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As someone new to fly-fishing, I spent the summer piecing together flies, techniques, and fishing spots. I took every chance I had to get on the water, but I always seemed to go to great places at the wrong time, or get the time right but end up at the wrong place.
On the very last day of the season, I finally arrived where I knew there were fish. The water was cold, we had just had some rain, and I (theoretically) had the right tools for the job.
This is the highest stretch of the Nepisiguit River that is accessible to Atlantic Salmon. Its furthest reaches are blocked by an impassable natural barrier—Nepisiguit Falls—and a dam. Here, the river is wide and shallow.
“There’s lots of salmon in there,” Shane Daigle, a guide from the nearby private lodge told me when I walked up to the pool in my cheap green neoprene waders. He was fishing for fun with his cousin.
“They’re rolling. But they’re not biting,” he said.
He thought there were at least 15 to 20 fish in this section of deeper water. He gave me a few generous tips, and then continued working down and back to the road.
I stood near the top of the pool, seemingly alone for miles in all directions, in one of the most beautiful places in the world, knowing there are Atlantic salmon within casting distance.
There is an electricity to knowing there are fish around you.
Cast into a new road-side brook, and if you don’t see any signs of life within 20 minutes, you start wondering what you are even doing with your life, in more ways than one. But spot the ripples of one rise, and suddenly each cast is charged with potential.
While I tried to cover the water methodically by swinging my fly in the current a little further away each time, I thought of everything I had learned about Atlantic salmon this year, and all the work people do to understand and help this species throughout Eastern Canada and Maine.
I started the season on a lower section of this very river, watching ASF’s Kris Hunter and Jon Carr, along with folks from the Nepisiguit Salmon Association and Pabineau First Nation battle this current over two days while they installed a smolt wheel. It was a glimpse into the dedicated on-the-ground work being done, and the collaboration between ASF’s Wild Salmon Watersheds program and its partners. Kris, Regional Director for Wild Salmon Watersheds, was “very pleased” with the accomplishments this year.
“It’s always nice to feel you’ve built something and to get that on the ground progress,” he said. “It’s one of the nice things about Wild Salmon Watersheds, it really is all about creating impact with our partners, and delivering on our mandate of conserving, restoring, and actually addressing problems, and making progress.”
Like everywhere else, there were more rocks out of the water on this stretch of the Nepisiguit this summer than usual. Drought and warm water led to unprecedented river closures in some areas. But amazingly, this led to fewer salmon mortalities than you might have expected.
“Which means that all of the work being done enhancing thermal refugia—so monitoring and creating more cold habitat for fish to use when there are such events—is working,” said Valérie Ouellet, ASF’s Vice President of Research and Environment. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t be worried about high water temperatures and low flows, but it’s proof that the collective work that’s being done in improving thermal refugia actually seems to be working and that brings me hope.”
It was a grey day on my home river, but its beauty certainly wasn’t lost on me. I couldn’t help but feel proud to be connected in a small way to an organization fighting to protect places like these, and the ecosystems within them.
The biggest story of this season came towards the end—the Kennebec deal. An agreement was finally reached with Brookfield to purchase four major mainstem Kennebec River dams in Maine. ASF is very proud to be a leader with The Nature Conservancy on this historic project.
Nathan Wilbur, who also became ASF’s new President this summer, vividly remembers getting the news on a Friday afternoon. He called it “surreal.”
“I wouldn’t say a ‘surprise’—because we’ve been working our butts off on it,” he said. “But the opportunity came along much faster than we imagined it would a few years ago.”
ASF has been devoted to the restoration of the Kennebec for decades, heavily involved in efforts to sustain and grow the salmon population on the Sandy River, above the four dams in this sale agreement.
Most recently, ASF raised $45 million dollars in less than a year to contribute to the purchase. That was possible because this project resonates so strongly with conservationists.
“This is tremendously important for Atlantic salmon in the US,” Nathan said. “Coupled with our work to remove major dams on the Penobscot River, restoring the Kennebec is the key to getting Atlantic salmon off the endangered species list.”
