Rennies River Watershed management Survey & salmon spawning bed enhancement

In 2012 SAEN commenced a project to reintroduce salmon to the Rennies River, St. John’s. Hatch rates from in-stream scotty incubators have been good and young of the year have already been found. In order to make this reintroduction successful we need to ensure that returning adults have optimal spawning habitat. We have identified an area adjacent to the Avalon Mall with deep holding pools immediately downstream from a straight riffled area where we anticipate salmon would spawn. The current project would restore this area by installing 5 lowhead barriers. Each chamber will be filled with coarse spawning stone. We will also add topsoil and plant natural grasses and shrubs to stabilize the banks and stop sediment influx. Preparation of this site will ensure future generations of wild salmon.

Contact: Scott Nightingale, 709-722-9300 or 709-368-8125, Scottn@nl.rogers.com or   info@saen.org