Watershed WisdomHEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR NOVA SCOTIANS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT

A watershed, also known as a catchment or drainage basin, is defined as the total land and waterarea that contributes flow to a particular body of water. Rainwater runoff, groundwater, con-nected streams, rivers and lakes are all components of a watershed, which flow downstream toeventually reach a common estuary or ocean.

Water can enter a watershed directly – for example, as surface runoff from rain or snow – orindirectly, such as when water seeps through the ground to enter the groundwater system. Overevery metre of its flow, the health of the watershed is affected by the quality of the water sourcesthat contribute to it. Forestry practices, agriculture, climate change, industry, development, do-mestic use and recreation all have an impact. The nature of a watershed means that once depos-ited, pollution will follow the flow of water downstream. If water quality is diminished, the entirewatershed and its inhabitants are affected.

Regardless of how close or far you live from a water body, everyone lives in a watershed, andthus has an impact on its health. The first step in preserving the health of your watershed is tounderstand what threatens its health and productivity. Although all of the threats outlined heremay not exist currently in your particular watershed, it is important to remember two things:

• Pollutants can travel many kilometres downstream from their source.• Future practices may introduce new threats of pollution – but knowledge, awareness and environmental responsibility could help reduce their potential impacts.

Healthy Watersheds

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René

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“As children of a culture born in a water-rich environment, we have never really learned howimportant water is to us. We understand it, but we do not respect it.”

William Ashworth, Nor Any Drop to Drink, 1982

Watershed Wisdom: Table of Contents

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Watershed Profile – The Mushamush

Pollution Particulars – Getting to the Source of the Problem

Threats to Our Watershed

Watershed Rarities – Species at Risk

Watershed Watch – Protecting Wildlife Habitats

Harvesting in the Watershed – Sustainable Forestry Practices

Watershed Buffers – The Importance of Special Management Zones

Watershed Worries – Climate Change

Responsible Recreation

Watershed Homes – Living With an Environmental Conscience

Natural Gardening – Diversity is the Key to Success

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The Mushamush Watershed drains an areaof approximately 350 km2, servicing com-munities such as Farmville, Walden,Sweetland, Lower Northfield, Blockhouse,Cornwall (Upper, Middle, and Lower),Clearland and Mahone Bay. All paths of flowwithin this watershed lead to theMushamush River, which in turn flows intothe Mahone Bay. Since the late 1800s, theMushamush River has been the site of nu-merous sawmills, gristmills and log driveoperations, and dams have been con-

Watershed Profile: The Mushamush

structed across its width to harness the water’s electrical power. As invaluable as this river’scontributions have been to the local economy, they have come at the high cost of extensiveenvironmental degradation.

Damming the river blocked access to vital spawning areas for native salmon and trout, while logdrives effectively choked the river by inputting high loads of debris and silt. This resulted in aconsequent decrease in spawning pools and an increase in water temperature. Collectively, theimpacts of past activities such as these have resulted in a substantial decline in fish populationsin the Mushamush River.

Since 1998, Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (BCAF) has been making efforts to recover thenatural beauty of the Mushamush River and regain the health of the Mushamush Watershed byrestoring a section of the river each year. The Mushamush River Restoration Project strives torestore aquatic habitat along the river and encourage the return of fish populations. In addition tomonitoring existing structures, BCAF, along with a crew from the Nova Scotia Youth ConservationCorps and community volunteers, works each summer to install new digger logs, deflec-tors and rocks sills where appropriate. Three decommissioned power dams havealso been removed to improve fish passage. Degraded fish cover andhabitat have been repaired further by bank stabilization efforts.

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Water Fact

The effects of past activity on the Mushamush River illus-trate the impact that human actions can have on wa-tershed health. Through continued effort and com-munity support, the once-degraded MushamushRiver will be returned to a healthier and morenatural state – to the benefit of the greaterMushamush Watershed and all of its in-habitants.

Just over 45% of Canada’s totalsurface area is highly sensitive to

acid rain. Much of this area is ineastern Canada where the

Canadian Shield has little abilityto neutralize acidic pollutants.

Deflector: A habitat improvement structuremade of a variety of materials (logs, rocks) thatis used to create fish and aquatic macro-inverte-brate habitat. These structures are built outwardinto the river channel from either one or bothbanks in order to direct water flow away fromthe banks and consequently prevent stream bankerosion. Deflectors are especially effective inwide, shallow, low gradient streams because theyalso provide desirable scouring and sorting ofchannel materials, pools and cover.

Terms at a Glance...

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Digger log: A river restoration structure thatconsists of hardwood logs (~ 6-9ft long, 8inches in diameter) secured to the streambedat a 30 degree angle to the bank. Boulders andcobble from the downstream side of the logare removed and placed upstream to create aramp, causing the water to cascade over thelog. These structures help to re-establish thenatural meander of the stream, create poolsand gravel beds for fish spawning, clean andoxygenate the water, and also provide qualityhabitat for aquatic insects.

Gristmill: A mill for grinding grain. Gristmillsused to be a common site along many rivers inLunenburg County.

Rock sill: Similar in purpose to a digger log butmade of non-acid bearing rock and used on alarger scale, usually on wider rivers. Rocks areplaced so that they form a ‘sill’ allowing thewater to cascade over causing a natural dig-ging action that forms a pool below and stirsup the gravel facilitating spawning bed forma-tion. Rock sills additionally help to restore natu-ral pools, increase oxygen levels and cool theriver temperature.

BCAF staff installing a digger log on Naas Brook, a small tribu-tary within the Mushamush River watershed, Lunenburg County.

Lunenburg County Gristmill Circa 1900.

Paul Harmon

Pollution Particulars

Pollution can enter a watershed by means of many different paths – via land, water and sky. Re-gardless of its vector of travel, the origin of a pollutant is sometimes easy to track, and at other timesdifficult to isolate. As such, pollution sources are often described as either point or non-point.

Point source pollution originates from a clearly identifiable site, such as an oil spill or wastewaterdischarge from a pulp and paper mill. Because this type of pollution is easier to source, it is alsoeasier to quantify and, in theory, to control.

Non-point source pollution, on the other hand, enters a watershed in a more indirect fashion –for example, when road salt enters a roadside stream with the snowmelt, or when air pollutiontravels from distant industrial sources and falls down on the watershed as acid rain. Due to itsdiffuse nature, non-point source pollution is much more difficult to measure and manage.

All pollution, however, whether point or non-point source, elicits negative impacts on a water-shed. Pollution destroys aquatic habitat, harms fish and other aquatic species, degrades surfaceand groundwater quality, and potentially creates human health risks for those who rely on thewatershed for recreational use, clean drinking water and food.

GETTING TO THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM

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Species at the top of food chains may exhibit concentrations of pollutants more than a million timesgreater than in the water itself. This could result in population declines that last for decades.

Bioaccumulation

THREATHARMFUL

COMPONENTS & USESENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES WATERSHED DAMAGE

• Air pollution & direct poll-ution discharge

• Various species ingestwater pollutants

• Pollutants remain in theorganism & accumulateover time

• Pollutants in prey arepassed on to predators

• Species at the top of thefood chain may exhibit aconcentration of thepollutant that is a milliontimes greater than in thewater itself

• Increased instances ofserious illnesses in speciesat the top of the foodchain

Marked increasein pollutants withinthe body of anorganism over itslife span

Heavy Metals • Highly toxic substancessuch as mercury & lead

• Become increasingly toxicin species at the top of thefood chain

• Potentially devastatingdamage to all affectedspecies

• Increased instances ofserious illnesses forhumans & wildlife

Watershed Threats: Water Pollution

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Industry Mining • Mine tailing: lead, nickel,arsenic, cadmium, etc.