The next big step will be establishing the Kennebec River Restoration Trust, which will officially own and operate the dams. There are many years of hard work ahead. ASF is no stranger to large, complicated projects, but this is certainly among the biggest and most ambitious.
“In the sense of opening up river miles,” Nathan said. “It will be the largest river restoration project in the world, reconnecting nearly 900 river miles to the Gulf of Maine.”
Keep your eyes out for an extended Q&A with Nathan about the Kennebec that will be available soon.
Back on the Nepisiguit, I was startled by my phone alarm. Every trip to a river has ended the same way—that familiar alarm jingle that haunts my mornings, followed by calculating how fast I would have to run back to the truck if I just take a few more “final” casts. I’m beginning to think there may never be enough time for fishing.
As much as I would have liked to have landed a salmon my first season fishing, I honestly didn’t care. I was just happy to know they were there.
Inspired by ASF's work? Help us continue protecting wild Atlantic salmon and the rivers they call home.
Kris Hunter, Regional Director for Wild Salmon Watersheds, took time to reflect on the successes of the Wild Salmon Watersheds program this year. He writes:
“As the third field season for the Wild Salmon Watersheds program draws nearer to its close, I have been reflecting back on what was accomplished thus far this year. The work that our partners and staff have accomplished has been truly fantastic.
This year, in addition to all the other work that was done outside of Wild Salmon Watersheds, we were able to expand our smolt wheel monitoring from the Terra Nova and Nepisiguit rivers to now include the Cheticamp, expand electrofishing effort , and increase habitat characterization and assessment. We expanded lake and hydrometric monitoring, conducted more intensive water quality surveys, and conducted assessments on other key species in the Nepisiguit (benthic invertebrates and freshwater mussels) and the Terra Nova (lamprey).
We expanded our efforts at remote sensing, adding in a long-range DeltaQuad Evo drone that we are currently training on and developing protocols for. We deployed a RiverWatcher remote handsfree counting system on the Terra Nova (2nd ever unit in Eastern Canada), and we worked on establishing new PIT tag monitoring stations. And our field season isn’t wrapped up yet.
WSW Science Coordinator Jordan Condon is currently working with our partners and will spend most of November conducting redd count training and assisting in these assessments.
In addition to the fieldwork—which is essential for us to paint the picture of what is and isn’t working within these watersheds and take meaningful action—I am proud that we have also been able to support a lot with our partners in their communities.
We held an event in Cheticamp as part of World Wild Salmon Day, supported FABEC’s work in NL with youth engagement through the schools, and conducted some indigenous youth engagement in Cape Breton, some of which was highlighted at our very successful 3rd annual Wild Salmon Watershed Network meeting in Glovertown, NL in September.
We were also able to support participation by staff and program partners in numerous capacity-building activities (e.g. Swiftwater safety training, electrofishing certification, fish handling, thermal imaging, wilderness first aid training, etc). We are now working on a partnership that will help us better build the capacity of ASF and its partners to understand the social dynamics and needs in the local communities, to ensure that our work through Wild Salmon Watersheds is truly integrated and can generate the local leadership legacy of stewardship we envisioned as a key part of the program.
I cannot help but feel proud of the work that has been accomplished by our partners and staff, and I’m excited for a busy planning season and year 4 of the program.”
Ellen Mansfield, ASF’s Office Manager for Research and Environment, describes a picturesque close to fieldwork season, and a reminder that the change of seasons are just transitions, not ends. She writes:
“Summer’s warmth is gone, the leaves displayed their beautiful colours for us and now have fallen to the ground, children are excited for Halloween, and the time has come to bring the field equipment back and place it in storage for the winter season.
The fall season brings us into the spawning season and redd counts. It also means that all data is now being analyzed and validated, so we can report on it during the winter months.
Our Research Team is already starting to prepare for the next season, looking at orders and schedules. Grant writing season has begun as well. We are working with partners on applications to support ongoing research from local to broad-scale questions about Atlantic salmon productivity and survival.
