Passamaquoddy Bay Resource Inventory Field Work Concluded

Kim Reeder, Programs Manager

Passamaquoddy Bay Resource Inventory Field Work ConcludedMuch of QFF's early work culminated in 1997 with the release of a Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) detailing 50 immediate courses of action to address the environmental concerns for the area. This inventory addresses many of the actions listed in the CEMP such as; environmental monitoring of the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy Area, development and implementation of a prioritized research and monitoring agenda for the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy Region, and providing decision makers with up to date environmental information regarding the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region.

The desired outcome of this project is to increase the understanding of the Quoddy Ecosystem and awareness of changes over time as well as to identify significant marine communities. The main project idea is to collect quantitative and qualitative data regarding the sub-tidal benthic environment encountered in the study area. In 1979, a comprehensive biological inventory of the New Brunswick coast of the Bay of Fundy from St. Stephen to the Petitcodiac River was completed by Marine Research Associates Ltd under contract to the province of New Brunswick. This new work will collect data from sites originally designated in the 1970's biological inventory, enabling a comparison of the findings which will foster knowledge regarding changes in the Bay since the 1970's as well as providing an up-to-date reference for what now exists.This years' field work was completed at Head Harbour Passage and area. While there may be some overlap in the areas that are sampled depending upon the information needs for a specific year, the plan is to survey 3 areas over 3 years: firstly, the West Isles area between Deer Island and Campobello, secondly the Passamaquoddy Bay area from Friar's Bay north to the mouth of the St. Croix Estuary and thirdly the outer Quoddy area including western Campobello Island the Wolves and Grand Manan North.The field sampling for 2008 was completed in November.

There were a total of 28 sites consisting intertidal and/or video surveys. The data from the survey is still being processed and will be available in March 2009.

Annual Monitoring of St. Croix Identifies Trouble Spots for E. coli

Kim Reeder, Programs Manager

Over the past 16 years the Quoddy Futures (QFF, formerly known as the St. Croix Estuary Project) has completed water audits for municipalities, drogue studies in the Passamaquoddy Bay, environmental lecture series, stewardship courses for adults and children alike, nature camps, environmental excursions, and eco-history tours by boat and land for groups such as Outward Bound, to name a few of QFF's many initiatives.

Volunteer monitoring programs, scientific study, public outreach and education, coastal resource mapping, and sustainable job creation are all hallmarks of QFF's history. The organization's Monitoring and Remediation Program has been designed to define and monitor the Health of the St. Croix Estuary and Passamaquoddy Bay and to initiate remediation work and follow-up that will insure incremental improvement in regional environmental health. This is proving to be a successful strategy.

The purpose of the Monitoring Program is to test a set of fixed sampling sites that are visited each year since 2004 and to use these data to quickly and efficiently assess the current health of the St. Croix River Estuary which is of economic, environmental and social importance. Within this context, the organization works toward;

• Identifying and defining sources of pollution in the St. Croix Estuary
• Initiating programs that reduce bacterial discharge into the St. Croix Estuary and Passamaquoddy Bay.
• Conducting annual monitoring that evaluates the results of remedial work as well as identifying new pollution sources.
• Participating in trans-boundary dialog on effluent and effluent treatment
• Developing non point-source pollution prevention strategies
• Continuing work towards separating storm and sanitary sewers in St. Stephen
• Monitoring the Estuary area for fecal coliform bacteria and other bacterial and chemical inputs.
• Developing and implementing site-specific terrestrial and freshwater habitat protection strategies
• Promoting water through water conservation programs
• Developing, maintaining and monitoring important terrestrial and freshwater habitat sites that are being impacted by pollution.
• Convening meetings and events for the exchange of information on, and celebration of, the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region
• Making recommendations to municipalities and conducting follow-up regarding commitments made, to prevent and clean up marine and estuarine debris

This year there was 27 sites tested for E. coli and or a biota check. Out of these sites:

• 7 of these sites are "red flag" sites due to levels of /E. coli/ above the Canadian Guidelines.
• Raw sewage was observed at one outfall
• New sites of concern have been located
• 9 of the sites are on the "watch list" due to issues in the past, proximity of E.coli to Canadian Guideline levels or the proximity of the sites to areas of concern.
• 2 of the sites have shown significant improvement for 2+ years.

Due to lack of growth on some test plates chlorine will be tested next year.

There have been more sites chosen for the 2009 Annual Report due to the new areas of concern and information from local citizens.