• Acidic runoff from stripmines

• Further pollutants fromrefinery smelters

• Direct disposal intowaterways

• Pollutants flowing intowater-ways as runoff

• Increased instances ofserious illnesses forhumans & wildlife

• Bioaccumulation

Oil Spillage • Various sources: oiltankers, ship bilgecleaning, oil tank leaks,automobile oil, etc.

• Oil & its by-products aretoxic to plants & animals

• Large bird, fish & plant kills

• Population declines thatmay last for decades

Pulp & Paper • Chlorine used for paperbleaching

• Long living toxic by-products including furans

& dioxins

• Long living compoundsreleased as wastewaterinto waterways

• Contributes to both air &water pollution

• Fish & vegetation kills

• Long term threat ofcontamination

Bald EagleIndustry

Envi

ronm

ent C

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• Were used in electricaltransformers, various home& industrial uses

• Clean up & disposalremains a challenge

• No longer produced in NA

• PCBs remain active foryears making contamin-ation a long term problem

• Long term contamination

• Increased instances ofserious illnesses forhumans & wildlife

THREATHARMFUL

COMPONENTS & USESENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES WATERSHED DAMAGE

Watershed Threats: Water Pollution Continued

PCBs

Polychlorinatedbiphenyls

Forestry • Pesticide use

• Past use of DDT (bannedin Canada & the US since1970)

• Newer chemical pesti-cides, although shorter-lived than DDT, are stilltoxic to people & wildlife

• DDT causes deformities &infertility, especially visiblein birds at the top of thefood chain. Although itsuse has been discontin-ued many populationshave yet to recover

Radioactive Waste • Nuclear waste

• Thermal pollution

• Radioactive wasteremains dangerous forextended periods of time

• Exposure to the waste isharmful to people & wildlife

Thermal Pollution • Large quantities of waterused to cool machinery

• Machinery cooling causeswater to become heated

• Releasing heated waterinto waterbodies changesaquatic habitat

• Warm water holds lessoxygen than cool water, aharmful consequence foraquatic species

• Potential for invertebrates& fish to be killed

• Habitat damagethroughout watershed

Domestic Waste • Household hazardous waste

• Road, roof & lawn runoff

• Sewage, sewage treatmentby-products & fertilizers

• Our everyday domesticwaste reaches waterways– many of our actions areeasily preventable

• Health risks for people &wildlife

• Depleted dissolved oxygenin watersheds

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• Chemical fertilizers &pesticides

• Manure

• Erosion

• Agricultural pollutantswash into waterways,particularly duringprecipitation events &spring snow melts

• Creates a cycle; replacedsoil & fertilizers will againenter the water

• Risk of well contamination

• Oxygen depletion &siltation in waterways

• Potential suffocation ofaquatic species

Agriculture

Invasive Species

A species introd-uced into an eco-system where it didnot exist previously

• Accidental & intentionalintroductions

• Well-known Canadianexamples: purple loose-strife & zebra mussels

• Affects terrestrial &aquatic environments

• Potentially drasticpopulation increases ifnatural predators orcompetitors don’t exist

• Habitat & resource compet-ition with native species

• New pathogens, parasites& diseases can be introd-uced by invasive species

• Steep decline in nativespecies populations

• Decreased ecosystembiodiversity

THREATHARMFUL

COMPONENTS & USESENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES WATERSHED DAMAGE

Excess Nitrogen &Phosphorous

• Sewage

• Livestock manure

• Farm, garden & lawnfertilizers

• Causes rapid growth ofalgae, cyanobacteria &other floating plants

• Algal blooms reduce thelight & oxygen available tospecies, suffocating aquaticlife

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THREATHARMFUL

COMPONENTS & USESENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES WATERSHED DAMAGE

Interruption ofWater Flow

• Dams, mills & otherintrusions

• Forestry practices

• Changes water levelsaffecting the water cycle

• Dams alter water flow;the reservoirs slow watervelocities, alter watertemperatures & increasechance of predation

• Interruption of naturalfish migration & the flowof nutrients downstream

• Significant habitat changescause displacement ofnative species

• Risk of flooding

• Impeded fish passage

Agriculture • Introduction ofmonoculture crops

• Monopolizing nutrient richlowland or floodplains

• Reduces biodiversity &habitat for native species

• Unique habitat corridorsof diverse floodplains areoften destroyed

• Reducing plant diversitydecreases the biodiversityof animals & even micro-organisms

• Species displacement

Clear-cut LoggingAll trees from a givenarea are removed

Selective LoggingMarking of indiv-idual trees withinan area for cutting

• After clearcutting, nutrientsfrom the removed woodare lost, making the soilnutrient poor

• Selective cutting removesthe healthiest desirablespecies, affecting speciescomposition

• Vegetation acts as abuffer and absorbs largequantities of water; itsremoval decreaseswatershed protection

• Decreased wildlife diversity

• Clearcutting causes drasticdrops in the water table

• Reforestation effortsrequire years to take fulleffect

• Wildlife are confined tosmaller areas

• Logging roads infringe onundisturbed wildlife habitat

• Silt, soil deposits & run-offharm fish & aquatic life

• Log debris interrupts fishmigration

• Loss of buffer zone raiseswater temperatures whichare intolerable for someaquatic species

Recreation • Trampling natural areas

• Careless littering

• Removal of “souvenirs”

• Decreased diversity dueto construction of homes,paths, driveways, disturb-ing &/or removing floraand fauna

• Threat of forest fires

• Threat of forest fires

• Displacement of wildlifedue to habitat destruction

Domestic • Increased desire forwaterfront property

• Clearing of land to shore-line decreases micro-habitats

• No cover for wildlife & nobuffer for soil stabilization& shade

Many of our normal day-to-day activities including logging, farming, outdoor recreation and buildingcottages and waterfront homes can have significant impacts on local habitat and wildlife species.

Watershed Threats: Habitat Loss & Degradation

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THREATHARMFUL

COMPONENTS & USESENVIRONMENTALCONSEQUENCES WATERSHED DAMAGE

Air pollution • Coolant used in fridges &air conditioners (CFCs areno longer used in newmodels)

• Vehicle & industry emissions

• Ozone depletion: thinningof the ozone layer

• Decreased ozone levelshigh in the atmosphere

• Increased low level ozoneconcentrations

• Increased ultraviolet light

• Increased risk to health

• Increased smog

• Increased danger fromexposure to sun (i.e. skincancer)

• Climate change

Greenhouse Effect • Methane, nitrous oxides & CFCs

• Carbon dioxide, the green-house gas humans contrib-ute to most by burningfossil fuels

• Vegetation absorbs carbondioxide breaking it downto a useful form. Depletingnatural vegetation & in-creasing pollution magni-fies the Greenhouse Effect

• Climate change: weathervariability, regions ofdrought, melting polar ice,higher sea levels

• Global warming

Acid RainPrecipitation withhigher acidic levels(pH) than naturalrainwater

• Burning fossil fuels &melting metals

• Increased acidic precipi-tation due to chemicalreactions between airpollutants & water vapour

• Decline in aquatic &terrestrial plant & animalspecies sensitive to acidicconditions

Vegetation naturally absorbs carbon dioxide and converts it to oxygen through photosynthesis.Depleting natural vegetation and increasing pollution magnifies the Greenhouse Effect.

Watershed Threats: Climate

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Watershed RaritiesSPECIES AT RISK IN NOVA SCOTIA

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East

ern

ribbo

nsna

kes,

Tom

Her

man

The health of a watershed is vital for each and everyorganism that lives within it. For species at risk, how-ever, the difference between life and death is an evenfiner line. As well as large scale measures taken bycorporate citizens, many of our own individual, seem-ingly innocent day-to-day actions impact watershedhabitat in Nova Scotia. All of these factors could re-sult in dire consequences for some at-risk species –locally, regionally or even globally.

