Further Assessment of the Rocky River Watershed

This project will be a continuation of work started in 2024 within the Rocky River watershed.  The ultimate goal is to collect information that will enable SAEN, in partnership with others, to develop and implement a watershed management plan for this river.  It is hoped that an effective management plan will curtail the documented declines in returns of anadromous salmon.

This project will examine areas of the large watershed area that could not be completed in 2024.  In addition, there may be opportunity if time and resources allow to collect similar information on the nearby Colinet River or North Harbour River watersheds.  One of the benefits of the 2024 work was the local interest in forming a new watershed stewardship group.  That group has interest in all three river systems, so the work that SAEN does will be of great assistance to their future plans.

Information will be collected on access, barriers to migration, habitat characteristics and potential issues like erosion/ pollution, and watershed temperature profiles throughout the system.   Genetic tissue samples that will be collected, and subsequently analyzed by DFO, will assist in achieving a better understanding of other potential limiting factors on productivity in the watershed.

The results of previous studies and the on-going work will also be shared in an on-going basis with the Watershed Stewardship Association.  The results of SAEN’s work will be an important part of their stewardship activities related to public education and their work will ultimately be an important part of developing and implementing a watershed management plan.