2016 Project Final Report

Applicant:

• Shubenacadie Watershed Environmental Protection Society (SWEPS)

PROJECT BRIEF:

Over the summer of 2016 the SWEPS stream restoration team was involved in the completion of several projects related to improving the overall health of the Shubenacadie watershed. In total over 200m of stream habitat were newly restored at Bennery Brook and Tillmann’s Brook in the Shubenacadie watershed, and upkeep was done on over 600m of brook from previous year’s projects at Black’s Brook and Tillmann’s Brook. Primary restoration activities included the bank stabilization, removal of debris jams, and the construction of in-stream structures.

Additionally, many community and outreach events were held. This included three work party/rock-toss days, two educational sessions with day camps and one at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. The majority of these events were well attended and considered to be very successful.

PART A: Project Description

• Watercourses: Bennery Brook, Tillmann’s Brook, Black’s Brook
• Watershed: Shubenacadie Watershed

Project description and objectives: 

• What habitat issues is this project is addressing?
  • Over-widened streams
  • Eroding banks
  • Debris blockages
  • Garbage accumulation

• Specific restoration work done this year i.e. techniques used, scale of structures, hand or machine work etc:
  • The installation of 2large in-stream digger logs with deflectors at Bennery. These were installed by hand using logs and rocks that were bought or donated by local companies. The logs were moved into position by hand, while the rock was moved to the sites using a Kubota, then positioned by hand
  • Repair and maintenance to 2 existing digger logs and deflectors at Bennery
  • Repair and maintenance on 3 existing structures at Tillmann’s
  • Thalweg development and pool deepening at Tillmann’s
  • Stabilization of stream bank in two areas of active erosion using rock at Tillmann’s
  • Removal of debris jams/blockages at Black’s Brook
  • Garbage pick up at Black’s Brook
  • Water quality testing at 5 sites along Tillmann’s Brook, and at 6 sites along Bennery Brook
  • Community outreach/communication

Bennery Brook Project Design and Results:

• Watercourse: Bennery Brook
• Watershed: Bennery Brook Watershed
• Location: Enfield, Halifax Regional Municipality – Transition from uplands into lowlands
• Nearest Community: Enfield, NS
• Road crossing (access point): Oldham Rd.
• Map # (NS Topo. series 1:50 000): see Fig 1, below
• Coordinates: Easting & Northing
• Start: 20 457736E, 4974778N (44.92519N, 063.53556W)
• Finish: 20 457741E 49 75075N (44.92783N, 063.53555W)

In-stream Structures

• Design width:16m
• Distance between structures:45m
• Number and Type of Structures: 2new sites, each including digger logs and a deflector. Repair on 2 existing structures.
• Total length (meters) of stream restored:180m
• Area in sq. meters:2880m²

Other habitat restoration measures taken:

• Water quality monitoring measurements of Bennery Brook were conducted throughout the summer using the Community Basted Environmental Monitoring Network (CBEMN) Wet-Pro kit which was provided to SWEPS by Saint Mary’s University, as SWEPS YSI had been experiencing technical difficulties throughout the summer.

Past Work & Future Plans:

• Has habitat work been done on this watercourse in previous years?  

Emma Garden conducted her thesis in Bennery Brook Watershed, where she aimed to assess the current stream condition in Bennery Brook, through analysis of various physical, chemical and biological components. This was completed in April 2011. Emma also conducted a Restoration Plan, prepared for Environmental Damages Fund in 2011. In 2012 four digger logs with deflectors were installed, two downstream of the structures built this summer, and two upstream from the newly installed structures.

• Is further additional work planned or anticipated?

A third large digger log with deflectors was prescribed for summer 2016, however due to time constraints it was not built. The two upstream digger logs built in 2012 need some repair and maintenance. Also, future work on Bennery should include thalweg development and deepening of pools, as well as erosion control/bank stabilization in multiple areas, and riparian zone planting.