Many at-risk species living in Nova Scotian watershedscurrently have some sort of legislative protection, ei-ther provincially, nationally or both; however, as modi-fication and destruction of their habitat continues, ef-forts need to be made to ensure the balance doesnot tip in their disfavour. On the following pages, wefeature six vulnerable species living in our region.

How to ProtectSpecies at Risk• Familiarize yourself with species

at risk in your area. Learn whatthey look like and what types ofhabitat they require.

• Practice the watershed-friendlyactivities outlined in this booklet.

• Volunteer with a local environ-mental/conservation groupworking to protect species at risk.

• Contact authorities such as theNova Scotia Department ofNatural Resources or the Cana-dian Wildlife Service if you spotwhat you know or suspect to bean at-risk species.

• Help stop the introduction ofnon-native species.

• Admire at-risk species from adistance to ensure they aredisturbed as little as possible.

• Do not pick or trample at-riskflowers and plants.

• Learn to distinguish at-riskspecies from similar-looking,more common species.

• Teach others in your communityabout species at risk, their statusand their struggle to survive.

National status: EndangeredProvincial status: Endangered

Water Fact

Atlantic WhitefishCOREGONUS HUNTSMANI

Kelly Bentham

General information: Like salmon and trout,the Atlantic whitefish is a member of theSalmonidae family. Also known as theAcadian whitefish, the Sault whitefish, theround whitefish and the common whitefish,

the Atlantic whitefish is considered themost primitive form of all North

American whitefish.

Can be recognized by: its blue to green back,silvery sides and silvery to white belly, adiposefin, elongated body and deeply forked tail. Theaverage length of this fish is 38 cm inanadromous populations, 20-25 cm if land-locked. It has larger scales than the similar-look-ing Atlantic salmon or brook trout.

Watershed dislikes: Hydro-electric develop-ment, predation by non-native fish such as chainpickerel and smallmouth bass, acidification andfishing pressures.

Watershed likes: The Petite Rivière watershedand, historically, the Tusket River, both in NovaScotia – in fact, Nova Scotia hosts the only knownpopulation of Atlantic whitefish in the world.

The first account of the Atlantic whitefish wastaken from Millipsigate Lake in LunenburgCounty. The species was also known to exist inthe Tusket River at one time, but due to damconstruction and acidification it has sincethought to be extirpated from this part of theprovince. Today, the Atlantic whitefish is be-lieved to exist only in the Petite Rivière Water-shed in Nova Scotia. Though the species isanadromous, the remaining Petite Rivière popu-lation is believed to be landlocked and there-fore unable to travel to the sea. There is lim-ited information on spawning behaviour andearly life stages of this fish.

The Atlantic whitefish was declared endangeredin 1984 by the Committee on the Status of En-dangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). As aresult, this species is protected under the Mari-

time Fishery Regulations, the Federal Spe-cies at Risk Act and the Nova Scotia En-

dangered Species Act.

One fifth of the world’s freshwaterfish — 2,000 of 10,000 speciesidentified — are endangered, vulnerableor extinct. In N.A. (the continent moststudied), 67% of all mussels, 51% ofcrayfish, 40% of amphibians, 37% offish, and 75% of freshwater molluscsare rare, imperilled, or already gone.

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Terms at a GlanceAnadromous: a fish that spends most ofits life in the sea, but moves to fresh wa-ter to breed.

Acidification: change in the pH balanceof a water body to a more acid state; acidrain and fertilization/eutrophication arecommon causes.

National status: EndangeredProvincial status: Endangered

Roseate TernSTERNA DOUGALLII

Unfortunately, securing safe nesting sites is noteasy for this species. In addition to naturalthreats such as competition with and predationby gulls, normal island erosion, and predationby other wildlife such as owls and mink, theroseate tern has had to deal with anthropogenicdisturbances. Habitat has been lost due tocoastal development. Human disturbance atnesting sites has been suspected to be the causeof tern colony abandonment at some sites inMahone Bay and elsewhere. Toxic chemicals inthe environment have also had an effect onroseate tern reproduction, causing eggshell thin-ning, premature egg breakage and overall re-duced reproductive success.

Can be recognized by: its gull like features –terns are smaller than gulls, however. Roseateterns can be identified by their white or verypale grey plumage, forked white tail, black capand bill, and bright red-orange legs. Breedingadults may have a slight rosy tinge to their chestfeathers.

Watershed dislikes: Human disturbance atnesting sites and coastal development.

Watershed likes: Rocky Atlantic beaches forbreeding, mainly on offshore islands and islets,and especially in Nova Scotia and Quebec,though sometimes in New Brunswick, New-foundland and PEI.

General information: The Canadian popula-tion of the roseate tern represents approxi-mately 3-4% of the northeastern total of thespecies in North America. Approximately 120pairs of roseates breed in Canada each year,most of them within two colonies in NovaScotia: the Brothers Islands, located off Pubnico14

in Yarmouth County, and the Country Islandcomplex, located in Guysborough County.Mahone Bay, however, once hosted up to a thirdof the Canadian population of these rare birds.The colony abandoned their original nesting sitein the mid-1990s, and they have been attempt-ing to nest at several other sites within MahoneBay ever since.

The Roseate tern is protected under the Spe-cies at Risk Act (SARA), the Migratory Birds Con-vention Act and the Nova Scotia EndangeredSpecies Act. Conservation management of thespecies through the Roseate Tern RecoveryStrategy aims to increase the number of breed-ing pairs in Canada to at least 150 through themaintenance of secure nesting sites. In MahoneBay, Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (BCAF)is attempting to establish such a site on QuakerIsland. BCAF’s Roseate Tern Recovery Project in-tegrates habitat enhancement, social attractantsand predator deterrents along with publicawareness in an effort to reach this goal.

Ted

D’Eo

n

Human disturbance at nesting sites has been

suspected to be the cause of tern colony

abandonment at some sites in Mahone Bay.

National status: ThreatenedProvincial status: Threatened

Eastern RibbonsnakeTHAMNOPHIS SAURITUS

General information: The eastern ribbonsnake ex-ists in only two areas of Canada: southern Ontarioand Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotian population isestimated at only 1,000 to 3,000 individuals, andis limited to three watersheds in the southern por-tion of the province. Thought to be a relic frommilder post-glacial times, the eastern ribbonsnakerequires a very specialized habitat and thus is es-pecially vulnerable to environmental change.

Can be recognized by: its dark brown to black skinwith three yellow stripes running longitudinallydown its back, white chin and throat, and pale green,yellow or white belly. Adults are approximately 46to 86 cm long and resemble common garter snakes,but tend to be thinner with a longer tail.

Watershed dislikes: Habitat loss due to shorelinedevelopment.

Watershed likes: Edges of shallow ponds, streams,marshes, swamps or bogs that have thick vegeta-tion to provide protective cover, and the uplandareas adjacent for nesting.

The greatest threat to eastern ribbonsnakes in NovaScotia is shoreline development, such as the build-ing of lakeshore cottages. Domestic cats also wreckhavoc on the species, as do automobiles and col-lection by humans. The fact that little is knownabout the eastern ribbonsnake increases these risks.This species is currently protected under the Spe-cies at Risk Act (SARA). The Kejimkujik NationalPark population is also protected under the Na-tional Parks Act.

National status: EndangeredProvincial status: Not listed

McM

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Fed

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Atlantic SalmonINNER BAY OF FUNDYPOPULATION, SALMO SALAR

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Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon are protectedunder SARA, and within the boundaries of FundyNational Park, the species is protected underthe National Park Act. Destruction of fish habi-tat is prohibited under the Fisheries Act.

