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