Summer 2019 update ☀🌾

Northumberland Strait Coastal Restoration Project

Summer 2019 update

Summer 2019 Field Season

Photos - Cara Mackenzie (LEFT) standing in front of a fyke net and Allen Beck (RIGHT) holding a mummichog fish at potential restoration site, Marshalls Crossing

You may have seen our team members out in the field already, but we'll be out and about for the rest of the summer season! Team members are assessing more salt marshes for future restoration work, have monitoring equipment at different sites and have been successfully collecting data!

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

Photo by Melanie Lowe - The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq

The team is excited to provide upcoming volunteer opportunities this summer! If you want hands on experience using equipment in the field or would rather help organize volunteers, there's something for everyone this summer if you love salt marshes! Help us get to know you and fill out the volunteer application below. For more information contact mross@clean.ns.ca.

Click Here to Complete the Survey

In the Field Workshop Saturday, July 27!

You can register for the event for free HERE.

Meet the Team's Summer 2019 Clean Students!

Photos - Sam Cunningham doing field work in a marsh in Truro with St. Mary's University (TOP), Cara Mackenzie (BOTTOM LEFT) using a ponar dredge to take surface sediment readings and Sophie Boardman (BOTTOM RIGHT) planting mangrove trees in Cambodia.

Sam Cunningham (TOP) recently graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a BSc in Environmental Science. This summer Sam will be assessing and identifying future sites for salt marsh restoration, as well as assisting with monitoring efforts. Sam loves yoga, camping and exploring Nova Scotia.

Cara MacKenzie (BOTTOM LEFT) is a recent graduate of Mount Allison University with a BSc in Environmental Science. This summer Cara will be monitoring soil, water, invertebrates, fish and vegetation in the salt marshes that are being restored. Outside of the workplace Cara loves cooking, hiking and powerlifting.

Sophie Boardman (BOTTOM RIGHT) is currently completing her BSc in Environmental Science and Sustainability at Dalhousie University. This summer she will be engaging with the community and volunteers, as well as conducting archival research about the project region and sites. She loves spending her time outdoors with her family and friends.

Pictou Landing First Nation Mawio'mi

Merydie Ross (LEFT) and Sophie Boardman (RIGHT) - Mi’kmaw Conservation Group and Clean Foundation

A big thanks to Pictou Landing First Nation for hosting our Northumberland Strait Coastal Restoration Project team at their Mawio'mi June 1st and 2nd.

The team had an awesome time meeting community members and chatting about our upcoming restoration work on the North Shore and volunteer opportunities. Nmu'ltes!

Pictou County Naturalists Club Workshop

Photo by Bird Studies Canada

The team co-hosted a workshop with the Pictou County Naturalists Club on May 30th at the New Glasgow Library.

The workshop included an introduction to salt marsh basics and various restoration techniques, as well as volunteer opportunities available. A big thank you to Bird Studies Canada, who also joined us to discuss their marsh monitoring program.

Training With Save the Bay in Rhode Island

Photos by Clean Foundation (RIGHT) and Elsa Schwartz of Restore America's Estuaries (LEFT)

In May our team traveled to Rhode Island to meet with our project partners Save the Bay Narragansett. There with Restore America's Estuaries, we took part in a salt marsh planting exercise hosted by Save the Bay at Quonochontaug “Quonnie” Pond. We learned about outreach and volunteer engagement, as well as adaptive management strategies that can be used as a form of saltmarsh restoration. Save the Bay uses techniques such as sediment placement, and the excavation of shallow creeks (known as runnels), which restore natural tidal flow to drowning marshes, build up soil and revegetate the marsh.

The staff from Save the Bay brought the team to a number of restoration sites around Rhode Island, including a sediment placement project site where the team got their hands dirty at a beach and planted hundreds of saltmarsh plants.

Thank you to Save the Bay and Restore America's Estuaries!

Thank you! Wela’lioq!

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