Threats to the species while in freshwater areproblematic, but the main cause for the declineof Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon is thoughtto be linked to high levels of marine mortality.Although it is known that smolts have been leav-ing their home rivers to enter the ocean, fewadults have been returning to breed. The com-plex process of identifying and resolving thesemarine threats is currently in progress. In themeantime, efforts are being made to preservethe remaining population. Fisheries and OceansCanada (DFO) is raising young salmon and re-leasing them into rivers to allow ‘wild exposure’thereby helping to conserve the genetic fitnessof the population while hopefully increasing thereturns of adult salmon. Efforts by communitygroups are also underway to restore degradedInner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon habitat intidal and freshwater areas, as well as to improvefish passage.

General information: Inner Bay of Fundy At-lantic salmon spend the first two years of theirlife in the freshwater body of their birth. Aftertwo years, they move to the marine areas ofthe Bay of Fundy and beyond, where they usu-ally spend one winter before returning to fresh-water to spawn.

Can be recognized by: its pointed head, fullset of teeth, and slightly forked caudal fin. Whenat sea, Atlantic salmon are characterized by asilvery belly and sides and a dark back in shadesof brown, blue or green; black pectoral andcaudal fins; and numerous black spots along

Watershed dislikes: Chemical pollution, excesssilt and other organic pollution, and tidal barri-ers that block the mouths of spawning riversand streams.

Watershed likes: When in freshwater, clean,cool rivers and streams with rapids, pools andgravelly bottoms. Pollution-free is a must!

“Water is life’s mater and matrix, motherand medium. There is no life without water.”

Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Hungarian biochemist andNobel Prize Winner for Medicine.

body. When spawning in freshwater, both sexesare a purple-bronze colour and are scatteredwith red spots.

General information: About 25% of piping plov-ers in Canada breed in the Atlantic provinces. Thespecies constructs its shallow nests on cobble and

Piping PloverCHARADRIUS MELODUS MELODUS

National status: EndangeredProvincial status: Endangered

Watershed likes: Exposed sandy or gravellybeaches, above the high water mark, usually onsand spits, ocean beaches or barrier beaches.

Watershed dislikes: Habitat loss due to humanuse and development, human disturbance at nest-ing sites, predation by those attracted to nestingareas by picnicking garbage, and flooding of nest-ing areas due to the effects of global warming.

Can be recognized by: its primarily sandy colour(which affords it some camouflage), highlighted bya black collar, black ‘headband,’ partially black tail,and bright orange legs. Piping plovers are smallshorebirds with stout bills that are orange with ablack tip in the summer and fully black in the winter.

Piping plovers are protected under SARA, and indi-viduals within national parks are protected by theNational Parks Act. Piping plovers in Quebec arecovered by the Act Respecting Threatened or Vul-nerable Species, and within New Brunswick, New-foundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia, the spe-cies is protected under provincial EndangeredSpecies Acts. Nationally, Piping plovers are alsoprotected by the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Despite continental efforts to recover the species,piping plover numbers are declining. At last count,only about 40 breeding pairs were present in NovaScotia, and just 17 beaches in the province havebeen deemed by the species as suitable nestinghabitat.

gravel in coastal areas where its speckled eggsblend in with their environment. The fact that hu-mans covet the same surroundings as the pipingplover often results in disturbance or destructionof the nest either directly, due to human presence,or indirectly, through the attraction of plover preda-tors such as raccoons, crows and gulls to the site.Feral dogs and cats will also prey on the eggs andyoung.

National status: ThreatenedProvincial status: Endangered

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Golden CrestLOPHIOLA AUREA

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Over 60 plants are considered Atlantic CoastalPlain Flora. Many of these are unique to NovaScotia, and 11 of them, including the goldencrest, are species at risk. At present, the goldencrest is known only to exist in six wetlands insouthwestern Nova Scotia, all of which are un-der some sort of threat. Golden crest are pro-tected nationally under SARA, and in NovaScotia, under the NS Endangered Species Act.The Ponhook Lake Nature Reserve offers safehaven to one population of this species.

General information: The golden crest is amember of an elite group, the Atlantic CoastalPlain Flora. Plants of this designation are foundon lake and river shores, bogs, fens and estuar-ies in conditions that most other plants wouldnot tolerate: low nutrients, high winds, constantwave action and fluctuating water levels. Be-cause they are so highly specialized to these

Can be recognized by: its hairy, whitish stalktopped with a cluster of many small, yellow flow-ers. The golden crest is a perennial herb thatstands about 50 cm tall, with green, grass-likeleaves that reach about half that length. At theirbase, the leaves are tinged red.

Watershed dislikes: Human alteration ofwetland and shoreline habitat and manipula-tion of wetland water levels; eutrophication.

Watershed likes: exposed, gently sloping shoreswithin only six Nova Scotian wetlands – it isfound nowhere else in the world.

conditions, and due to their small size and slow-growing nature, golden crests are overtakeneasily by more aggressive plants in areas thatare more fertile and/or less disturbed. This alsomakes them especially vulnerable to distur-bances that change local ecology such as shore-line construction and alteration, agriculture(such as cranberry production), permanentchanges in water levels due to draining or damconstruction, and trampling by all-terrain vehi-cles or foot traffic.

Terms at a GlanceEndangered: a species that faces imminentextinction or extirpation.

Eutrophication: chemical enrichment of anecosystem resulting in excessive nutrientlevels. Commonly, compounds containingnitrogen, phosphorus or both, such as fer-tilizers or fecal waste, are the culprit.

Extirpation: extinction from part of the spe-cies’ former range; i.e. absent from the wildin Canada, but present elsewhere.

Threatened: a species is likely to becomeendangered if current limiting factors arenot reversed.

For more information on wildlife designa-tions in Canada, visit www.cosewic.gc.ca.

Watershed Watch

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PROTECTING WILDLIFE HABITATHumans have a profound ability to modify their surroundings. We can build great structures,plant agricultural species in areas they otherwise would not grow, clear large tracts of land,change the paths of water bodies, and even create new ones. Often, we make these changesnaively or selfishly, not thinking of the profound effect they may have on species other thanourselves that use the land and water as well.

The Impacts of AgricultureAgricultural land use can contribute to watershed degradation in many ways. Clearing of naturalvegetation, tilling of the soil, and overgrazing of pastures can contribute to increased soil erosion.Draining or dyking of wetlands for farm use results in loss of wildlife habitat. Moreover, whenwetlands are removed, or when the land is left bare (such as during spring tilling), water runsthrough or over the soil more quickly, often overwhelming the capabilities of the receiving waterbodies and increasing the risk of flooding. Alteration of natural stream and river channels for thepurpose of draining fields more quickly also causes water to flow at a faster rate, making banksless stable and contributing to erosion and flooding. In addition, field irrigation consumes hugeamounts of water – in Nova Scotia, 85% of agricultural water use is for irrigational purposes.

The Impacts of Agriculture Continued...Agricultural inputs and outputs can also impair wa-ter quality if not managed correctly. Animal waste,fertilizers and agricultural chemicals such as pesti-cides can all pollute the watershed if these sub-stances find their way into the water supply. Al-lowing livestock access to lakes and streams canharm the watershed when animals trample andcompact soil and vegetation along the bank, di-rectly pollute the water source with waste and bac-teria, or break up or loosen the soil, making it moreprone to erosion.

Watershed-Friendly FarmlandThere are many strategies available to farmers tohelp make agricultural operations more watershed-friendly. Not every strategy will work on every farm,but by integrating some of the following techniquesinto your farm management plan, you can helpensure that the watershed stays clean, for the ben-efit of the watershed, as well as the farm itself.

>> Fence livestock away from rivers and lakes. Keep-ing livestock away from natural water sources re-duces erosion and pollution.

