Projects funded under the Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

Project: Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Surface Waters of the Lower Wolastoq/Saint John River

Proponent: Belleisle Watershed Coalition Inc.

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $132,948 over 3 years

This project will conduct a baseline assessment of pre- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the lower Wolastoq/Saint John River, communicate findings to the community and raise awareness of the issues of PFAS contamination in aquatic ecosystems.

Project: Determining Sources of Pollution in the Greater Saint John area of the Wolastoq Watershed

Proponent: Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) Saint John Inc.

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $172,245 over 3 years.

This project will  monitor water quality in Saint John’s urban waterways and assess sources of nutrient and fecal bacteria pollution. A final report will share the results with residents and recommend actions to improve waterway health.

Project: Blooming into Real-Time Action: A Multi-Partner Approach to Real-Time Cyanobacteria Genera Identification and Cyanobacteria Bloom Prediction throughout the Wolastoq-Saint John River Watershed

Proponent: Hammond River Angling Association Inc.

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $228,202 over 2 years

This project will deploy Algae Trackers across the watershed to collect real-time cyanobacteria data through a multi-partner network.  The data will support early detection of harmful algal blooms and help identify the stressors that trigger the formation of cyanobacteria. It was also help the public identify cyanobacteria and keep harmful substances from entering waterways.

Project: Cyanobacteria in the Wolastoq:  Examining Cyanotoxin Potential and the Role of Nutrients and Stress

Proponent: Maliseet Nation Conservation Council

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $181,930 over 3 years

This project will survey water quality, microbial diversity, and toxin potential, while testing new methods of cyanobacteria detection. It will also study the role of stressors on anatoxin production in benthic cyanobacteria. Traditional Knowledge from Wolastoqey Elders/Knowledge keepers will be collected to complement Western science and increase overall knowledge on conditions that lead to harmful algal blooms.

Project: Lakes as Sentinels of Environmental Change in the Wolastoq Watershed

Proponent: Mount Allison University

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $194,500 over 3 years

This project will improve knowledge of historic dissolved oxygen concentrations and related algal production trends in lakes within the Wolastoq/Saint John River watershed. Core sediment samples will be used to better understand lake health over time and identify potential causes of harmful algal blooms.

Project: Sustainable Solutions: Nutrient Reduction through Urban Stormwater Management in the lower Wolastoq

Proponent: Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) Saint John Inc.

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $199,800 over 3 years.

This project will improve ecosystem and freshwater health by reducing nutrient loading in the Greater Saint John Region of the Wolastoq/Saint John River. It will implement green infrastructure measures within the watershed, including stormwater retention and/or diversion projects such as bioswales, rain gardens, and retention ponds.

 

Project: Agricultural Edge: Protecting Freshwater through Sustainable Riparian Buffers on Farms

Proponent: Nature New Brunswick

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $100,000 over 3 years

The project will engage farmers and landowners to establish enhanced farming practices which will reduce nutrient inputs and improve freshwater health of the Wolastoq/Saint John River. Project activities include riparian restoration such as buffer zones, developing riparian management plans, and community outreach.

 

Project: A Watershed-Based Approach to Assessing Point and Non-Point Nutrient Loads in the Wolastoq/St. John River

Proponent: St. John River Society Inc.

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $129,909 over 3 years.

This project will build a Nutrient Flow Model for the Wolastoq/Saint John River, updating and enhancing a previous model completed in 2016. The project will update water quality data sets, collect new data, and incorporate dynamic modelling to better understand nutrient contributions from the river’s tributaries. The project will enhance knowledge of overall nutrient inputs to the river, identifying areas of concern for further action on nutrient reduction.

Project: Reducing Nutrient Loading Through Implementing Agriculture BMPs on the Kennebecasis

Proponent: Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $106,996 over 3 years

This project will reduce nutrient and pesticide run-off on farms by using beneficial management practices. Farm tours for agricultural partners across New Brunswick will highlight and promote these practices. This project will create an Agri-riparian health assessment tool to assess riparian areas to mitigate erosion, buffer stream temperatures and reduce nutrient and pollutant laden run-off.

 

Project: From Data to Stewardship: Addressing Barriers and Gaps in the Wolastoq River Watershed

Proponent: Atlantic Water Network

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $177,361 over 3 years

This project will help create new community-based water quality monitoring programs that fill data gaps in the Wolastoq/Saint John River watershed. It will also offer hands-on water monitoring workshops and toolkits to groups in data-deficient regions.

Project: Advancing Science and Indigenous Knowledge for Improving Water Quality in the Wolastoq (St. John River) and Addressing Nutrient Pollution, Harmful Algal Blooms, and Ecosystem Health

Proponent: Maliseet Nation Conservation Council

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $195,000 over 2 years

This project will combine scientific research and Indigenous knowledge to understand and address how excess nutrients, harmful algal blooms, and pollutants impact water quality and ecosystem health of the Wolastoq/Saint John River. This will be accomplished by training Wolastoqey community members to conduct water quality monitoring and analysis and increasing knowledge about the river while supporting Indigenous capacity building.

Project: Skitkomiqey nutankeyutikecik - Using bivalves as Indigenous bioindicators of contamination to understand harmful pollutants in the Wolastoq River

Proponent: Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $200,000 over 3 years

This project will study freshwater mussel feces to test for pollutants and/or nutrients in the Wolastoq/Saint John River watershed. Combining Western science with Indigenous Knowledge, it will train local Indigenous workers in bivalve bioindicator analysis and monitoring and increase public awareness and engagement on water quality protection.

 

Project: Ntôpom Awâsis - Revitalizing Waters: An Indigenous Approach to Enhancing Water Quality

Proponent: New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council

Wolastoq/Saint John River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative Funding: $209,000 over 3 years

This project will bring together Western science and Indigenous knowledge to identify key threats to the health of the Wolastoq/Saint John River watershed. It will try new ways to use Two-Eyed Seeing in water quality monitoring.  Through community engagement and capacity building, the project aims to raise awareness about sustainable resource management practices within the watershed.