Conserving aquatic habitat through targeted bank restoration along the Lower Nashwaak River

The Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc. (NWAI) is undertaking a comprehensive riverbank restoration and erosion mitigation project along the Nashwaak River to enhance Atlantic salmon habitat, improve water quality, and promote ecological resilience.
This project includes two primary objectives:
1. Conduct planting and bioengineered bank resloping work on a local landholder’s property in Nashwaak Village. This effort focuses on stabilizing the riverbank, enhancing habitat, and reducing erosion impacts with a specific emphasis on supporting Atlantic salmon habitat. After identifying significant erosion issues on this site, NWAI redirected grant funding to address these urgent conservation needs. The project targets two eroding sections of the riverbank, covering approximately 300 meters in length and 2–3 meters in height, using bioengineering techniques and native plantings. In October 2024, NWAI engaged HILCON to complete a detailed engineering plan to guide the re-sloping, erosion control measures, and re-vegetation efforts to ensure long-term stability and ecological health.
2. Implement erosion mitigation measures along additional sections of the Nashwaak River where significant erosion risks have been identified. This includes both privately owned and municipally owned areas. The primary aim is to restore and enhance habitat essential for wild Atlantic salmon by developing site-specific recommendations and conducting plantings. This work is informed by a 2016 geomorphic assessment that identified the lower Nashwaak as a major sediment source impacting water quality. Stabilizing these banks will reduce sedimentation, support native species, and contribute to the ecological resilience of the Wolastoq watershed. The project benefits from the landholders’ commitment to sustainable practices, including seasonal adjustments to support wildlife habitat.