We are also starting a series of workshops, for a climate resilience tool that is being developed. This will take the form of an interactive web-mapping tool that visualizes watersheds based on their resilience index score and provides additional information on the drivers contributing to their respective scores. This will equip ASF and partners with a tool to support decision-making, such as actions required to increase climate resilience within a watershed, and prioritization of where these actions take place. ”
Graham Chafe, a Senior Biologist with ASF, was with in Nova Scotia testing the capabilities of a new research drone. He wrote:
“Kris, Jordan, Aaron and I were in Antigonish last week for some drone practice and training. We had the new Deltaquad fixed-wing drone out and were eager to fly it for the first time.
We practiced route-planning, take-offs and landings and completed a thermal survey of a small section of the West River for a trial. We also used our Research drone—a quadcopter that is also equipped with a thermal camera to compare results from the two.
Luck was on our side and we had two days of good weather with low winds—perfect for flying. Some big fields, and a helpful landowner that let us fly all day long, let us see what we could do. These drones will be useful for identifying cold water patches, and thermal snapshots of river sections. The DeltaQuad, with LIDAR capabilities, will also help categorize land use patterns around rivers of interest.”
It’s not too late to join our NYC 43rd Annual New York Gala on November 5, 2025!
This is ASF’s biggest event and this year we’re celebrating Chad Pike, the Chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, for his extraordinary efforts to save our wild Atlantic salmon. The event includes an amazing silent and live auction, which you can take participate in online.
ASF would also appreciate your efforts to spread the word to your many connections in the sporting and conservation world to attend this event and support our auction.
Our annual NYC event is always a great congregation of passionate salmon conservationists and anglers.
A Canadian fundraiser was also recently held in Toronto. Bill Bullock, ASF’s Vice President, Development, was at the event. He wrote:
“ASF held the sold-out Toronto Benefactor Dinner on October 16, 2025. Attendees were treated to a wonderful evening of conservation and camaraderie.
Our new President Nathan Wilbur was our featured speaker in a one-on-one conversation with award winning Canadian journalist and television host Valerie Pringle. Nathan detailed the challenges facing our wild Atlantic salmon, but he also shared his optimism for the species given the progress we’re making in our priority programs such as Headwaters and Wild Salmon Watersheds.
This year’s event set new records for fundraising that will go directly into our Canadian conservation programs.
A huge shout out to Dinner Chair Curtis McCone and his dinner committee who continue to pull out all the stops for Salmo salar in Toronto! “
Charles Cusson, ASF’s Quebec Program Director, has a PDF for us with tables from 22 Quebec rivers comparing the reported catches over the last six years. Some of these show dramatically higher numbers this year compared to the two previous years. He writes:
“Comme j’ai indiqué dans l’édition du 2 octobre, vous trouverez ci-joint un tableau comparatif pour les années 2025 (données préliminaires) en incluant 2020 à 2024.
Un fait encourageant se concrétise avec le dénombrement des saumons où les données sont disponibles dans le cas des madeleineaux. Pour l’instant, c’est encore un mystère non résolu, ce qui a causé la diminution marquée de ces poissons en 2023 et 2024.
Ce qui est important c’est le signe encourageant que leur présence a annoncé l’été dernier en anticipation de la saison 2026.
À la saison prochaine.”
English:
“As indicated in the October 2nd issue, you will find enclosed a comparative graph for the years 2025 (preliminary data) which includes 2020 to 2024.
An encouraging fact is materializing, following salmon counts where data is available, in the case of grilse. For now, it is still an unsolved mystery as to what caused the marked decline in these fish in 2023 and 2024.
What is important is the encouraging sign that their presence was announced last summer in anticipation of the 2026 season.
All the best and we will see you next season.”
