Grand Lake Basin Ecoregion

This ecoregion is a low-lying basin in the south-central area of the province. It surrounds Grand Lake and includes part of the broad valleys of the Saint John and Oromocto rivers. Elevations tend to be very low, ranging from 150 metres to just above sea level. A significant feature of this ecoregion is Grand Lake. The extremely large size of this lake (16,500 hectares) has a significantly moderating influence on the surrounding climate. The lake acts as a heat sink, storing heat during the summer and releasing it in the fall. This extends the number of frost-free days. This ecoregion has the highest temperatures in the province.

Climate is warm and moderately dry. A wide range of tree species grows here. Several - including bur oak, ironwood, basswood, butternut, white ash, green ash and silver maple - are almost exclusive to this ecoregion. These species occur most commonly on the river valley's fertile, alluvial floodplains.

Provincial Committee
Scientific Committee

Eastern Lowlands Ecoregion

The Eastern Lowlands Ecoregion is a vast area of flat-to-gently-rolling terrain sweeping along the entire eastern side of the province - from Dalhousie in the north, to Sackville in the southeast. Elevations are quite low, ranging from sea level along the coast up to 150 metres in the more central parts. The climate is warm and dry. Much of the moisture is carried by air masses in a westerly or southwesterly direction. It then is intercepted by the mountains of the Highlands Ecoregion or the hills of the Fundy Coastal and Valley Lowlands ecoregions. As a result, this ecoregion is the driest in the province.

Its forests are predominantly coniferous due to the flatness of the terrain and poorly-drained acidic soil. Fire-adapted species such as jack pine and black spruce are abundant due to the long dry summers which are associated with an increased frequency of forest fires relative to other areas of the province. Vast peat lands are a prominent feature of this ecoregion.

Site Description

The Grand Lake site, represented by 21 individual parcels, covers 11,617 hectares. The terrain is largely flat, with elevations ranging from just above sea level (next to the Saint John River), to a height of 160 metres in the upland areas. This site captures a broad area extending along the Saint John River from Lower Jemseg along the Grand Lake to Upper Maugerville. This portion of the site is largely a broad flat floodplain. Much of the area between Lower Jemseg and McGowans Corner is a wetland meadow frequently covered in water. This is the largest wetland in the province. Further up river, the land is rich, alluvial floodplain, receiving only seasonal or occasional spring flooding.