Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) in freshwater can be a health concern as it can contain cyanotoxins. The N.B. Department of Environment and Local Government has some cyanobacteria information. Dr. Janice Lawrence’s webinar video entitled “Cyanobacteria in New Brunswick: Understanding Toxicity” gives a superb overview of what cyanobacteria is, and how it is affecting New Brunswick lakes and rivers.
Water Quality
An excellent summary of the 2020 water quality analysis results was presented by Eric Luiker in his webinar entitled “Understanding Lake Water Quality: First Steps for Grand Lake, New Brunswick“. With the help of the Nashwaak Watershed Association, we have prepared a 2020 field season “Water Quality Report” that summarizes the water quality in the Grand Lake area based on data from the six sites observed in 2020.
Shoreline Zone
According to the Love Your Lake website, there are six key benefits to maintaining a natural shoreline. They are:
- Maintaining Water Quality
- Moderating Temperatures
- Creating Wildlife Habitat
- Mitigating Flood Frequency and Impacts
- Reducing Erosion
- Maintaining or Increasing Property Values.
Planting native plants that help control erosion (such as the red-tip willows discussed in Shoreline Protection) can help establish a natural shoreline.
Integrated Watershed Management Plan – an overview
At our monthly meeting of April 12, 2021, Lois Corbett, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, presented “Working to Protect NB Water for 50 Years: the importance of watershed protection“. Lois’s nine page overview gives a brief history of water quality protection in New Brunswick, and shows how an integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) can help. Lois also gives pointers to three IWMPs that can serve as a model for other watersheds.