David Roth, ASF’s New Brunswick Program Director, reflects on some of the work, challenges, and reasons to optimistic as the last of the New Brunswick rivers close to Salmon angling this week. He writes:
“With the Atlantic salmon angling season coming to an end this week across New Brunswick’s rivers, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on what has been a remarkable and encouraging year. After the record-low returns of 2024, everyone was glad to see that salmon numbers across the province improved significantly in 2025.
This season was clearly defined by a strong run of grilse-sized Atlantic salmon, an encouraging sign that marine survival conditions for young salmon have improved. The hope now is that this trend will continue into 2026, when we look forward to seeing many of these fish return as maiden two-sea-winter salmon.
Despite the improved returns, 2025 also presented its share of challenges. A persistent lack of rainfall across much of the province led to extremely low water conditions throughout the summer and fall. As a result salmon are still being observed entering rivers unusually late in the season and next year’s electrofishing surveys will tell us if, despite the challenging spawning conditions, the fish were able to deposit their eggs in a well situated redd.
It was also an exceptionally active year for research and conservation in New Brunswick. ASF and its partners were involved in several key initiatives, including:
Fieldwork is still ongoing, with redd surveys currently underway in several watersheds. We’re also continuing to monitor large PIT antenna systems in the Northwest Miramichi to detect any late-arriving fish. Excitingly, in the coming days we will integrate a new piece of technology from VisAdvies—the first of its kind in North America—into these PIT systems for the remainder of the season, to improve the data collection quality of the systems.
As we wrap up another productive year, planning is already well underway to expand many of these research and conservation projects for 2026. With improved returns, innovative technology, and continued collaboration, there’s real momentum building for the future of wild Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick.”
ASF’s Newfoundland and Labrador Program Director, Kim Thompson, brings us information from a report on the climate data from this year, and how it compares to previous years. She also has an announcement about Headwaters funding in her province. She writes:
“With the last of the Rivernotes for the 2025 season I thought it fitting to provide the Newfoundland and Labrador Quarterly Climate Summary for Summer 2025 (June, July & August).
As per the report: ‘Mostly warmer than normal temperatures this summer were driven by warm temperatures in July over Labrador and June and July over Newfoundland. Precipitation was near to below normal for the whole region, despite some periods of above average during the season. Large areas of the province saw less than 75% of normal, with some less than 60% of normal precipitation. The areas that had the least precipitation compared to climatology were over western Labrador and eastern Newfoundland where around half of the normal amount of precipitation fell. Bonavista had its 8th driest summer since records began in 1956. Colder than normal sea surface temperatures in the Labrador Sea continued through each month, while Newfoundland waters were near to slightly above. The NRCan Canadian Wildland Forestry Information Service (CWFIS) reported that as of August 27, 2025, the number of fires (to date) in the province was near 2.5 times the 10-year average, and the estimated area burned (to date) was 1.5 times the 10-year average.’
To read the full report and previous NL quarterly reports visit Newfoundland and Labrador | Arctic Regional Climate Centre Network.
Congratulations to the Gander Bay Indian Band Council (GBIBC) as a recipient of our Headwaters program funding. Late this summer with all local environmental regulations and safety standards fulfilled, GBIBC successfully removed a collapsed old bridge on Beaver Brook. With this barrier now eliminated, salmonids can continue to migrate upstream with access to valuable spawning habitat at Otter Pond, which is all part of the Gander River watershed. “
Kris Hunter, the Program Director for Prince Edward Island, provides and update on the Headwaters projects in the province. He writes:
“A few weeks ago, I was able to check out our third PEI Headwaters project from this year. The first two Headwaters projects, on the North and Miminegash Rivers, were successful, improving passability and addressing warm water. The third project was on Long Creek, a tributary of the Mill River, one of two salmon rivers on PEI that are open for salmon fishing.
Long Creek is a historic salmon river that is very productive, but doesn’t seem to have salmon every year. The local group, the Cascumpec Bays Watershed Association, has been working to investigate and address this by working on fish passage and habitat in the system. Their Headwaters project was to replace two farm crossings consisting of multiple small culverts that were ineffective at passing fish and creating upstream impoundments with single span open bottom structures.
