Indigenous-Led Watershed Connectivity and Assessment

Qalipu Environment and Natural Resources (QENR) will undertake a comprehensive, multi-stage assessment and restoration initiative on Stag Hill Brook to improve salmon habitat, enhance freshwater connectivity, and support long-term watershed planning. Building on the 2024 Atlantic salmon redd survey—which identified seven obstructions inhibiting natural fish movement—QENR technicians will return to the brook to re-evaluate these sites and document any new barriers that have developed since the previous assessment. From this work, the team will determine which obstructions impede fish passage, develop a removal priority plan, and carry out mitigation work where feasible. Obstructions that cannot be safely removed will be fully documented and provided to provincial and federal agencies for future considerations and planning.

While conducting connectivity assessments, technicians will also evaluate riparian health, documenting areas where vegetation is sparse or missing due to anthropogenic disturbance. These observations will guide future restoration efforts aimed at improving shading, moderating water temperatures, and enhancing habitat conditions for spawning Atlantic salmon.

Water quality assessments will take place throughout the field season (May–November 2026). Using GPS-referenced sampling along the brook, technicians will collect dissolved oxygen, salinity, specific conductivity, acidity, and total dissolved solids data to build a multi-year dataset that supports watershed planning and collaboration with regional conservation organizations. These parameters, combined with measurements of depth and substrate, will contribute to a growing repository of habitat information for Western Newfoundland.

To further support watershed-level planning and restoration, QENR will utilize UAV technology—using a DJI Inspire 2 and RTK tower—to capture high-resolution aerial imagery of the brook and adjacent riparian zone. These products will be used to map watershed characteristics, refine future restoration plans, and create a standardized assessment process that can be applied to other systems critical to Atlantic salmon.

Community education and outreach will be woven throughout the project. Between May 2026 and March 2027, QENR will share project updates, success stories, and lessons learned with Qalipu First Nation membership, local schools, and the broader public through presentations, social media, and the QFN website. Parallel outreach will target environmental NGOs and federal and provincial partners to promote knowledge-sharing, support collaborative watershed planning, and highlight the importance of freshwater connectivity for Atlantic salmon survival. These efforts will also integrate Indigenous knowledge and community perspectives, strengthening collective stewardship of salmon habitat.

All project results will be compiled into a comprehensive final report for the Foundation. This report will describe connectivity issues within Stag Hill Brook, detail restoration actions undertaken, and present a repeatable methodology that can inform similar watershed initiatives across Western Newfoundland. Through this project, QENR will advance critical conservation priorities by improving habitat, strengthening watershed connectivity, supporting salmon population resilience, and fostering public awareness and community engagement in Atlantic salmon stewardship.