Sand Pond National Wildlife Area Management Plan: chapter 5
5 Management approaches
This section and the following table contain a description of all the possible approaches that could be used in the management of the Sand Pond National Wildlife Area (NWA). However, management actions will be determined during the annual work planning process and will be implemented as human and financial resources allow.
Currently, the most immediate threat to Sand Pond NWA is unauthorized use of off-road vehicles throughout the wetland habitat.
| Management challenge or threat | Goal and objective(s) | Management approach (actions, including level of priority)Footnote1 |
|---|---|---|
| Off-road vehicles (ORVs) cause extensive and long-lasting damage to the fragile wetland habitats within Sand Pond NWA. | Goal 2: Atlantic Coastal Plain Habitat is conserved.Objective 2.a: Atlantic Coastal Plain Habitat is protected from negative impacts of human activities, such as ORV use, use of pesticides and illegal dumping of garbage. |
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| Tourism and visitor activities such as camping, open fires, damage to vegetation and abandoned refuse present disturbance to nesting birds. | Goal 3: Habitat necessary for breeding and migrating migratory birds is conserved and maintained.Objective 3.a: Existing forested lands will be allowed to follow natural processes; timber harvesting will not be permitted. |
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Illegal dumping of household garbage results in site safety concerns and potential contamination issues. Residual agricultural pesticides within the food chain Predicted climate change |
Goal 1: Habitat necessary for staging, feeding and resting waterfowl is conserved and managed.Objective 1.b: Aquatic ecosystems are protected from negative impacts of human activities, such as use of pesticides. Goal 2: Atlantic Coastal Plain Habitat is conserved.Objective 2.a: Atlantic Coastal Plain Habitat is protected from negative impacts of human activities, such as ORV use, use of pesticides and illegal dumping of garbage. Goal 3: Habitat necessary for staging, feeding and resting waterfowl is conserved and managed.Objective 3.b: Terrestrial ecosystems are protected from negative impacts of human activities, such as use of ORV and pesticides. |
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| Lake water levels (Sand Pond) | Goal 1: Habitat necessary for staging, feeding and resting waterfowl is conserved and managed.Objective 1.a.: Water levels within Sand Pond will be allowed to fluctuate according to natural conditions (including beaver activity). Goal 2: Atlantic Coastal Plain Habitat is conserved.Objective 2.b.: Water levels within Sand Pond will be allowed to fluctuate according to natural conditions (including beaver activity). |
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| Forest fires | Goal 3: Habitat necessary for staging, feeding and resting waterfowl is conserved and managed.Objective 3.b: Terrestrial ecosystems are protected from negative impacts of human activities, such as use of ORV and pesticides. |
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5.1 Habitat management
5.1.1 Forests
Undisturbed forested areas will allow natural succession and events to occur. Exceptions would be made for the control of forest fires that could threaten adjacent properties and communities. Small sites in later stages of old-field succession, dominated by White Spruce, may be targeted for upland habitat management for selected wildlife species.
5.1.2 Alien and invasive plants
No management or control activities are required or anticipated at this time.
5.2 Wildlife management
No management for wildlife is anticipated at this time. To maintain habitat conditions for Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora, the water level of Sand Pond will be allowed to fluctuate in response to natural conditions, and the abandoned control structure at the outlet of Sand Pond will remain open.
5.3 Monitoring
Annual inspection visits, including periodic surveys of target species by Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service Atlantic, is a keystone of the monitoring program within Sand Pond NWA. The data obtained will be shared and incorporated into larger questions respecting the status of the various species over their ranges (for example, Bird Conservation Region planning).
Effective and efficient monitoring requires careful planning and a coordinated approach. Monitoring will also be carried out in a manner that contributes to meeting species at risk recovery strategy and action plan objectives, should such species become present in the NWA. Ongoing monitoring needs are as follows:
- Regional habitat changes, including adjacent land use using aerial photography or satellite imagery
- Human use (habitat damage, camping, open fires, soil disturbance and garbage left on site)
- Documenting and reporting evidence of illegal activities within Sand Pond NWA to the Wildlife Enforcement Division, therefore reducing or eliminating their occurrence in the NWA
- Water quality, especially for pesticides and organochlorines
- Contaminant residues from past agricultural activities (blueberry and cranberry production)
- Detailed bird survey
5.4 Research
Research activities will be considered for permitting when the results obtained through research have the potential for the following:
- Protecting, maintaining, restoring or enhancing naturally occurring habitats, especially those of Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora (ACPF)
- Recovering species at risk or conserving migratory birds
- Identifying and reducing the ecological risk of pesticides
- Maintaining wetlands in a state most beneficial to wetland-dependent wildlife
To obtain a permit in order to conduct research in Sand Pond NWA and to receive instructions on guidelines for research proposals, please contact:
National Wildlife Area - Research RequestEnvironment Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
17 Waterfowl Lane, P.O. Box 6227
Sackville NB E4L 1G6
Permit applications should be directed to: Permit application email
5.5 Public information and outreach
Information pertaining to Sand Pond NWA is available on the Environment Canada website. There are no on-site public education facilities within the NWA.
The unique character of Sand Pond NWA, its significance as habitat for ACPF, and the lack of visitor amenities or infrastructure encourage public education and awareness of the site through off-site means. The Canadian Wildlife Service Protected Areas website provides written information on this NWA as well as visual representations of the ecological resources and physical character of the site. Specific public information and outreach will be targeted to the local and provincial ORV associations.