John Lane, the Watershed Coordinator for the Cascumpec association was optimistic that this work—which was supported by ASF and the local farmers—would have a positive impact on the system. ASF was able to help, not only financially, but with some of the assessment work downstream. While we didn’t find salmon this year, the productivity and potential of the system was impressive. Like John, I am looking forward to seeing the benefits of this project in the future.”
Kris also checked in with the PEI Watershed Alliance. He writes:
“This past week I spoke to Rebecca Ramos, a monitoring specialist with the PEI Watershed Alliance at the Atlantic Society of Fish and Wildlife Biologists about the work that they have been doing with their affiliates and partners on PEI for salmon. She commented that it has been a very good year for salmon work, even if the weather didn’t exactly provide the best conditions.
As the lead staff member for salmon with the Alliance Rebecca spent a lot of time this year visiting with all the PEI salmon groups, working with them to help them refine and get their protocols right—particularly electrofishing and redd counts, which are an important part of the assessment and monitoring aspects of salmon conservation on PEI.
She was also involved with the Alliance’s work with Central Queens Wildlife to install a floating fence and RiverWatcher system that counts free swimming fish in the West River System.
This on the ground work is part of a broader effort by the Alliance and organizations on PEI on a provincial salmon strategy.
In addition to working with the groups directly, Rebecca has also been coordinating with UPEI researchers and PEI Fish and Wildlife, under the guidance of a salmon technical committee. The goal is to address salmon needs on PEI and bolster that population to aid in region-wide salmon conservation.
One cool find from all this work was the discovery of salmon by UPEI research in a small system near West Point PEI that had previously been extirpated.”
Hannah Murnaghan, Watershed Coordinator with the Morell River Management Cooperative submitted a report looking back on the work they’ve done this year. She writes:
“This year’s field work focused on improving connectivity within the Morell River watershed and creating thermal refuge for Atlantic salmon and brook trout. Over the course of the season, the MRMC crew removed blockages and restored access to nearly 50 kilometers of in-stream habitat, including cold water tributaries for these cold-water species to thrive.
Beyond the water’s edge, the crew planted 1,000 native trees including yellow birch, red oak, eastern hemlock, and sugar maple along the riparian zone. These plantings will one day offer cooling shade, help stabilize streambanks, and increase the diversity of the riparian forest along the Morell River.
Thanks to support from the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, MRMC also expanded data collection efforts. Temperature monitoring and bathymetric surveys were completed throughout the watershed to help pinpoint areas that could benefit from future restoration work.
This summer also marked a major milestone: 50 years of wilderness protection along the Morell River. Back in 1975, the Morell and Area Land Use Steering Committee established Prince Edward Island’s first legislated Conservation Zone along the Morell River. This designation protects a 60-metre buffer on each side of the river from development, preserving its wilderness for wildlife and the community alike.
As the leaves turn, fall fieldwork continues in full swing. The MRMC crew is busy notching beaver dams to help brook trout and Atlantic salmon reach their spawning grounds. Twelve dams have already been notched this season. Electrofishing index surveys have been completed in partnership with the Department of Forests, Fish and Wildlife, and redd surveys are set to begin in mid-November.
From habitat restoration to data collection and community celebration, 2025 has been a year of steady progress and appreciation for the river that continues after half a century of conservation efforts.”
Jon Viti, ASF’s Piscataquis River Project Manager, presented plans for the Mayo Mill dam removal. He writes:
“On Monday the 27th, I went up to Dover-Foxcroft where we are working on a project to remove the Mayo Mill dam in town. Eileen Bader-Hall, from The Nature Conservancy, and I presented project updates to the selectboard and members of the public. We were able to provide a timeline and scope of work to the town so they know what to expect in the coming years. We are planning for removal in 2028! The meeting went well and folks were very appreciative that we made the trip to Dover-Foxcroft to be there in person.”