The 2008 annual monitoring results can be found under the "Resources" heading by clicking on the "Publications" link at www.quoddylearningcentre.org. On the publications page it is under "Reports 2008" titled:

Annual Monitoring St. Croix Estuary - 2008

Click here for additional Information on E. coli at Wikipedia.com

"I Love Quoddy" Store Open in Time for Christmas

As part of our new I Love Quoddy initiative, we have launched a new store at Cafe Press.com. You can get hats, t-shirts, and more with the "I Love Quoddy" logo.

A perfect gift for Christmas.

Let's fill the streets with this statement about our love for this unique place. Wear the hat or T, get the bumper sticker. Wear your heart on your chest ... or your head if you prefer.

Proceeds go to support our Quoddy Community Outreach Initiatives fostering sustainable growth based on the wise use of our natural resources.

Order at: www.cafepress.com/ilovequoddy

Birders Discover Ganong Nature Park

We were please to see that some birders found the park. Well known birder Merv Cormier had been there before and had part of the story. For those that don't know the park has been opened since 2002 and has traditionally been a site for casual bird excursions and Christmas bird counts.

The park was closed for a year and a half while the new Quoddy Learning centre was built, the Ganong Cottage was renovated, and the trails and nodes were completed. We have been open but not pushing our advertising since the ACOA project did not get finalized until July-August, too late to do major promotions.

That's pretty much done and we are now working on advertising, programs, and partners for this winter and next year.

Whatever your interest we have a great venue for your events and meetings and the grounds and trails are always open to visitors during regular hours. Please come and enjoy this special place.

Need a map to find your way. Try this one at Google. 

Kim, Mary, Stephanie and Art , Quoddy Learning Centre at Ganong Nature & Marine Park

From NB Nature Digest: 

Date:    Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:41:02 -0400
From:    Wendy Rogers

Subject: Ganong Nature Park (near St Stephen)

Late this morning I was there with some friends. I had never heard of it before, so it may have just opened this year. It was poorly signposted, and the brochure about it had no directions to speak of.

Once we found it, though, we were glad we'd persisted. It was once the site of a farm where thoroughbreds were raised. There are several nice trails through varied terrain: open fields, remains of orchards, woods, beach. There are several bluebird boxes.

I hadn't gone there with birding in mind, but there are many shrubs with berries and lots of good bird habitats. I got a good look at a Blue-headed/Solitary Vireo.

On the main highway between Waweig and St Stephen we saw two Turkey Vultures.

If any of you try to find this park, it's on a turnoff toward the coast near to Oak Bay. (Oakhaven? road, which leads to Todd Point road, where the park is). The only signs are small (about 15" square) with a prominent image of a Luna moth. There are brochures with the trails described and mapped out, available from Tourism NB and elsewhere.
Wendy Rogers
Nasonworth
------------------------------
Date:    Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:16:47 -0300
From:    Merv Cormier Subject: Re: Ganong Nature Park (near St Stephen)

The park has been there for at least Five years I brought Durlan Ingersoll there last year. It's a good spot for Pileated Woodpeckers.

The Ganong Park Legacy Fund

Honouring the memory of Whidden and Eleanor Ganong
by maintaining the Ganong Nature Park and providing free access to the Park grounds.
Donate online at CanadaHelps.org or contact us at the address below.

It's sad but true.
It costs money to operate a park!

It was candy maker Whidden Ganong's wish that someone would take this magnificent 350 acre historic Todd's Point and make it available to the public as a "nature park". Well, we stood up to the plate and took it on when others had failed. With the help of a host of donors and volunteers, our staff managed to raise the $350,000 needed to buy the property from Whidden's Estate after he bequeathed it to us in his will.

As we had promised, we sought and received funding to prepare a development plan which was presented to the public and which became our blueprint for the future. Ultimately, this study became the foundation of a 1.3 million dollar ACOA grant matched by our investment of an additional $700,000 dollars to round out a 2 million dollar investment in the Park and its beautiful interpretive centre, the Quoddy Learning Centre. New trails, grooming, interpretive nodes, signage and renovations to the Ganong cottage turned a once overrun and decaying property into an important regional asset that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Driven by insurance concerns, SCEP was required to close the park during construction, resulting in a flood of local criticism about the closure and on reopening, additional complaints were made in public about the need for fees to cover weddings, meeting, reunions, and other special events at the Quoddy Learning Centre and adjacent park grounds. Well, it takes money to run a park and we must, like all other venues charge for our services since our discretionary funds are usually nonexistant. It is not possible for us to subsidize private events.

