This series of fact sheets presents details on water quality and
other information on various New Brunswick watersheds. The fact
sheets are designed for use by anyone interested in the province's
rivers and streams. Additional fact sheets will be added as they
become available. |
|
| Canaan River |
PPT
(12,238 kb) |
PDF
(165 kb) |
| Digdeguash River |
PPT
(9,801 kb) |
PDF
(142 kb) |
| Hammond River |
PPT
(12,573 kb) |
PDF
(170 kb) |
| Kennebecasis River |
PPT
(12,678 kb) |
PDF
(181 kb) |
| Magaguadavic River |
PPT (13,580 kb) |
PDF (170 kb) |
| Nashwaak River |
PPT (16,782 kb) |
PDF (181 kb) |
|
|
| Petitcodiac River |
PPT
(13,552 kb) |
PDF
(190 kb) |
| Restigouche River |
PPT
(13,484 kb) |
PDF
(187 kb) |
| Saint John River |
PPT
(17,052 kb) |
PDF
(178 kb) |
| Southwest Miramichi |
PPT (716 kb) |
PDF (354 kb) |
| St.Croix River |
PPT
(11,424 kb) |
PDF
(130 kb) |
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Each information poster contains the following
sections as described below:
 Location
This section shows where the watershed is located in
New Brunswick and provides information on its size.
 Physical
setting and Climate
This section shows a map of the watershed in relation
to provincial ecoregions. A brief summary of climatic conditions is also
provided. The climate data presented for each watershed can be compared
to results for other sites and areas of the province through this
Environment Canada web site.
Ecoregions are large areas of land that have similar environmental conditions,
vegetation and wildlife. The nature of an ecoregion
is determined by its location, topography, underlying rocks and soils, and
climate.
Fish community
This section provides information on the main species of fish that are known
to be found. The information presented is based on available survey information
and other species may be found in addition to those listed.
 Land
Use
This section shows a map that provides information on land use for the watershed,
in major categories such as forested, wetland, occupied or agriculture.
The proportion of land use in each category is also presented in the form
of a pie chart.
 Geology
Since a watershed is influenced by the underlying
bedrock, this section shows a geology map and provides information for the
major bedrock types found in the watershed.
Sedimentary rocks in New Brunswick are usually sandstones,
siltstones or shales. Igneous rocks in the province are mostly granitic
or volcanic.
Sedimentary rocks containing carbonate minerals are
also mapped. Generally, carbonate-rich and sedimentary bedrock is associated
with less acidic surface waters (higher pH level), whereas rivers on igneous
bedrock may be more acidic (lower pH level).
 Water
Quality Survey
This section shows the results of water quality
sampling. The period of sampling varies between watersheds, but the results
are usually based on at least 3-5 years of data.
Results are presented using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
(CCME) Water
Quality Index which is widely used across Canada. The index is based
on measurements of 14 different substances. The results are mapped, summarizing
average water quality for the period of the survey.
Key indicators
While the Water Quality Index is based on 14
substances, this section outlines four 'Key Indicators' that are of special
significance. Water sampling results in the watershed for each of these
four substances are compared to CCME water quality guidelines. E.coli
results are compared to the recreational
use guidelines. Dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate and pH are compared
to guidelines for freshwater
aquatic life. The pie charts show what percentage of the test results
met or did not meet the guidelines.
Dissolved oxygen or DO
DO is essential for fish and many other forms of aquatic life. DO varies
with temperature, tending to be higher when the water temperature is low.
DO can be measured in milligrams of oxygen per liter of water, or as oxygen
saturation given as a percentage.
E. coli
E. coli is short for Escherichia coli, a type of bacteria.
E. coli live primarily in the intestines of mammals and usually do not
live long in the environment. The presence of E.coli is therefore used
as an indicator of recent contamination by fecal matter, which may be
of human or animal origin. Typical sources include wildlife, farm animals,
and malfunctioning sewage systems (domestic or municipal). The presence
of E.coli usually has little effect on the health of aquatic life, but
may affect the suitability of the water for recreational use (such as
swimming). This is why the results are compared to recreational
use guidelines. Most E.coli is not itself hazardous to humans (with
the exception of some less common strains) but the presence of E.coli
indicates an increased risk that other more harmful pathogens may also
be present.
Nitrate
Elevated concentrations of nitrate containing compounds can be harmful
to aquatic life, and may contribute to excessive growth of algae or other
aquatic plants. This may in turn lead to a variety of other adverse impacts
including decreased oxygen levels and a reduction in biodiversity. When
continued over time, this effect is termed eutrophication, an effect that
can seriously affect the ecology and value of a water body. Major sources
of excess nitrate in rivers and streams include fertilizer runoff from
farm fields or domestic landscaping, runoff from manure piles, seepage
from septic systems or malfunctioning sewage systems.
Eutrophication: build up of excessive nutrients which causes a dense growth
of plant life, especially algae, which reduces the dissolved oxygen content,
and often causes the extinction of other organisms.
pH
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the
water. It affects how much other substances (such as metals) dissolve
in the water. Many organisms that live in water are sensitive to changes
in pH and may be adversely affected by pH that is either too high or low.
The pH varies naturally depending on bedrock, climate and vegetation cover,
but may also be affected by industrial or other effluents, the exposure
of some kinds of rock (for example during road construction) or drainage
from some mining operations.
Acid deposition ("acid rain") remains a concern in New Brunswick
and may contribute to pH values exceeding guidelines in some areas. This
is most likely to occur in watersheds with large proportions of acid-sensitive
bedrock (such as granite) and in the south, where acid deposition is greatest.
Community Involvement
In this section, information is given on community
groups or associations that are active in the protection and stewardship
of the watershed and lists some of their main interests or accomplishments.
Common recreational and other uses of the watershed are
also listed.
Summary
This section provides a summary of comments on the
main findings of the water quality survey results. In cases where water
quality did not meet all guidelines, information on the probable causes
is given, if known.
Additional Information
This final section includes contact information to
enable readers to obtain more detail on any item or to ask questions.
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