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It is hot and dry everywhere. Newfoundland and New Brunswick are experiencing out-of-control wildfires. Most rivers are closed to angling, and several places are close to breaking records.
Nova Scotia was the first province to ban forest-entry entirely. The decision received a lot of attention, but other provinces soon followed.
Deirdre Green, ASF’s Program Director for Nova Scotia, hasn’t seen the rivers this dry before.
“Just driving along various rivers … it’s like a parking lot, in sections,” she said.
This drought is approaching a “100-year drought” status — meaning it’s severe enough to statistically only occur once every 100 years. There were similar droughts in the 1930s and 1960s.
“This would be the longest,” Deirdre said.
Nothing about a drought is good for salmon, but luckily the entire St. Mary’s doesn’t look like an empty gravel parking lot, and not all the fish are trapped in those areas.
“We have lakes in our system,” Deirdre said. “We do have places where these fish are seeking refuge, but that’s just a particularly bad section that we’ve never seen.”
In this week’s edition of Rivernotes, we have just about every corner of the region dealing with this extreme weather, whether its river closures, or the wildfires. We have a submission about what to consider if you were planning restoration work, now that there’s a forestry-entry ban in some provinces.
We also have a report about the bat conservation work the ASF has gotten into. We have charts of the last five years of mid-season snap-shot numbers from 12 Quebec rivers. And we have a report about unanswered questions around a golf course development on the banks of the Wallace River in Nova Scotia.
We start this week with a rally in Newfoundland, where people gathered on the water to oppose salmon farm expansion, as we all wait for a decision on whether or not to accept Mowi’s environmental impact statement.
We have also published a summary of key points to clearly state ASF’s position on sea-cage salmon farming in Atlantic Canada.
Over 100 people gathered on the water in Bay de Loup to voice their opposition to salmon farm expansion in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The message from participants is that salmon farms don’t need to be in every fjord along the south coast of Newfoundland,” said Neville Crabbe, vice-president of communications with ASF.
Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Minister Scott Reid is due to decide whether Mowi’s environmental impact statement for its proposed Newfoundland expansion satisifies provincial guidelines.
Read the full story and see the photo gallery on ASF.ca here
In addition to this, ASF has published a summary of recent key events and in order to reiterate and clearly state our position on sea-cage salmon farming in Atlantic Canada.
Read “Salmon farm expansion STILL doesn’t make sense” here.
ASF’s Newfoundland and Labrador Program Director, Kim Thompson, also has some information about the wildfires that are spreading in the province. She writes:
“Wildfires in the province have unfortunately grown in number and size in the last couple of weeks. With an unprecedented period of hot dry weather on the island with blowing winds, it is challenging for fire crews to get the fires under control. There is a provincial open fire ban in effect until at least September 7th. According to the Gov NL Active Wildfire Mapping Application dashboard, as of Tuesday, August 12th there are eight active wildfires in the province (six on the island and two in Labrador) with four burning out of control. A regional state of emergency has been declared by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety for a portion of the Bay de Verde Peninsula, from Bristol’s Hope to Whiteway due to out-of-control wildfires. There are evacuation orders, alerts and advisories, and road closures issued for certain regions of the island.
Please respect the power of fire. I hope that everyone stays safe, particularly those putting their lives at risk fighting the fires to keep us and our communities safe. Thank you to all the volunteers who are also assisting in these extraordinary times.
For the most up to date information on the wildfires, visit www.gov.nl.ca/alerts and follow the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on Facebook and on X.”
“In regions of the province that are not directly impacted by wildfires, a reminder to anglers during this unprecedented period of hot dry weather to check river conditions before you head out, as water temperatures may be high and/or water levels low, making it very stressful for Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Follow the In Season River Status DFO-Newfoundland and Labrador Region / MPO-Région de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Let’s fish responsibly to protect wild Atlantic salmon for our future generations.”
