Newsletter 24

On Tuesday June 22nd, members of our staff took part in a national tour of the site of the WEB's Project that is currently taking place around the Souris River.
Group representatives who are taking part in similar projects across the country came to view the ongoing activities in Souris.
A group of approximately 25 people met in Charlottetown for presentations given by hydrologists, university professors, and federal government employees. The presentations were important in explaining the plans being implemented within the Souris WEB's site.

WEB's tour in Lily Pond Farms'
Field in Bear River

A group of approximately 25 people met in Charlottetown for presentations given by hydrologists, university professors, and federal government employees. The presentations were important in explaining the plans being implemented within the Souris WEB's site.

After lunch, the convoy headed from Charlottetown to the Souris River where the group viewed the locations of Project WEB's research. Aspects of the project include: ploughing schedules, riparian zones, and water quality measuring. The experts took their time to explain the measures being taken in Souris.

The Souris & Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federations (SABWF) has partnered with federal and provincial government departments in this $387,000 project.

Rollo Bay Holdings and Lily Pond Farms are the producers participating in this project.

WEB's projects are also taking place in Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. Souris is the first area on PEI to have the opportunity to take part in a project like this.

Education is a major component of the Souris & Area Branch of PEI Wildlife Federation's mandate. It is crucial to keep younger generations informed of the importance of clean and well maintained watersheds so they may take these values with them into their future endeavours.
This year the grade eight classes of SRHS participated in a three part educational series on watershed health and maintenance, with the goal of creating a cohesive learning experience for the students.
The series was kicked off on June 7th with an Oceans Day event at the Basin Head Museum, followed by in-class presentations on June 17th, and concluded with an educational field trip to the Gowan Brae portion of the Souris River.

School power-point presentations at S.R.H.S.

Staff member Tim Brothers gave presentations to the three grade eight classes. The presentations highlighted the work the SAB does and described the techniques used to maintain and enhance the local watersheds. The field trip which followed, enabled students to experience first-hand what they were presented in the classroom.

On Monday June 21st, students arrived at Gowan Brae dressed and ready to work. The morning consisted of a demonstration on the installation of brush mats, followed by a tour of the salt-water marsh that was completed in 2008. A tour and explanation of a natural spring that exists within the area was also viewed. In the afternoon portion of the field trip, students were able to view a number of digger logs that were installed last year in the Souris River.
The conclusion of the field trip gave the students the chance to get their hands dirty by planting native trees and shrubs in riparian zones. The students also had the opportunity to step into a pair of waders and install a brush mat themselves. The students were very enthusiastic; they grabbed shovels and headed down to the stream's edge toting trees for planting. Despite a few fly bites and an occasional splash in the water, the day turned out to be a great success.

Grade 8 students learning the
art of brush matting

It was very encouraging for our staff to see the students eagerly taking part in stream and riparian zone enhancement, procedures that although very basic in engineering, are so essential to watershed health.

On Wednesday June 30, Fred Cheverie and Paula Johnston from the Souris and Area Branch met with Robert MacDonald, Environmental Officer for Kings County Department of Transportation Infrastructure and Renewal. The purpose of this meeting was to address a series of highways issues within the Souris area watersheds. A number of problems including erosion, run-off, hanging culverts, bridge maintenance, silt traps were cited from Basin Head, East Lake, Priest Pond, Hay River, Naufrage, Fortune, Souris, and Black Pond watersheds.

Erosion caused by surface water
runoff from the adjacent road at
Johnston's Dam

A tour of all problem sites in each watershed was conducted, photographs were taken, and a complete report was written by the Souris and Area Branch of PEIWF.
This report has been submitted to the Department of Transportation Infrastructure and Renewal. This tour was organized in response to community concerns. It provided the opportunity to submit documentation of critical highways issues within the Souris & Area watersheds with the intention of hastening the department's correction of these problems.
Souris & Area Branch has great rapport with local supervisor Mike McCormack. With the proper documentation it is in our hopes that this district will receive additional priority from the proper authorities.

Silt traps located on the John Dan
Chaisson Rd. that are full and overflowing

As mentioned in the June 2010 newsletter the Souris and Area Branch of PEIWF is assisting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) with the Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP). This program monitors the health of the local estuaries by measuring water quality, vegetation, and aquatic species.
The Souris and Area Branch of PEIWF would like to offer the opportunity to interested community members who would like to know more about the health of their local estuaries. To volunteer at the next CAMP activity, we invite you to meet us at Robin's Donuts at 9:30 AM, on Monday August 2nd. No experience is required as the CAMP staff members are very helpful in demonstrating aquatic species identification and are always eager to answer any related questions. Carlos Game, from Toronto, Ontario volunteered with the July 5th CAMP.

