufrage was walked from tidal to Larkin's Dam. Beaver Activity was present without a total blockage. These beavers were removed by local trappers. A total of 32 salmon redds were observed by Calvin MacIntyre and myself. General assessments were done on the West Branch and east of Larkins from Wendall MacKinnon's to the New Road. Once again beaver activity was present and some of them were removed. No redds were observed in this area. Priest Pond was assessed by Dr. Daryl Guignon and Luke Robichaud from tidal to west of the Bull Creek Rd. where beaver activity was observed. A number of redds were observed and a number of beavers were removed between the Bull Creek Rd and Dixon's dam by area trappers. North Lake was walked from the Salmon Hole to the East Baltic Rd. by Dr. Daryl Guignon, Luke Robichaud and Steve Cheverie. Approximately 213 salmon redds were observed which is the highest we ever recorded. We seem to have the beaver population under control on the main branch. A section west of Dixon's Dam to Fountain Head needs attention. Cross River was assessed by Calvin MacIntyre and Fred Cheverie. Everything was working fine until we got west of Emery Gillan's where we encountered beavers. These have since been removed by trappers. Approximately 72 Salmon redds were observed. Much work needs to be done on this river with brush matting in 2010. Many other rivers were walked and assessed and a work plan for 2010 will be developed. Project WEB's Souris & Area Branch has recently been informed that a funding application for Project WEB's (Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices) has been approved. This will be a joint project led by Agriculture and Agri – Food Canada, PEI Dept. of Environment, Energy and Forestry, PEI Dept. of Agriculture, University Of PEI, N.S. Agricultural College and Souris & Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation. This project will do research to determine the implications of nitrate leaching from fall and spring ploughing. Once again the Souris & Area Branch is receiving tremendous cooperation from area producers. President's Comments
I would personally like to thank all the sponsors that donated items for door prizes, raffles, auction items, etc. I would also thank all the people that attended. We can now boast that we have a membership of 180. Your support is vital, as we pursue to keep Eastern Kings waterways and landscape as pristine as possible. I would recommend that everyone visit our website Wildlife Dinner 2009 and click on our 29th Annual Wildlife Dinner and view the many pictures taken by our webmaster.. Steve Cheverie Chairperson's Comments
Great improvements have taken place within the Souris River watershed and we are a fortunate group to have the leadership provided by the Souris & Area Wildlife Branch. This is my fifth year as chair (done my time) of this committee and I will be stepping down and looking forward to see more of the benefits of the Souris River Watershed Plan being implemented. Paul Deveau Coordinators Comments
Each time I walk North Lake or Naufrage Rivers I take note of the structures that she and her staff established under the guidance of Larry Avery. They are still standing strong and have produced fantastic fishing pools on the downstream side. One of my favourites is entitled “Susan's Run”. In Priest Pond and Cross River, I can find numerous native trees in the form of red oak, cedar, white pine, American elm, etc that was planted by her and her staff, that are now standing 10 ft. tall and creating diversity within our forests. In places I can find trails that she once developed that make our lives easier for access purposes. If it wasn't for her perseverance in keeping the main branches of North Lake, Priest Pond, Cross River and Naufrage Rivers open for fish passage, we probably wouldn't have a vibrant run of Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout that we have today. Susan had a passion for the environment and did her very best to create the best possible habitat for wildlife in Eastern Kings. She truly was an “environmentalist” and she will be missed. Fred Cheverie  Copyright Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation All pictures appearing on this site or its associated flickr account are the property of the photographers and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation. |
The 29th Annual Wildlife Dinner was once again a tremendous success. Our directors and many volunteers worked countless hours to ensure that we provided a "top notch event". The roast buffalo prepared by Chef Pedro Pereira received raving reviews from the audience. The baked Atlantic Salmon prepared by Rita Carter and her staff also received many compliments.
Within the next month a meeting will be held for the stakeholders of Souris River at which time they will be updated on the achievements of the goals set out in the Souris River Watershed Plan. At this time everyone will have an opportunity to rerun or volunteer to be a director of the Souris River Watershed Management Committee.
It is with a saddened heart that I write this column, as I have just received the news of the passing of Susan Saville. Susan was a predecessor of mine who did a tremendous amount of work as a stream enhancement leader for Souris & Area Wildlife Branch in Eastern Kings County.