Aside from the devastating situations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Kim has some news about a new film that is now available, and a community event that ASF took part in. She wrote:
“One of the strong holds for wild Atlantic salmon remains in our province. Last year, Fred Campbell headed north to Labrador to help tell a story with Mat Leonard, a guide on Quebec’s Bonaventure River. Mat’s journey brings him to legendary rivers—the Flowers and the Hawke—where he meets Heather Crosby, daughter of the iconic Mike Crosby. ‘Labrador,’ is a tribute to Mike’s legacy and a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting wild rivers. The film is now available on YouTube LABRADOR – PALM FESTIVAL 2025.”
ASF’s Kim Thompson and Andrew Clarke also supported the “Draw the Line” boat rally by helping the Ramea Fire Department serve hotdogs and hamburgers.
In Maine, ASF takes on bat conservation. Jeff Reardon, a ASF Project Manager, brings us the details on how this new area of conservation came about:
“Our work on two bridges on tributaries to the Middle and West Branches of the Pleasant River in Maine has expanded ASF’s conservation mission. To complete our bridges at Sucker Brook, we’ll need to cut down a single tree that we had not planned for. And not just any tree, but a big, old, shaggy yellow birch with lots of nooks and crannies and hanging shreds of bark. In other words, a near-perfect tree to serve as a summer roost site for the Northern Long-Eared Bat, a species that, like our beloved Atlantic salmon, is listed as endangered here in the US.
Because the tree may serve as a bat roost, we need to complete a survey for the presence of roosting bats before it can be cut. Our partners at the US Fish and Wildlife Service—along with Piscataquis County (owner of the road), the Appalachian Mountain Club (owner of the land on either side of the road), NOAA Fisheries (along with US FWS, a major funder), the Penobscot Nation, and the Maine Department of Marine Resources—have come to the rescue, deploying a pair of ultrasonic bat detectors last week to collect the sounds of echo-locating bats. After a week in the woods, the detectors will be downloaded and analyzed to determine whether any of the night-time squeaks are from Northern Long-Eared Bats. If none are heard, we can cut the tree and complete the project in August. If they are present, we’ll need to wait until October when the summer season ends to complete the work.
The first photo shows USFWS biologists Wende Mahaney (r), Hannah Mullally (c), and Sarah Rubinstein (l) posing with the bat detector they are about to set up. In an interesting link, Sarah Rubinstein’s Master’s thesis at the University of Maine focused on fish passage delays and their impacts on migrating Atlantic salmon at Kennebec River dams. Her thesis and several other publications have been critical information in our advocacy for removal of Kennebec River hydropower dams. Adult Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) delayed below dams rapidly deplete energy stores©”
“The second photo shows an excavator working to reconstruct the stream bed at our second culvert project in the area at Bog Brook. With completion of these two sites—in either August or October—ASF will have worked to replace 28 undersized culverts in the Pleasant River watershed over the past 3 years. It’s part of a long-term partnership to make 100% of road/stream crossings in historic salmon habitat in the West Branch and Middle Branches of the Pleasant River open for fish passage and large enough to pass major floods without damage to the road or stream.”
Warm, dry, weather is on everyone’s mind in Nova Scotia. It was the first province to implement a forest-entry ban, but others soon followed. While this clearly affects anglers, it is also impacting organizations conducting restoration work. ASF’s Nova Scotia Program Director, Deirdre Green, brings us an update from Nicholas MacInnis, the Manager of Restoration Programs for the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA). She writes:
“This summer has brought some of the driest conditions Nova Scotia has seen in decades. Rivers are running low and warm, and forests are tinder dry.
On August 5, the province enacted a province-wide forest entry ban under the Forests Act, prohibiting entry into the woods without a valid permit until at least October 15.
These restrictions coincide with the peak season for salmon habitat restoration, when crews would typically be installing digger logs, deflectors, and other structures to improve fish habitat. Given the significance of this work, I’m pleased to share the following update from Nicholas MacInnis, Manager of Restoration Programs for the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA), who has been working closely with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNR) to guide restoration partners through these new requirements.”
From Nicholas MacInnis:
“While the forest entry ban presents real challenges, there are still safe and approved ways to proceed with essential restoration work–but only with clear communication and advance approval from DNR.