Former schoolmate of Tim Brothers,
Carlos Game volunteered with the
CAMP activities on July 5th

The Souris and Area Branch of the PEIWF is one of four watershed groups on PEI that receives funding through the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation (ASCF). ASCF is a non-profit charitable organization which promotes conservation, restoration, and protection of Wild Atlantic Salmon and their habitats in the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec. Financial support from organizations, such as ASCF, is crucial to the continuation of maintenance and enhancement in the Souris and area watersheds.
This year the Souris and Area Branch of PEIWF received $24,200 through ASCF funding. Since the Souris management area contains five watersheds which have been identified as sites containing Wild Atlantic Salmon stocks, we received the highest amount of ASCF funding on PEI. The five watershed systems that are recognized for salmon migration are: North Lake, Priest Pond, Cross River, Naufrage, and Souris River.
On Thursday July 8, 2010, Rosalyn Smedley, Conservation Program Coordinator for ASCF, was given a tour of the five watersheds by Fred Cheverie and Waldron Leard. This tour provided Ms. Smedley the opportunity to see the work that has been completed in these five watersheds with the funding that has been provided by ASCF since 2009.
Some of the projects that have been accomplished with the aid of ASCF funding are brush matting, digger log installation, and beaver dam removal; all techniques that improve the habitat for Wild Atlantic Salmon. For more information on the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation visit their website at www.ascf-fcsa.ca.

Fred Cheverie and Rosalyn Smedley
touring the Souris River watershed.

Souris & Area staff preparing to introduce stocks of Atlantic Salmon in Souris River in 2009

The Souris and Area Branch of PEI WF were able to hire 12 staff for the 2010 season through funding from the following organizations: Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation, Skills PEI, PEI Watershed Management Fund, PEI Employment Development Agency, and Canada Summer Jobs.

Some of our staff are returning from last year: Fred Cheverie, Tim Brothers, Waldron Leard, Barry Wilson, Michael Jacklyn, Luke Robichaud, Robbie Outhouse, Allen McCormack and Calvin MacIntyre. We also have new additions to our crew that we are very excited about: Paula Johnston, A.J. McInnis, Cody Coffin, and Brian Deveau.

With the numbers of staff that we have obtained this year and the enthusiasm they have shown thus far, it is looking to be a very productive season for the Souris & Area Branch.

There continues to be great interest in annual photo contest. We would like to thank all those who have entered thus far and remind everyone there is no limit on the number of entries and would really like to see more video entries!

The judging panel has been finalized and they are anxiously awaiting additional gems to be entered. Their comments so far have been nothing but upbeat and enthusiastic!

The deadline for submission is midnight November 15. Please forward all entries to coordinator Waldron Leard at whleard@ekpei.ca. Rules and regulations may be found on our website at: www.souriswl.ca/contests.html .

In conjunction with the contest, the Souris & Area Branch will be hosting a Digital Photo Clinic on Saturday, September 11 at the Souris Ski Lodge. The Clinic is open to all ages, and will be conducted by Eastern Kings Meeting Place photographers Waldron and Susan Leard. These two experienced photographers will cover all aspects of photography, including camera operation (technical). Helpful hints to creating a prize winning photo will be revealed to give attendees a “head start” in regards to the photo contest. The sessions will commence at 9:30 in the morning and will conclude around 3:00 in the afternoon.

Sources have defined that anoxic waters are areas of sea waters or fresh waters that are depleted of dissolved oxygen. Oxygen depletion occurs when bacterial production of sulfide starts from rotting vegetation and other causes. There have been recent anoxic events reported in some PEI watersheds. Souris River had anoxic events around 2002. I personally investigated a severe event at Gowan Brae Causeway as reported to DFO by our infamous Souris River watch Tommy Joe MacDonald who has a vested interest in the system.

It's my belief that we are escaping these events due to the successful mitigation processes carried out by our watershed management crew with coordinator Fred Cheverie. Removal of numerous beaver dams resulting in increased fresh water flow, brush mat placement at the causeway channelizing outflow directly downstream, and in stream enhancement are contributing factors. Probably the most significant mitigating factor is the uptake by farmers within the watershed who have incorporated buffer zones, infield berms to minimize nitrate infiltration into the system. Nitrates promote sea lettuce growth which in turn rot producing the bacterial production of sulfide. This important work continues unabated by your local wildlife branch. Check us out at souriswl.ca.

This summer is looking to be another promising one. With many new faces hired on this summer and familiar ones from previous years, the chemistry is present for another great season. So far stream restoration and enhancement has been done in Souris River, Priest Pond, Cross River, Basin Head, Cow River, Rollo Bay Creek/Pond and Naufrage. Fortune River has recently seen some restoration work over the past few weeks and will become a priority for this summer. It is expected that we will visit North Lake, Hay River, and East Lake to accomplish the work needed to keep these systems maintained.

Beaver problems continue to be a major barrier that we have trouble overcoming. We have been patiently awaiting permits to remove abandoned beaver dams. We have developed a series of Beaver Management Plans for ten of our watersheds and it is hoped that when they are approved it will allow us to address beaver issues more quickly. Our staff has been working steadily with two crews carrying out in-stream enhancement and one crew spending their time cutting trails. The new trails will make for light work when the counting of salmon redds and general assessments become a part of our duties in the fall months.

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.
They may not be copied without permission of the photographer and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.