>> Avoid filling in wetlands for agricultural use. Theseare ecologically diverse and productive areas thatslow runoff and help control flooding. Wetland ar-eas also help recharge ground water supplies whiletrapping and filtering pollutants.

>> Leave or create a permanent buffer of native treesalong water bodies. Leaving a buffer strip alongshorelines and stream and river banks can reduceerosion, provide shade, keep water cool for fish,and provide wildlife habitat. For more informationon how to create a buffer zone, see page 27.

>> Practice rotational grazing. Rotating livestockthrough smaller paddocks of pasture rather thanallowing continuous grazing on a larger area giveseach paddock a rest period and preventsovergrazing.

Water Fact

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The Impacts of Urban DevelopmentMost urban development dramatically altersthe land from its natural state – native vegeta-tion is cleared, wetlands are filled, and soil isdug up, graded and paved over. All of thesechanges can have significant effects on the sur-rounding watershed.

Buildings, roads, sidewalks and parking lots areall impervious surfaces incapable of absorbingwater. Instead, rain, snowmelt and floodwatersflow directly over these surfaces, collecting pol-lutants such as car oil and fluids, lawn fertiliz-ers and dirt as they go, then flowing into stormsewers or directly into freshwater supplies.

By reducing the amount of permeable surfacesand wetlands that would normally filter waterand release it more slowly into rivers andstreams, runoff instead flows more quickly andforcefully, contributing to stream bank erosion,

channel widening or deepening, and in-creased flood risk. As a result, water quality

is diminished and wildlife habitat is lost.

>> Leave part of the farm as a natural woodlot.This will not only provide wildlife habitat, butwill also provide an area for recreation and afree source of firewood.

>> Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pes-ticides. Opt for more natural and less ecologi-cally harmful products where possible, and onlyuse as much as necessary.

>> Plant grass waterways on paths of erosion.Planting a shallow channel with thick grasseswill help carry water runoff away from plantedcrops while controlling erosion and the rate ofwater runoff.

>> Try to irrigate in the early morning and on calmdays. This will help minimize water loss fromevaporation.

>> Leave plant residue from the previous year’scrop on the fields. This will help to reduce soilerosion and restore some nutrients. Planting‘cover crops’ – such as clover or grasses – fol-lowing harvest in the fall can also reduce ero-sion in the winter and spring, and some crops,such as legumes, have the added benefit ofdrawing nitrogen into the soil. Crop rotationand fallow periods will also replenish soil nu-trients.

Canada has about 25% of theworld’s wetlands – the largestwetland area in the world. Canadaalso has more lake area than anyother country in the world.

Watershed-Friendly DevelopmentWhen developing on your own land, there aremeasures you can take to reduce the negativeimpacts on the watershed ecosystem. Beloware just a few suggestions on how to makebuilding on your property more watershed-friendly.

>> Leave native trees and plants on your lot, orplant more of them. Native plants and trees helpabsorb carbon dioxide and air pollutants andprovide habitat for wildlife.

>> Limit impermeable surfaces. Avoid paving largeareas such as driveways or parking areas, orconsider installing surfaces that are more po-rous and will allow water to seep through, suchas gravel or porous paver blocks.

>> Install mechanisms to control roof runoff. Moveor extend downspouts so that they flow ontovegetated areas that can absorb the water, orcollect rainwater in a rain barrel for use in thegarden.

Wildlife Habitat onYour PropertyThere are a variety of things that you cando to make your property more wildlife-friendly. Most preferable is to leave somenatural spaces when the property is beingdeveloped, but areas that have alreadybeen altered from their natural state canbe restored with a bit of ecological land-scaping.

• Protect wetlands.

• Create edges (places where one type ofvegetation meets another) and choosejagged edges over straight ones.

• Plant a variety of native vegetation, inclumps if possible, and ensure a diver-sity of vegetation types, ages and sizes.

• Retain downed trees as well as dead ordecaying trees that are still standing,unless it is unsafe to do so. Manydifferent wildlife species rely on thesetypes of vegetation for habitat. Downedtrees on shorelines or in shallow wateralso help to absorb some of the erosiveenergy of waves and currents.

• Build nest boxes for birds and bats. Asan added bonus, it will help reduce themosquito population on your property!

• Use leftover (untreated) wood or rockfrom landscaping projects to createrock, log or brush piles that will act aswildlife sanctuaries.

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• Reduce or avoid pesticide use – insectsare an important part of the foodchain!

>> Research non-native plants before planting to avoidcompetition with native vegetation. Non-native plantscan choke out native species.

>> Leave a buffer zone of trees and vegetation on theshoreline of your home and cottage. Prune themrather than remove them. (See page 26 for moreinformation on buffer zones).

>> Avoid building on floodplains. Floodplain devel-opment can be harmful to the ecosystem and maybe hard to insure!

>> Ensure septic tanks and drainfields are properlyinstalled in well-drained areas. See page 34 for moreinformation on septic systems.

>> Avoid leaving too much of the ground bare at one time.Leave ground covered with vegetation for as long aspossible rather than clearing large tracts of land at

once. If possible, cover bare ground with mulch orburlap at the end of the day during construction.Covering bare ground helps limit soil erosion.

>> Cover fill piles. Fill that is left uncovered will erodeaway and could pollute nearby water bodies anddestroy wildlife habitat. It could also make a messof your construction site!

>> Make sure construction equipment is well main-tained. Leaky equipment could contaminate the soil,leading to water pollution.

>> Avoid building permanent docks or wharves. Per-manent shoreline structures have a greater andlonger lasting environmental impact. Considerbuilding a seasonal or floating dock instead, or shar-ing a dock with a neighbour. Choose non-toxicbuilding supplies wherever possible to avoid pol-luting the water.

Harvesting in the Watershed

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SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICESThere are approximately 4.25 million hectares of forestedland in Nova Scotia. Thirty-one percent of it is publiclyowned and about 318,000 hectares of this lies within pro-vincial parks or protected areas. The remaining 69% is un-der private ownership – including Christmas tree farms,corporate-owned lands and private woodlots. With so muchof the forest being managed privately, it is important toensure it is also being managed sustainably.

Poorly managed forests can severely degrade the health ofthe watershed. Trucks and heavy machinery compact thesoil, disrupting its natural filtering ability and contributingto erosion. Road building, tree removal and other forestryactivities can also push sediment into water bodies anddegrade water quality and wildlife habitat. Harvesting tooclose to stream and river beds can destroy streamside veg-etation, raising the water temperature and affecting fishand other aquatic organisms. Clearcutting and other inten-sive forestry operations significantly transform the surround-

NS ForestryRegulationsAs of January 2002, new regu-lations in Nova Scotia exist toguide forestry operations.These regulations are manda-tory and aim to provide pro-tection for water quality, wild-life habitat and wildlifediversity on both crown andprivate land. Some highlightsinclude:

• Buffer areas of 20 metresmust be left on both sidesof any watercourse widerthan 50 centimetres.

For more information on theseregulations, consult the Wild-life Habitat and WatercourseProtection Regulations athttp://www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/regs/fowhwp.htm

• Coarse woody debris mustbe left scattered over theharvested area to providewildlife habitat. This in-cludes standing dead trees,large trunks, pieces of trunkand large branches.

• Legacy trees and clumpsmust be left on harvestedsites. These are living orpartially living trees thatare left to grow, decay andbe available to cavity usingspecies while ensuringplants and small animalsremain on the site.

ing ecosystem and contribute to increased erosion,bank and slope instability, and nutrient loss. Forestchemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers and fire re-tardants used to increase production in managedareas have the potential to pollute the soil, migrateto the water supply, and degrade wildlife habitat.