Before conducting any work, visit your local DNR office and speak to someone in person about your specific work plan. Assume all work is prohibited until explicitly approved by DNR.
First, confirm land ownership on both sides of the stream. On private land, you’ll need the landowner’s permission. In all cases, submit a site-specific work plan for DNR’s review. This should include:
Additional restrictions apply:
Even with approval, exercise judgment. If conditions are extremely dry or there’s heavy deadfall nearby, it’s safest to postpone.
By working together, following protocols, and staying adaptable, we can protect both our forests, and the critical habitat work that benefits Atlantic salmon.”
Nicholas also provided some photos and updates about exciting restoration work being done on the Cornwallis, Wallace, and St. Mary’s rivers. He writes:
“The first two photos are from a recent trip to the Cornwallis River, where I’ve been working with the local stewardship group, the Jijuwatek Watershed Alliance. Their focus so far has been identifying sites for riparian zone planting and protection and working with farmers to implement best practices. The Cornwallis suffers from significant sedimentation but benefits from an abundance of cold spring water. If these projects gain traction, they could become a major success story for salmon and native freshwater fish.”
“The next two photos are from the Forks Pool on the Wallace River, where NSSA recently supported the North Shore River Restoration Association in completing a major restoration project at the confluence of the East and West Branches. Years of streambank erosion and channel migration have plagued this pool, reducing depth and overhead cover. The restoration work aims to reverse those impacts and restore critical holding water for salmon.”
Concerns are also growing in Nova Scotia on the River Phillip, with a golf course development close to the river’s banks. Deirdre writes:
“On Nova Scotia’s North Shore, the River Philip is known for its scenic bends, cold-water refuge pools, and runs of Atlantic salmon. But in recent weeks, partners and community members have raised serious concerns about a major golf course development underway along its banks.
Following reports from local anglers, conservationists and others, I contacted Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to flag what appears to be extensive clearing right to the river’s edge–without visible silt fencing or other erosion and sediment controls. Given the known salmon habitat here, the absence of these measures could allow sediment to wash directly into the river during heavy rains, smothering spawning gravel and degrading water quality.
I asked DFO whether the project has received the necessary Fisheries Act authorizations and environmental approvals, whether they are engaged with the proponent, and if any corrective actions are planned. This is a live file, and we will continue to follow up. With conditions this dry, there is no excuse for delay; regulators and the proponent must act now to implement robust site planning and erosion controls. Without them, the first heavy rain will trigger an entirely preventable sedimentation event, putting the River Philip and its salmon habitat at risk.
In the meantime, here’s the perspective of Danny Ripley who has been on the ground monitoring the situation.”
From Danny Ripley:
“I first spoke with DFO’s Conservation and Protection branch on July 21 after a rain and siltation event, sending them photos from the site. They said an officer had visited that day but didn’t see anything of concern.
Since then, I’ve observed extensive clearing right to the river in many locations, with no silt fencing or preventative measures in place. From two vantage points, the Forks Pool and the Pioneer Cemetery, the view is startling. They’ve had to clear a very large stretch of forested area to get as close to the river as they have.
The site is extremely dry right now–a dust bowl with excavators, dozers, and trucks working steadily. But when the first heavy rain hits, it’s going to be muck soup heading straight for the river.
We haven’t yet spoken with the Bragg Group or their construction team, but I plan to visit again and will be speaking with an environmental journalist about the project and its impact on the river. While economic development has its place, it remains unclear what measures the developer intends to take to safeguard the habitat and legacy of this river. Addressing this won’t be easy—but it’s essential we do.”
Like everywhere else, the weather is cause for concern in Quebec. But ASF’s Quebec Program Director, Charles Cusson, reminds us that there have been reasons to be optimistic about this season. He also provides us with mid-season snap-shot numbers from 12 rivers in Quebec, with comparable data from the last five years. He writes:
“Nos rivières, en règle générale en ce moment, sont en situation d’étiage sévère. Des débits excessivement faibles et des températures d’eau élevés ont transformé les cours d’eau en une situation très triste.
