Antigonish Rivers Aquatic Restoration & Monitoring

The goal of this project is to address the absence of high-quality spawning and juvenile rearing habitat found in James River, Antigonish county. Restoration sites have been selected as part of a watershed restoration plan completed in 2021 in partnership with the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA). Two well-established restoration methods have been selected to remediate the main issue found in James River; the addition of clean spawning gravel to the channel as the majority of the substrate has been scoured down to bedrock, and the installation of instream structures (digger logs and deflectors). A spawning gravel pilot project was carried out in 2022 and was found to improve spawning habitat (photos available upon request). Additionally, the ARA plans to carry out year two of monitoring in Pinevale Brook, the restoration project that took place and was funded in contribution by the ASCF in 2022.

Project Contact:

Nick MacInnis

macinnis.nicholas@gmail.com