By integrating more sustainable forestry measures,or ‘best management practices.’ into timber har-vesting plans, landowners, foresters, loggers andothers can protect the health of the watershedduring all stages of the forestry process.

tive areas, and taking care to follow the naturalcontour of the land. Keep the grade of the road aslow as possible. Where possible, use or extend ex-isting roads rather than constructing new ones.

>> Avoid clearcutting and other high-intensity formsof forestry, especially on steep slopes. Practice selec-tion cutting instead, where individual trees, espe-cially those that are sick or injured, are harvestedrather than large tracts of forest. This produces amore variable stand with a range of tree ages andreduces erosion and nutrient loss.

>> Replant harvested areas. Plant a variety of nativetree species, as well as native grasses and otherplant species, to help stabilize the soil and controlerosion, sedimentation and nutrient loss. Do notintroduce non-native species.

“In an age when man has forgotten his originsand is blind even to his most essential needs forsurvival, water along with other resources hasbecome the victim of his indifference.”Rachel Carson

‘Best Management Practices’ for WatershedsConsidering the ecological ‘big picture’ can helpensure forestry practices are sustainable and keeptheir impact on the watershed to a minimum. Thefollowing outlines some sustainable suggestions foreach facet of forestry management.

>> Prepare a pre-harvest plan. Survey the area to beharvested before commencing work. Consider thelay of the land and plan for the least impact possi-ble on critical wildlife habitat, natural drainage chan-nels and water bodies, and unstable areas (such assteep slopes). Avoid sensitive areas such as wetlandsand threatened and endangered species habitat.

>> Leave behind Special Management Zones (SMZ).SMZs are ‘greenbelts’ or buffer zones left adjacentto watercourses to protect this sensitive habitat.For more information on buffer zones, see “NS For-estry Regulations” on page 24.

>> Ensure road systems are well located, constructedand maintained. Poorly designed road systems arethe number one contributor to water pollution inforestry activities. Plan to minimize the number andlength of roads, avoiding water bodies and sensi-

>> Remove unneeded roads and temporary structuresas soon as possible to help recover the area to a morenatural state.

>> Avoid the use of pesticides, fertilizers and fire re-tardants. If these substances must be applied, ap-ply with care and use the minimum amount possi-ble. Avoid applying during periods of precipitation,high wind or humidity.

Watershed Buffers

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THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL MANAGEMENT ZONES (SMZs)Special Management Zones (SMZs), also known as greenbelts or buffer zones, are essentiallystrips of vegetation that are left along the edges of watercourses to protect the watercourse andretain important wildlife habitat. SMZs perform many important functions – they help shade thewatercourse and maintain cool water temperatures, provide stability to banks, and help retainchannel width. They act as filters for overland flow, pulling silt and nutrients from runoff before itreaches the water body. SMZs also ensure a continued supply of large woody debris to thewatercourse, which provides in-stream wildlife habitat and helps control water flow. In addition,SMZs are used as travel corridors for some wildlife species, are sources of food for aquatic organ-isms, and are essential areas for species that live in both water and on land.

In Nova Scotia, SMZs of at least 20 metres in width must be left on all watercourses wider than50 centimetres, on both public and private land. While partial harvesting is allowed within theSMZ, there are regulations in place regarding the types of trees that may be harvested and themethod of harvest. More information on regulations surrounding SMZs can be found on theGovernment of Nova Scotia website: www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/regs/fowhwp.htm.

Constructing a Buffer Zone on Your PropertyAs mentioned, buffer zones do a lot to maintainthe health of a watershed. If properly establishedand maintained, a buffer zone can filter out largeamounts of fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria and sedi-ment from runoff before these chemicals reach thewatercourse. On shoreline property, buffer zoneshave the added benefit of reducing the energy ofwave and currents, thus reducing shoreline ero-sion. They also are a great source of shade andhelp block wind. If the natural buffer zone on yourproperty has already been removed or altered, thereare things you can do to restore it. The followingtips can help.

>> If your property is covered by lawn up to thewater’s edge, start by leaving a few feet of it

unmowed – remember, wildlife prefer jagged linesover straight ones!

>> Allow nature to take over. Do not remove theplants that grow in your buffer strip unless you aresure they are not native to the area.

>> Consider helping your buffer strip along by plant-ing a variety of native vegetation that is commonlyfound on wild shorelines in your area. Trees, shrubs,grasses and wildflowers will all add to the beautyand function of your buffer strip.

>> Within a few years, your buffer strip should bewell established. Consider extending its bounda-ries a bit more each year – a minimum width of 15metres is best and 30 metres or greater is ideal.

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The ‘greenhouse effect’ is the effect that insulatinggases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, meth-ane and nitrous oxide have on keeping the sun’s ra-diation within the earth’s atmosphere instead of itreflecting back into space. While this phenomenon isnecessary to keep the earth’s temperature at a life-sustaining level, the excess ‘greenhouse gases’ weare releasing into the atmosphere due to excessivefossil fuel use is magnifying the greenhouse effect.This combined with deforestation and the destruc-tion of natural vegetation, which normally absorb

Watershed WorriesCLIMATE CHANGE

EnvironmentalSelf-Help Online

Climate change is a term that for most has becomeall too familiar. Simply defined, it is the change in theearth’s climate over time. Climate change is a naturalphenomenon. What is not natural, however, is theescalated rate of change we are currently experienc-ing as a result of human activities.

Wondering just how big of animpact your lifestyle is placing onthe planet? Want to know someways you can lessen the weight ofyour actions on the world? Beloware some websites that can helpyou along.

Personal Greenhouse GasCalculator:www.climatechange.gc.ca/calculator/english

Calculate your contribution togreenhouse gas emissions anddiscover ways to reduce them!

Calculate Your EcologicalFootprint:www.mec.ca/coop/communit/meccomm/ecofoot.htm

Take this short multiple choice quizto determine the amount of re-sources you and your family areusing each year.

carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen throughphotosynthesis, is causing global warming at anunprecedented rate.

Climate change affects all aspects of life on earth.A small rise in the earth’s average temperature, aslittle as 0.5˚C, can result in increased melting ofpolar ice caps, sea level rise, shifts in the habitatranges of flora and fauna, and increases in severeweather events.

The effects of climate change on watersheds arenumerous, impacting both water quantity and qual-ity. In Atlantic Canada, changes in precipitationcould result in increased frequency of ice jams andspring flooding. Rising sea levels would have a par-ticular impact in Nova Scotia, a province with somuch coastal area. Erosion and sedimentationcould increase, resulting in a loss of habitat for fishand other aquatic organisms. These changes couldalso affect the range, distribution and breedingsuccess of seabirds in the region.

What Can You Do?In order to reduce the impact of human activ-ity on climate change, we need to make somekey changes in the way that we live. Even smallchanges can make a difference.

• Carpool, walk or cycle whenever possible.

• Support environmentally responsiblecompanies and industries as a consumer.

• Use your consumer power to tell industryand government that you want to seethem being environmentally responsible.

• Explore and consider alternative energyoptions, such as solar or wind power.

• Use EnerGuide Ratings to help chooseenergy efficient appliances. Visitwww.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energuide for moreinformation.

• Ensure that environmentally friendlycoolants are used in fridges and airconditioners.

• Reduce electricity and fossil fuel burningneeds by ensuring your home is ad-equately insulated – and use programma-ble thermostats to reduce the heat atnight or when rooms are not in use.

• Keep vehicle maintenance up-to-date,including recommended tire pressuresand wheel alignment. Your vehicle willwork more efficiently and last longer.

• Consider fuel-efficient vehicles.

• Limit unnecessary vehicle idling.

• Use higher octane (cleaner burning)gasoline.

