John Lusby Marsh National Wildlife Area Management Plan, 2016: chapter 3

3 Management challenges and threats

Activities that occur outside of the boundary of the National Wildlife Area (NWA) are beyond the scope of this management plan. However, many of these factors have direct bearing on the successful management of John Lusby Marsh NWA (Table 4). A summary of the more salient issues follows.

3.1 Ecotourism

There is little casual visitation to the John Lusby Marsh NWA due to its being 3 km from a paved road, and the prevalence of salt marsh mosquitoes during the summer months. There is some hunting activity in the NWA during the months of October through December.

3.2 Wind power

The Chignecto Isthmus is recognized as an important area for birds. The development of nearby wind turbine farms to generate electricity has the potential to harm birds directly, but a greater unknown is the impact on flight paths of birds around such farms. In effect, the birds avoid the area, and this important habitat set aside for wildlife loses its value and potential. A wind farm has been developed east of the NWA, and other wind farms are being proposed in the area. Further study is likely required, as some birds, such as the Common Eider (Somateria mollisima), are known to fly into existing human-made structures on the nearby Tantramar dykelands (MacKinnon and Kennedy 2011).

3.3 Tidal power

Energy demand is likely to increase interest in tidal power production in the Bay of Fundy. Biological research in the 1970s raised concerns about this technology, as earlier plans included full tidal barriers (Smith and Hicklin 1984). Current proposals are considered to have less potential impact compared with earlier technologies, but the actual impacts on the mudflats and adjacent wetlands are largely unknown.

3.4 Sea-level rise

The salt marshes at the head of the Bay of Fundy have developed over the past 4000 years by deposition of marine silts at the head of the bay in a fine balance between sea-level rise and coastal subsidence. For the past four millennia, this accumulation has been, on average, 30 cm per century. Anticipated sea-level rise caused by climate change may increase levels of silt accumulation to 100 cm over the next century. How these changes may impact the salt marsh at John Lusby Marsh NWA is uncertain. Increased coastal erosion is anticipated along the outer rim of Cumberland Basin, on the border of John Lusby Marsh NWA. This shoreline loss would result in a significant reduction in the size of the salt marsh at John Lusby Marsh NWA. These concerns are driving ongoing research initiatives focused on the John Lusby Marsh NWA and other salt marshes in the area (Morantz 1976; Graff 2004; Chmura and MacDonald 2006; Flanary and Chmura 2007; Olsen et al. 2006; Byers and Chmura 2007; MacDonald et al. 2010).

3.5 Off-road vehicle use

Off-road vehicle use is on the increase and has been demonstrated to be particularly damaging to wetlands. Such activity within John Lusby Marsh NWA is prohibited, and intrusions are not frequent. Fortunately, the treeless landscape of this NWA, coupled with a number of elevated upland vantage points, makes such activities relatively easy to identify and control. Vigilance and collaboration with the Wildlife Enforcement Division is ongoing.

3.6 Urban expansion

The upland ridge west of Amherst, Nova Scotia, has become an attractive residential area close to town. As a result, large farm properties around the NWA are being subdivided, with a gradual increase in housing along the west Amherst portion of the South Hampton Road. As land use changes, the forested upland buffer on private lands adjacent to the NWA becomes more susceptible to loss.