Humber Arm Environmental Association (ACAP Humber Arm)

In 2017-18, with funding from the Foundation for Conservation of Atlantic Salmon, ACAP Humber Arm developed a management plan for the South Brook watershed in Pasadena, NL. As part of this management plan, a summary of research and works previously completed in the watershed was documented, with specific focus on issues impacting Atlantic salmon populations and available habitat. Through this document a list of recommendations was developed to guide future efforts towards the conservation of Atlantic salmon and its habitat within this watershed. Recommendations were put forward pertaining to obstructions restricting access of migrating fish species, remediation and prevention of erosion susceptible areas within the watercourse to protect fish habitat and loss of vegetative cover, and identification of data gaps within this watershed. ACAP Humber Arm completed work within this watershed to address some areas originally identified for their susceptibility to erosion. Through this new proposed project ACAP Humber Arm will address recommendations within the 2017 Management Plan related to streambank erosion, water quality, and assessing salmon populations.

Streambank Erosion: Through this project ACAP Humber Arm will survey the extent of South Brook to assess the current state of erosion and streambank erosion susceptibility within the watercourse. This will be accomplished using methods previously implemented by ACAP Humber Arm in 2017, thus allowing a comparison of changes in erosion susceptibility throughout the watercourse. Through these surveys, ACAP Humber Arm will identify high priority sites for erosion prevention and remediation. Such restoration will result in a reduction in siltation, minimize potential for further erosion, and provide a vegetative canopy throughout the watercourse. These measures will lead to habitat improvements, decrease siltation downstream of identified areas, and provide areas of temperature refuge by increasing shading along the streambanks.

Water Quality: Eight parameters will be monitored at six sites throughout South Brook monthly throughout the course of this project. The parameters for monitoring include water temperature, dissolved oxygen (%), dissolved oxygen (mg/l), conductivity, specific conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids, and pH using an in-situ water quality meter. Additionally, six water temperature stations will be established to collect continuous water temperature data using water temperature loggers. At each water temperature station stream stage and flow will be documented during the spring, summer and autumn.

Assessing Salmon Populations: Salmon redd surveys provide data on the amount and distribution of salmon gravel nests within a watershed, therefore allowing for current salmon populations within the watershed, and spawning habitat usage. Through this project, Atlantic salmon redd surveys will be conducted throughout the length of South Brook in the autumn of 2025. These surveys will be conducted with Qalipu First Nations Natural Resources Division, who have extensive knowledge and experience completing these surveys throughout western Newfoundland. These surveys will begin at the mouth of South Brook and continue upstream until the end, or 1 kilometer past the last observed nest. The beginning and end of each spawning bed will be recorded and the total number of nests within each spawning bed counted during these surveys. If salmon are seen spawning during each survey, the total number of individuals present will also be recorded.  Surveys will include geo-referenced photos and/or video.