• Practice the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

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Responsible RecreationNova Scotia is blessed with a wealth of natural beauty. By participating in responsible recreation,outdoor recreationists can do their part to ensure the province’s wild spaces remain beautiful,productive and healthy. Through awareness of and respect for the natural ecosystem, and byfollowing the tips below, the impact of outdoor recreation activities can be kept to a minimum.

>> Contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada at 902-354-6030, or toll-free at 1-800-565-1633 if youobserve fishing activities that appear to be suspect or harmful.

>> Read the Nova Scotia Angler’s Handbook – part of the package you receive when you pur-chase your fishing license.

>> Discard bait into the body of water from which it was taken. For bait, avoid use or possessionof bass, bullhead, white perch, yellow perch, goldfish, chain pickerel or any other fish not takenfrom provincial waters. It is illegal to use or possess these species as bait whether alive or dead.

>> Do not move fish from one lake, river, stream, brook or any waterway to another. Empty livewells before leaving each waterbody.

>> Know your provincial and federal fishing regulations. In Nova Scotia, it is illegal to release fishinto provincial waters, except under a license issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Responsible Angling

Responsible Transportation

Water Fact

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Responsible Boating

>> Use higher methane (cleaner burning) gas.

>> Keep your vehicle well maintained.

>> Carpool, walk or cycle whenever possible.

For more boating tips, pick up the MaritimeClean Boating Guide from the Bluenose CoastalAction Foundation (BCAF).

>> Choose non-polluting water recreation suchas canoeing, kayaking and sailing more often.

>> Drive at a ‘no wake’ speed when near theshore.

>> Regularly maintain your engine and choosenatural cleaning alternatives over toxic products.

>> Ensure that no flora or fauna are transferredfrom one body of water to another when trans-porting your watercraft (for example, on thebottom of your boat, in the rudder, or in bilgewater).

>> Choose a 4-stroke versus a 2-stroke motor.4-stroke motors are quieter, less disturbing towildlife, and use less gasoline, thus producingless air and water pollution.

Discover Boating

Engine Statistics

97% of earth’s water is in the oceans.Only 3% of the earth’s water can be usedas drinking water. 75% of the world’sfresh water is frozen in the polar icecaps. By 2025, 52 countries — with two-thirds of the world’s population — willlikely have water shortages.

• As much as 40% of a 2-stroke en-gine’s gas and oil enters the waterunburned.

• 4-strokes consume 30% less gas atfull speed, 80% less when idling.

• A 70 horsepower 2-stroke engineproduces the same mass of hydrocar-bon pollution in one hour as a newcar does driving 8,000 kilometres!

• Testing for total hydrocarbons, nitrogenoxides, carbon monoxide, carbon diox-ide, oil, grease, and BTEX (benzene,toulane, ethylbenzene, and xylenes)showed that 2-strokes produce 12 timesas much BTEX as 4-strokes,15 timesmore unburned hydrocarbons than 4-strokes, and almost 125 times morethan a light duty van. Furthermore, a 9.9hp 2-stroke produces 50% more carbonmonoxide than a 9.9 hp 4-stroke and60 times more than a light duty van!

Purchasing an Outboard MotorThe majority of two-stroke engines require the lu-bricating oil to be mixed directly with the gas inthe fuel tank. The oil in four-stroke engines remainsseparate and is not burned, making the exhaustcleaner and less smoky.

the air after a few hours while the heavier hydro-carbons, like oil, remain on the water’s surface.These design differences cause two-stroke enginesto pollute more than four-stroke engines.

Pros & Cons of Two-Strokes. On the positive side,these motors are less expensive, have a larger usedmarket and higher resale value, are easier to re-pair, have fewer parts, and are lighter with fasteracceleration. Cons include the need to mix oil withgas (most models), a rougher and noisier idle, of-ten more difficult to start, potential carburetorproblems, poor performing spark plugs, and moresmoke and pollution are produced.

Pros & Cons of Four-Strokes. These motors are qui-eter (smoother running and idling), have great troll-ing motors, require no oil/gas mixing, are morereliable, and produce less pollution. Currently, cons

Exhaust ports in two-stroke engines remain openfor a short period of time while a new charge ofair, gas, and oil enters the cylinder. This allows gasand raw oil to escape directly into the water. Thelighter hydrocarbon compounds are released into

If you could tomorrow morning make water cleanin the world, you would have done, in one fellswoop, the best thing you could have done forimproving human health by improvingenvironmental quality. William C. Clark

can appear daunting. They include motorweight, they can be expensive to buy (newtechnology still being tested) and repair (fewertrained mechanics), and there is a limited usedmarket. Finally, more parts means increasedchances of repair.

Regulations. Outboard motors have not beensubject to the same regulations and standardsas the automotive industry. Automotive enginetechnology has consequently advanced whilesome two-stroke motors have changed very lit-tle since the 1940s. In 2000, a memorandumof understanding was signed between the Ca-nadian Marine Manufacturers Association andEnvironment Canada stating that beginning in2001, all new motors had to meet AmericanEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) emis-sion standards. EPA’s goal is to reduce emis-sions by 75%.

Leave No Trace

Your Choice. There is no law against purchas-ing a two-stroke motor. Each individual mustdecide if the environmental benefits out-weighthe economic costs. When it’s time to replaceyour engine, consider buying a four-stroke andhelp keep our watershed clean. 33

• Plan ahead and prepare.

For more information on Leave No Trace,visit www.lnt.org

• Be considerate of other visitors.

• Respect wildlife.

• Minimize campfire impacts (check thelocal forest fire index).

• Leave what you find. Take pictures asyour only souvenirs. Remove littersomeone else left behind as well asyour own.

• Dispose of waste properly.

• Travel and camp on durable surfaces.

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Watershed HomesLIVING WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIENCE

Environmental consciousness is an important consideration for all homeowners. However smallor simple they may seem, our everyday activities, such as doing the washing or working in thegarden, can have a significant impact on the environment. Below are some suggestions to helplighten the burden of these activities on the earth.

Home Sewage Disposal Made EasyAs responsible homeowners, it is our duty to ensure that our sewage disposal systems are ingood working order. A little preventative maintenance can prevent highly disruptive, not tomention odorous, events!

The first step to ensure that our sewage disposal systems are in good working order is tounderstand how they work. There are three major parts to an on-site system: the septic tank,disposal field, and the surrounding soil.

The septic tank is a large buried tank, usually made from concrete. Tanks made from steel tendto rust and leak and should be replaced. All household waste water should flow into this tank.Heavier solids settle to form sludge while fat and grease float to the top to form a layer of scum.Partly treated effluent leaves the tank and flows to the disposal field.

The disposal field is either a trench or large bedcontaining perforated pipes, crushed rock, filteredsand, and sometimes sand buffers. It is attachedto the septic tank by an un-perforated pipe. Onceeffluent reaches the disposal field, it is dispersedthrough perforated pipes situated in the gravel.With poorly drained soil it may be necessary tobuild the field in a mound of imported sand.

The soil or imported sand around the disposal fieldfurther removes solids including bacteria and dis-ease-causing organisms, when the effluent filtersthrough it.

Maintenance TipsTips for Maintaining Your System

It is important to regularly pump out your systemto stop sludge and scum from accumulating in theseptic tank. If these solids reach the outlet pipeand flow into the disposal field, they can clog theperforated pipes. Clogged systems can cause prob-lems such as:

• Pollute sources of drinking water.• Contaminate the environment.• Harm health.• Be unsightly and cause foul orders.• Be expensive to repair.• Reduce property values.

• Soggy spots on the disposal field.

• Smell or presence of raw sewage on theground.

• Slowly draining plumbing fixtures.

• Sewage backing up into toilets/tubs/sinks.

Signs of a Malfunctioning System

• Allow vehicles or heavy equipment todrive over the disposal field as they couldcrush the pipes.