Tillmann’s Brook Project Design and Results

• Watercourse: Tillmann’s Brook
• Watershed: Shubenacadie Watershed
• Location: The Pentecostal Church Campground area
• Nearest Community: Fall River
• Road crossing (access point): Close to 108 Sanctuary Court, off of Perrin Drive
• Map # (NS Topo series 1:50 000):
• Coordinates: Lat/Long
• Start: 44.826212, -63.584207
• Finish: 44.826212, -63.584207

In-stream Structures

• Design width: 9m
• Total length (meters) of stream restored: 360m
• Area in Sq. meters: 3200m²

Bank Stabilization and Thalweg development:

• Bank stabilization was done in areas around the structures, using the rocks taken from deepening the pooling areas, downstream of the structures.
• Rocks were also taken from the thalweg area to deepen the channel of the river and alleviate over-widening.

Habitat restoration measures taken:

Some of the structures that had been installed last summer were in need of some maintenance and repair. In particular, 1 deflector had to be reformed, while a couple others just needed a little more rock. In another area water was flowing through cracks in a deflector, that was also repaired. The damage had most like likely been done during high flow events when the dam was opened.

Past Work & Future Plans:

• Has habitat work been done on this watercourse in previous years?  

Extensive work was done in the summer of 2015, including the installation of 6 digger logs and 2 rock sills.

• Is further additional work planned or anticipated?

Work at Tillmann’s is now complete. However, the sites should be revisited periodically to check if structures need repair.

Black’s Brook Project Design and Results

• Watercourse: Blacks Brook (“A” Lake Stream)
• Watershed: Shubenacadie Watershed
• Location: South of Lockview High School
• Nearest Community: Fall River
• Road crossing (access point): Lockview High School parking lot, accessed via Lockview Drive.
• Map # (NS Topo series 1:50 000):
• Coordinates: Easting & Northing
• Start: 20T 451214.63, 4963343.25
• Finish: 20T 450716.31, 4963397.82

In-stream Structures

• Design width: 4m
• Total length (meters) of stream restored: 300m
• Area in Sq. meters: 1200m²

Habitat restoration measures taken:

The structures installed two summers ago all seemed to be in good condition, however there was a huge amount of garbage and several large debris jams. As well, many trees had been damaged and pushed down into the brook. The damage had most like likely been done over the course of the school year. The garbage was cleaned up from in and around the brook, several debris jams/blockages were removed, and all of the trees were also removed from the brook.

Past Work & Future Plans:

• Has habitat work been done on this watercourse in previous years?  

Extensive work was done in the summer of 2014, including the installation of digger logs and rock sill, and the 2015 SWEPS crew maintained and repaired these structures.

• Is further additional work planned or anticipated?

Although work at Black’s Brook is complete, due to it’s location beside Lockview High School, this site should be revisited every year to check on previously installed structures that may have been destroyed. An annual garbage pick-up is also recommended.

Overall Project Results

• Total Number and Type of Structures:
  • Digger logs – 2
  • Repair and maintenance multiple areas
  • Stream bank stabilization multiple areas
• Total length (meters) of stream restored: 280m
• Total Stream Area in Sq. meters: 3780m²
• Total length (meters) of stream maintained: 560m
• Total Stream Area in Sq. meters:3500m²

Past Work & Future Plans:

• Has habitat work been done on this watercourse in previous years?   How much?  Is further additional work planned or anticipated?

Habitat work has been done from 2012-2016 on different streams/brooks in the watershed area, and this year’s structures were the largest ever built in the watershed. In each of those years, a team of three individuals spent the entire summer working on habitat restoration.

Future work is planned for the summer of 2017. Additional work is needed at Bennery Brook, and there is new work to be done at Springfield lake stream and Upper Beaverbank River. Two culverts were assessed this summer, and work could be done at these sites to improve fish passage. As well, there are many culverts that need assessing in the watershed. Tillmann’s Brook and Black’s Brook will also need to be revisited to check on previous crews’ work. The complete SWEPS 2016 final report, held by Anna McCarron, contains more information on each site to help facilitate this future restoration work.

PART B: Project Delivery (Overall project, not by watercourse)

Volunteer Contribution

• Describe how volunteers contributed to your Adopt-A-Stream project and to your organization in general.