Quand même, il y a des signes encourageants au niveau des décomptes de mi-saison qui donne espoir pour l’année prochaine. Des rivières telles que la Saint-Paul située sur la Basse-Côte-Nord a connu de bons succès de pêche jusqu’à tout récemment. Citoyenne du village pendant la saison estivale, Brenda Nadeau partage une photo de son conjoint Philip aux prises avec un grand saumon dans une fosse du secteur amont de ce fameux cours d’eau.
Vous trouverez ci-joint également, un tableau comparatif des résultats des décomptes de mi-saison sur certaine rivière, dont les données, était disponible à l’heure de la publication du texte de cette semaine. Vous allez surtout apercevoir l’augmentation marquée des montaisons de madeleineaux comparés aux deux dernières saisons précédentes.
Plusieurs rivières n’ont pas complété leurs décomptes dus au fait que les services des biologistes sont partagés sur plusieurs plans d’eau.
Nous espérons que la nature viendra porter une main forte à nos saumons très bientôt et j’espère vous voir le long d’une rivière pendant le mois de septembre et n’hésiter pas de partager vos expériences de pêches, vos observations et vos photos pendant le restant de la saison 2025.”
English:
“Presently, our rivers and salmon are in a desperate need of water. Low flows and high-water temperatures are the norm. The term “sad” is used by many people to describe the current situation.
Despite all this, there are signs of hope for next season due to the number of grilse being reported in many rivers. More northerly rivers such as St-Paul’s on the lower north shore of Quebec have had, until recently, particularly good angling. Brenda Nadeau shared a photo of her husband Phillip about to land a mature salmon in one of the pools at the upper camp.
You will find enclosed comparative charts of mid-season snap-shot numbers on rivers where data was available at the time this is document is being distributed. You will notice the increase in the number of grilse compared to the last few seasons. Some rivers have not been able to complete mid-season assessments because many rivers are sharing biologists.
Let’s all hope nature will come to the rescue soon to help our favourite fish. Until then, I hope to meet you along a river during the month of September and please don’t hesitate to send me details of your fishing experiences and photos during the 2025 season.”
Rivers in New Brunswick have been closed entirely, and a forest-entry ban is in place. Miramichi in particular has been battling a large uncontrolled forest fire close to the city. ASF’s New Brunswick Program Director brings us some details of these river closures, and some of the silver linings to this year’s extreme weather. David Roth writes:
“As of August 10 at 12:01 a.m., all Crown lands in New Brunswick are closed due to extreme wildfire risk. This province-wide measure prohibits all industrial and recreational activity, including fishing access, until conditions improve. Camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds, and the public is urged to avoid entering forested areas.
Warm water protocols have also been implemented on several salmon rivers. Effective August 9, the Nepisiguit River is closed from the Highway 11 Bridge in Bathurst upstream to the Nepisiguit Falls dam (excluding tributaries). Beginning August 11 at 4:00 p.m., the entire Miramichi River watershed has been closed to all angling until water conditions improve. On the Restigouche system, the Upsalquitch River and a section of the Restigouche River are also closed under the same protocols. Sustained hot, dry weather has led to elevated water temperatures and low flows, creating stressful conditions for wild Atlantic salmon.
I spoke with several local DFO officers this week about potential salmon mortalities during the current heat wave. Encouragingly, no mortalities have been observed so far.
There is also a silver lining to the low water conditions. The ASF field team is using this period to complete the final installation of our PIT telemetry antenna systems in the Northwest Miramichi. The system will run until early November, allowing us to work out any operational issues before next year’s field season. In 2026, the array will play a central role in detecting returning adult salmon as part of our trap and transport program—an important tool in supporting salmon conservation efforts in the watershed.
I also received encouraging news on salmon returns this season. While fish movement has stalled under current warm water conditions, counts to date align with anglers’ observations that 2025 is shaping up to be a strong grilse year. For example, at the Nashwaak counting fence, 90 of the 99 fish recorded so far have been grilse.”