• Wait for the warning signs to inspect andpump the system.

• Enter a pumped septic tank: sewage gasescan be fatal.

• Discharge water treatment backwash tothe on-site sewage disposal system.

• Overload the system with high volumes ofwater.

Do not...

• Keep surface water from uphill or roofdrains away from the disposal field.

• Keep a healthy grass cover over thedisposal field to stop erosion.

• Remove trees with large roots or keepthem from growing near the disposal field.

• Check any pumps, siphons, other movingparts plus the inceptor drain regularly.

• Record the location of the septic tank anddisposal field for future reference.

• Use low-flush toilets, toilet dams, and low-flow showerheads.

• Wash clothes throughout the week insteadof doing many loads on one day.

• Inspect your septic tank every two years todetermine pumping intervals.

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The average North American uses about 350 litres of clean, treated water per day. A good portion ofthis could be conserved by reducing water demands using the simple tips listed below.

ACTIVITY AVERAGE WATER USE CONSERVATION TIPS

Flushing

Water Facts: Domestic Water Use

15-20 litres per flush Place a displacement bottle in the back of the tank and saveup to 5 litres per flush, or install a water-conserving toilet.

Showering 15-20 litres per minute Install a low flow shower head and limit shower length tosave 7-10 litres per minute or more.

Bathing 60 litres per full tub Do not completely fill the tub to bathe – 1/2 full will do –and save 45 litres or more.

Shaving 50 litres (tap running) Plug and partially fill the basin to rinse the razor rather thanrunning the water – uses 1/15 the amount of water.

Brushing teeth 10-20 litres (tap running) Wet your brush and turn the water off until it is time torinse and you’ll use 1/10 the amount of water.

Washing hands & face 8 litres (tap running) Plug and partially fill the basin to wash, or turn off the waterwhile lathering.

Running faucet to coolwater for drinking

4 litres Keep water in the refrigerator – it will always be cool andyou will use only what you need.

Running dishwasher 60 litres (full cycle) Using the economy cycle and only running the dishwasherwhen full will use half the amount of water.

Washing dishes byhand

35 litres or more (taprunning to rinse)

Fill the sink or a container with water to rinse and save 30litres or more.

Washing clothes 225 litres (full cycle at topwater level)

Set machine on short cycle and use the minimum waterlevel possible for the load – save 100 litres or more.

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Outdoor watering 35 litres per minute Use a watering can or bucket to water outdoor plants ratherthan running the hose or sprinkler.

Washing the car 240 litres Using a self-serve or drive through car wash can save up to180 litres. Better yet, use a sponge and bucket – and usesoaps and detergents sparingly!

Environmentally Friendly CleaningAccording to the US Environmental ProtectionAgency, 50% of all of our illnesses can be traced toindoor pollution. Listed below are some basicalternatives to using hazardous household cleaners.

General Cleaners• All-purpose household cleaner: baking soda +

vinegar, or lemon juice combined with a boraxpaste of borax + water (borax is a bleachsubstitute)

• Glass cleaner: 1 part vinegar + 1 part water,wipe with rag or newspaper

• Drain cleaner: plunger followed by 1/2 cupbaking soda + 1/2 cup of vinegar + 2 litresboiling water

• Shoe polish: banana peel• Water softener: 1/4 cup vinegar

Kitchen and Bathroom• Grease cutter: 1 cup of lemon juice + 1 cup of water• Scouring powder: 1 cup of baking soda +

enough water to form a paste• Toilet bowl cleaner: 1 cup of vinegar left in the

toilet bowl overnight, then brush• Mildew remover: equal parts vinegar and salt

Laundry• General stain remover: 1 tsp. of white vinegar

or baking soda per load• Perspiration spot remover: baking soda• Wine stain removal: salt

Carpets and Floors• Rug & carpet cleaner: baking soda or dry

cornstarch (use club soda for spots)• Floor cleaner: 1 cup vinegar + 8 litres water• Odor remover: sprinkle with baking soda or

borax, let sit, then vacuum

Throughout the history of literature, the guywho poisons the well has been the worst of allvillains... Author Unknown

Furniture and Polishes• Floors & furniture: 2 parts vegetable oil + 1

part lemon juice or 1 tablespoon lemon oil in500 ml of mineral oil

• Leather: 1 cup vinegar + 1 cup linseed oil• Chrome: apple cider vinegar to clean, baby oil

to polish• Stainless steel: baking soda or mineral oil to

polish, vinegar to remove spots

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Natural GardeningDIVERSITY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSLong before we planted, pruned, mowed, and sprayedpesticides, natural gardens flourished. These gardenssupported a wide variety of native plants and providedhabitat and food for local wildlife. Why spend time andmoney on a boring, flat lawn when you could create aninteresting and colourful natural garden? A natural gar-den is not just an overgrown lawn!

The chemicals and fertilizers you add to your lawn andgarden also enter the watershed. Native shoreline plantshelp prevent erosion and act to filter-out harmful nutri-ent-rich runoff. When plants are under stress, often be-cause of poor climate and soil conditions, they becomemore susceptible to insects, disease, and competitionfrom weeds. Plants that are native to Nova Scotia areaccustomed to our climate, soils and insects, and there-fore, do not require toxic fertilizers, pesticides, and her-bicides.

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Benefits ofNative Plants• Increased biodiversity.

• Most native plants are peren-nial and thus are low costand maintenance.

• Reduce need to water yourgarden; natural rain water isusually sufficient.

• Reduced need for pesticides,herbicides, and fertilizers.

• Provide homes for rare wildplants.

• Provide habitat for birds,butterflies, and other wildlife.

Conserve Water, Time, and MoneyKentucky bluegrass is a popular non-native choicefor lawns but requires almost 100 centimetres ofrain over the summer. In Bridgewater, from Aprilto September, the average rainfall is only 61.88cm. You can spend more time enjoying your yardand less time watering by purchasing nativegrasses. They are adapted to our climate and onlyneed natural rainwater to flourish.

Growing a variety of plants will help to attract birds,butterflies, bats, and other wildlife. Planting treesor shrubs with berries, flowers and grasses willensure that there is plenty of food year round whileadding three-dimensional structure and habitat.

Pesticides Harm More Than Just Pests>> Pesticides can seriously harm helpful poll-inators such as butterflies and bees. Herbicidesalso destroy food for pollinators.

>> Pesticides remove or poison part of the foodchain. Many toads, bats, and birds eat a variety ofinsects and naturally control pests.

>> Killing beneficial insects that prey on pest spe-cies could leave your garden vulnerable to a worsepest problem.

>> Pesticides are poisonous! They can harm yourpets, children, and yourself.

Not all Wild Plants are NativeMany common plant species growing in the wild,such as Queen Anne’s Lace, have been introducedto Nova Scotia. There is plenty of information avail-able on the internet and from libraries and garden-ing centres on native plants and the varieties bestsuited for your yard. With a bit of planning, you canhave a beautifully landscaped natural garden thatwill not pose a threat to the environment.

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WATERSHED WISDOMIS PRODUCED BY

P.O. Box 10, Mahone BayNova Scotia B0J 2E0

902-624-9888www.coastalaction.org

Atlantic Coastal Action Program

WITH THANKS TO OURFUNDING PARTNERS

Design by Joy Black, New ParadigmCommunications, joy@npc-

solutions.com. Original illustrations byDoug Vance, www.frikoutdoors.com

The river moves from land to water to land, in and out oforganisms, reminding us what native peoples have never

forgotten: that you cannot separate the land from thewater, or the people from the land.

Lynn Noel, from ‘Voyages: Canada’s Heritage Rivers’

Dragonfly, R. McCaw; Shells on cliff, M. Moir; Cover golden crest, M. Elderkin