Nevertheless, it is our hope that we can keep the trails and grounds of the park groomed, in repair, and freely open to visitors who wish to walk, hike, bike, snowshoe and ski the many beautiful fields and trails.

And it depends on you.

Our calculations are that it costs $40,000 to $60,000 annually just to keep the park grounds open and free for use. Funds are used to groom trails, affect repairs, service equipment, provide security, collect and remove waste, mow lawns and fields and pay maintainance staff among other things.

This is the Ganong Park Legacy Fund honouring Whidden and Eleanor Ganong.

SCEP is the custodian of that legacy and you are the beneficiary. The annual target is $50,000. So please ...

We need you to help us keep
the Ganong Nature & Marine Park freely open to the public.

Go right now to
CanadaHelps.org
and donate what you can.
Times are difficult and the need is urgent.

or
JOIN,
DONATE,
PARTICIPATE
Complete our
online form for members and volunteers.

Need to know more? Then check the following links.

About Us
A Brief History of the Park
Quoddy Learning Centre
Camp Waweig

The Quoddy Bay School Excursion

A New and Exciting Educational Experience for This Spring !

You will be pleased to hear that there is something new on the horizon. Three key attractions in Charlotte County on the Bay of Fundy have partnered to fulfill your need for a new and exciting educational experience that fits with your curriculum.

The Quoddy Learning Centre and Nature Park, The Gathering Place at Camp Waweig and Ministers Island will work with individual teachers and school groups to develop a field trip structured to fit time frames, age appropriateness, and class curricula. We will provide a step-on guide who will travel with your group as you explore coastal Charlotte County, New Brunswick, where you will learn about the Passamaquoddy / St. Croix area, its unique environment and fascinating history. Each site offers it’s own special adventure and learning opportunity. You choose the themes:

*Ministers Island* was the summer estate of Sir William Van Horne (1890), the builder of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Just a short drive across the ocean floor at low tide, the estate sits on a 500 acre island, a showcase displaying his vision for both agriculture and tourism. A businessman and entrepreneur of breathtaking ability, Sir William Cornelius Van Horne was also an artistic and imaginative visionary. His Summer “cottage”, Covenhoven, has 50 rooms. The Livestock Barn which is 151 feet long, 83 feet high and 56 feet wide, was used to raise prize winning Dutch Belted cattle and Clydesdale horses. More at www.ministersisland.org

The *Quoddy Learning Centre and Nature Park* is a brand new facility located on a 350 acre peninsula in the St. Croix Estuary. It has its own spectacular views and settings overlooking historic St. Croix Island where Champlain and Demonts spent the fateful winter of 1604. It is the perfect spot to discuss and complete activities regarding both European and Passamaquoddy history as well as the marine environment. The park is also the former summer home of Sir William Todd, once Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, as well as Eleanor & Whidden Ganong, of chocolate fame. More at www.quoddylearningcentre.org

The *Gathering Place at Camp Waweig* is a perfect spot for those Charlotte County adventurers who want to stay the night. The 40 acre site has rustic cabins to fit 35-40 people and lots of room for tents too! Waweig staff are willing to serve up a hearty breakfast for the overnighters or just a hot dog for a quick lunch stop. The camp has been used by the community for the past 80 years and is a great place to have group activities or a campfire in a “wilderness setting” (At least it feels that way even if it is only 10 minutes or so from town!).

We can accommodate your group by arranging a full day of learning scavenger-hunt style that spreads across your tour route, by providing you with resources before and after your visit, or by working with you to develop a program suited to current curricula. More at www.quoddylearningcentre.org

Please call the Quoddy Learning Centre
to arrange your field trip or to have us come and present to your teachers.
marygilmore@quoddylearningcentre.org - tel. 506-467-9905 - fax. 506-466-5174

About Our New Logo

The new logo is designed to reflect Quoddy Future’s interests and objectives. The Q is Caslon Openface BT. The color (Pantone 303c at 57% tint) reflects the ocean and its shape, the earth, and the surrounding atmosphere. The tail represents an ocean wave. The moon image represent creation of tides, the driving force in Quoddy. The Luna Moth (meaning “moon” in Latin) represents creatures of the Quoddy Region and their relationship to land, air, and space.

The text Identifies the organization and its facilities and programs. It identifies the central them of shaping the Quoddy Region in a sustainable manner. It is Bookman Old Style Italic. The logo is colourful and attractive, contains the necessary elements, but is sufficiently unstructured to allow the organization to develop unencumbered by perceptions and to form alliances with other groups and individuals that will help to move forward with shaping the future of Quoddy in a sustainable manner.