Cat Morse, ASF’s Habitat Restoration Project Manager, travelled from Bar Harbor to Bangor, with partners in the Penobscot River Restoration Trust. She writes:
“On Saturday, October 18th, 2025, ASF joined a specialty cruise from Bar Harbor, up the Penobscot River to Bangor, with the fellow organizations that founded the Penobscot River Restoration Trust (PRRT). The cruise was an opportunity for the Trust members to speak about the history of the river, dam removal, and the importance of restoring fish passage.
Restoration on the Penobscot River is a critical component of protecting endangered Atlantic salmon in Maine. The river and its tributaries—including the Piscataquis and Pleasant River, both active ASF project sites—host the largest returning population of Atlantic salmon in the United States. ASF shared information on the life cycle of Atlantic salmon and our Headwaters Projects in the watershed.
It was a great trip. We hope that more people continue to support the efforts of PRRT and ASF and gain a better understanding of how salmon are “sea-run fish” and connect all parts of Maine.”
Deirdre Green, ASF’s Executive Director of Regional Programs, wraps up the season in Nova Scotia, with a final update on conditions in the province. She writes:
“As October draws to a close, Nova Scotia’s salmon rivers are finally getting a much-needed boost of rain, and with it, a sense of optimism that’s been hard to come by this season.
After a prolonged drought through most of the season, a series of late-October systems brought widespread rainfall across the province. Within the last week, most regions received 25–50 mm of rain, with localized pockets in Cape Breton and along the Northumberland Strait and Eastern Shore seeing closer to 60 mm. These welcome totals have lifted flows across salmon watersheds throughout much of the province.
The Weather Network described this event as “beneficial rainfall” that will help replenish streams and moderate conditions for fish movement throughout Atlantic Canada. That improvement was quickly visible on the water.
Charles MacInnis, Habitat Biologist, reported on October 28: “We finally got some decent rain, and the rivers are on the rise. I saw salmon jumping and on the move this morning on the main branch of the St. Mary’s–a welcome sight with spawning just days away.” Encouraging words from the field at exactly the right time of year.”
Deirdre also provided a recap on the work by the Antigonish Rivers Association. She writes:
“The Antigonish Rivers Association (ARA) has had an active and inspiring fall. Allison White, Watershed Stewardship Coordinator, shared the following highlights from their recent work:
Community Engagement: ARA hosted both a Spey-casting clinic and a women’s fly-casting clinic, led by instructor Neil Houlding. The events drew strong interest and plenty of laughter, part of ARA’s broader goal to make angling and river stewardship more inclusive and welcoming.
Restoration Planning: Field crews have been walking tributaries throughout the region, mapping potential instream restoration sites for the years ahead. Guided by watershed plans developed in recent seasons, these efforts aim to assist the natural processes of the river, recognizing that nature is always trying to heal itself and sometimes just needs a little help.
Beaver Dam Assessments: The team has been evaluating known dam sites to ensure fish passage during the spawning migration. When a dam poses a full barrier, it is selectively notched but never destroyed. As Allison notes, “Beavers provide vital ecosystem services, improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, and helping regulate floods and droughts.”
Spawning Surveys: With rivers now rising, ARA plans to begin spawning-survey work in early November across restoration sites completed within the past four years.
Photos from the field capture the season perfectly: golden leaves in headwater tributaries, beaver ponds and wetlands teeming with activity, and dedicated volunteers working alongside ARA’s field crew in the crisp fall air.”
Deirdre concludes with the encouraging signs for salmon:
“With rain finally lifting water levels, conditions have improved just in time, salmon are now moving toward spawning sites across Nova Scotia. These increased flows will improve access to spawning habitat in upper reaches, provide the depth and velocity cues that trigger redd construction, and help restore connectivity and substrate conditions that support successful egg deposition and incubation following an extended low-water period.
As we close out the 2025 Rivernotes season, this late-October rainfall feels like nature’s own closing chapter. With field crews, volunteers, and partners like ARA keeping close watch, and salmon now on the move across the province, there’s every reason to end the season on a hopeful note.”
