Bennery Brook

From upstream thalwegs to airport runoff impacts, SWEPS is restoring habitat, stabilizing banks, and building a long-term vision for Bennery Brook.

About the Stream:

Bennery Brook flows through the Shubenacadie Watershed near Enfield, transitioning from uplands into lowlands and crossing near Oldham and Old Post Roads. It’s an important coldwater stream system with documented habitat for Atlantic salmon, brook trout, and American eel. Historical assessments and restoration plans dating back to 2011 have identified erosion, shallow pools, and barriers to fish passage as key concerns.
SWEPS has been working at Bennery Brook since 2012, with ongoing efforts focused on digger log installation, rock deflectors, bank stabilization, and water quality monitoring. The site is also influenced by runoff from Halifax Stanfield International Airport, adding complexity to water quality dynamics and restoration goals.

Site Information

  • Watercourse: Bennery Brook
  • Watershed: Shubenacadie Watershed
  • Location: Between Oldham Road and Old Post Road, near Hwy 102
  • Nearest Community: Enfield, NS
  • Road Access Point: Oldham Road, Hwy 102
  • Map Reference: NS Topo Series 1:50 000 – 11D13
  • Coordinates (UTM Zone 20T):
    • Downstream Limit: 457736E, 4974778N
    • Upstream Limit: 457741E, 4975075N

Project Design and Results

  • Total stream length restored: 112 meters
  • Total area improved: 1,500 m²
  • Bank stabilized: 91 meters (armour stone, logs, hand and machine work)
  • In-stream structures:
    • 2012–2018: 7 digger logs with deflectors installed and maintained
    • 2021–2023: Additional digger logs, rock deflectors, and thalweg development at 3 sites
    • Dominant substrate: Fines, gravel, cobble
    • Design widths: 8–14 meters
  • Fish passage work: 5 culverts assessed (3 with significant outflow drops)
  • Additional Work Completed:
    • Pool deepening
    • Silt and debris removal
    • Erosion control using logs and rock piles
    • Creation of rock ledges for future digger logs
    • Ongoing macroinvertebrate and water quality monitoring (YSI, turbidity meter, CABIN protocol)

Most Recent Bennery Brook News

  • Adopt a Stream 2024 Report

    Over summer 2024, SWEPS completed in-stream restoration on Bennery and Black Brooks, including five new digger logs, bank stabilization, and debris removal. Following major 2023 flooding, restoration crews also assessed fish passage impacts at Laurie and Annand Brooks. The season improved over 800m of stream habitat and 750m² of riparian zone, with support from volunteers,…

  • 2024 Bennery Brook Stream Restoration Report

    Bennery Brook 2024 Stream Restoration This summer, SWEPS restored 208 meters of Bennery Brook through digger log installation, thalweg development, and debris removal to improve fish habitat and flow. Despite setbacks from storm washouts and highway runoff, the team observed a return of trout, Kingfishers, and other species—an encouraging sign of ecological recovery in this…

  • 2018 Adopt a Stream Report

    SWEPS has released its 2018 Adopt-A-Stream report, highlighting restoration work in the Shubenacadie Watershed. The report outlines project sites, funding sources, and progress on improving aquatic habitats.

See more Bennery Brook posts

Future Work and Next Steps

  • Complete work at Site 3, delayed due to 2023 flooding
  • Continue annual maintenance on all digger logs
  • Pursue willow staking to support riparian bank stabilization
  • Engage Stanfield Airport Authority regarding stormwater impacts
  • Install a permanent water level station and flowmeter
  • Complete and implement a 3–5 year restoration plan
  • Support further study of the Bennery Brook Wetland (in partnership with McCallum Environmental)

Bennery Brook Photos

[sweps_recent_photos category=bennery-brook]

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