This summer SWEPS had tremendous support from a small group of volunteers contributing to the stream restoration project. Many volunteers came out to gain experience, get outside and to meet new people, as well as to give back to the community. SWEPS is a non-profit, community based organization, which understands the value, dedication and time involved in volunteering as a group. Working in such a large and difficult site with only three crewmembers, volunteers played a key role in the installation of the structures, time management and completing project goals.

• Number of volunteers: 23
• Total volunteer hours: 130

• Approximate breakdown of roles:
  • Management / Supervision:
    • Angie Lynch, Project Coordinator – Oversaw project details/plans and supervised NSYCC crew (2).
    • SWEPS Executive (3) – Reviewed project details, plans and budget.

• Labour:
  • Sydnie Smith – NSYCC crew
  • Jenna Jones– NSYCC crew

• Other:

Paid Crew

• Number of workers: Two students from the NSYCC program and one project coordinator
• Weeks of work: Two students (9 weeks each) and project coordinator (12 weeks)
• Total weeks of work: 30 person weeks

Other Information

• List other project sponsors and contributions:
• Ledwidge Lumber – Donated 32 logs, and delivered logs along with the logs from Elmsdale Lumber
• Elmsdale Lumber – Donated 12 16-foot logs
• SWEPS members – volunteer time in participating in the project
• Tools used for project: Tom Mills and Sackville River Association 

• Please describe any other additional activities undertaken to support the project (education, promotion, population assessments etc.):

Halifax Recreation Children’s Camps

This year’s stream restoration team ran two sessions on stream restoration for the children’s summer camps through the Gordon R. Snow center. In total there were about 40 kids and 7 councillors that took part.

The first session was with the “Creepy Crawlies” day camp. Due to the summer closure of the McQuarrie bridge, this day camp was held at Holland Road Elementary School instead of at the Snow Centre. The crew first went to Tillmann’s and collected various invertebrates and divided them between two containers. The session began with introductions and the crew telling the children about SWEPS. The two NSYCC students led a discussion about streams and invertebrates, and told the children about the different invertebrates (as well as other animals) that can be found in Nova Scotia streams, using the invertebrates collected from Tillmann’s as examples. The crew brought recycled materials such as egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, and paper towel rolls, as well as other craft materials. The children were then encouraged to make their own invertebrates (“creepy crawlies”). The children seemed to enjoy the session, they asked a lot of questions and were very engaged in the activity. The councillors mentioned that they really appreciated the craft, since they did not have the supplies they normally would have access to at the Snow Centre. The councillors gave the crew a thank you card signed by all the children after the session.

The second session was held at the Snow Centre with the “Silly Science” day camp. The Enviroscape Watershed/Nonpoint Source Model was borrowed from the Clean Foundation. Again this session began with introductions and a discussion about streams and a very simple explanation of watersheds. Then the children had the opportunity to play with the watershed model to learn where rain and pollution ends up in a watershed. Then the children used vegetable oil, food colouring, dirt, and recycled paper and plastic of varying size to “pollute” water in plastic bins, then they used their hands, sieves and colanders to try to removed the “pollutants”. This exercise was fun for the children and also taught them about how difficult it is to remove pollution from water.

“Wild about Water” at Shubenacadie Wildlife Park

The Shubenacadie Wildlife Park held a “Wild about Water” weekend at the end of July at their Wetland Centre. The SWEPS river restoration crew set-up a table with two poster boards, one describing 2016 activities, and another more general poster about SWEPS. The Enviroscape Watershed/Nonpoint Source Model was set-up to help show children and their parents where rain and pollution ends up in a watershed. The model was a good way to engage the public, and start a conversation with park guests about SWEPS and river restoration. The SWEPS crew was at the park from 10 until 3, and approximately 80 people were engaged through this event.

To gain volunteer and community support for the project, flyers were displayed throughout the nearby community. The flyer was also circulated via email was to the SWEPS email list. The Ecology Action Centre also shared the event to their networks.