Roots of Recovery: Integrating Soil Science and Bioengineering for Salmon Recovery

Salt Springs Brook, the longest tributary of the Hammond River and a key refuge for endangered Outer Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon, has suffered severe erosion and sedimentation from long‑term agricultural impacts and the 2018 New Brunswick flood, leading to sharp declines in juvenile salmon and redd counts. Since 2024, the Hammond River Angling Association has implemented a phased restoration approach, including riparian planting and successful rock‑based bank stabilization, earning landowner approval to advance to green bioengineering. The proposed 2026 project will restore bank stability and habitat function using nature‑based techniques, with all materials, designs, and permits in place, while also reducing sediment and nutrient loading to the Hammond and Wolastoq–Saint John river systems.