Amy Weston, the Managing Director of the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA) submitted this recap of the season, including restoration work, the West River Sheet Harbour Acid Rain Mitigation Project, and upcoming redd surveys. She writes:
“Despite one of the driest seasons in recent memory, restoration efforts across Nova Scotia continued—bringing hope to our rivers and the iconic Atlantic salmon. Under the NSSA’s guidance, some 20 partner organizations completed restoration work to improve productivity and climate resilience in approximately 80 watercourses throughout the province.
In other exciting news, 2025 marks the 20th year of NSSA’s West River Sheet Harbour Acid Rain Mitigation Project. NSSA’s Field Technician, Russell Jackson, shared that on October 29th, after the severe drought conditions this summer, flow levels have finally increased enough for resumed river-direct lime doser operations and treatment of the West River.
Russell also noted that the recent rains came at a critical time for Atlantic salmon with spawning season about to begin.
“Low pH during spawning can have a significant impact on the success of egg fertilization, and incubation,” he said. “Having the lime dosers functioning during the spawn ensures we are giving the next generation of Atlantic salmon a chance to exist.”
For those interested in getting their boots wet this November, the NSSA is offering three salmon redd survey field days around the province: on the Skye River, Cape Breton Nov. 10, the Barney’s River, Pictou Co. Nov. 12, and the LaHave River, near Bridgewater Nov. 20.
These field days are designed to provide technical advice to groups and volunteers who are interested in conducting their own redd surveys, which can provide valuable information regarding the distribution and presence of Atlantic salmon. For more details, reach out to Nick MacInnis, NSSA Manager of Restoration Programs at nicholas.macinnis@nssalmon.ca”
Field work is beginning to wrap up for the Margaree Salmon Association (MSA). Michael Fabiano, Watershed Coordinator with MSA writes.
“On October 23rd, members of the MSA and the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA) technical team welcomed students from the Natural Resources and Environmental Technology program from NSCC to learn how to conduct habitat suitability assessments. This is a very useful tool many watershed groups use to quantify how well a stretch of stream is functioning and if anything can be improved. MSA values the ability to teach technical skills to the next generation of environmental stewards.
On Monday October 27th, some of the crew from the MSA ventured up into the highlands to collect temperature loggers that have been recording data all summer. It was very difficult work accessing some locations as they required hikes down and back up the steep canyons of the upper Northeast Margaree watershed. However, the data made it all worth it. It was very exciting to see that, despite the unusually hot and dry summer we had, some tributaries managed to stay cool—barely peeking above 15°C all summer. Another highlight of the trip was the sighting of a large bull moose.
With the temperature loggers in, the Margaree Salmon Association’s field season is coming to a close, except for a few odd field days throughout the winter.
MSA wants to thank all of our funders, partners, board members, and staff for such a successful field season. Until next year!”
Jillian Baker, Project Manager with the Chéticamp River Salmon Association (CRSA), sent us a report on how the CRSA has wrapped up their season, with continued fieldwork, retrieving water temperature loggers, and preparing for further work this fall. She writes:
“The Cheticamp River Salmon Association (CRSA) has continued to be busy through October, with fieldwork including completing habitat suitability index assessments, drone surveys, and collecting more water quality data.
Most recently, the CRSA retrieved the remainder of their 36 water temperature loggers. The final two loggers were located at the Cheticamp River reservoir where they had been recording surface and bottom temperatures since their deployment at the start of the summer. Lucky for the CRSA, DFO Fishery Officers were once again happy to help with the retrieval of these loggers, providing transport for CRSA’s Field Technicians (including travel by boat). Staff at DFO’s Regional office in Cheticamp have been supporting the CRSA since 2017, the year the CRSA initiated a more expansive and long-term water temperature monitoring study in the Cheticamp River watershed. This year, DFO also helped the CRSA collect additional water quality data at 11 sites in and around the reservoir.
The remainder of the fall should also be productive for the CRSA with staff already working on formatting and analyzing their data, while also preparing for redd surveys and fall planting, as well as planning for next year’s field season.”