Maintaining water quality in streams and rivers is essential to our communities. These aquatic environments are home to a diversity of flora and fauna, provide healthy water for recreation and contribute to our well-being.
However, the health of these waterways is closely linked to the activities that take place throughout our watershed.
In a watershed, water flows naturally from higher ground to lower areas, following the natural slope of the land. Trees and other plants absorb much of the water, while the rest flows into streams, rivers, lakes and, ultimately, the sea.
On the other hand, in areas with little vegetation, water runs off impermeable surfaces such as roads and parking lots. Along the way, it picks up everything from fertilizers and pesticides to oil and other pollutants. These substances end up in streams and rivers, and then reach the sea. This reduces water quality for swimming and harms fish and other aquatic species.
This runoff also contributes to bank erosion, increasing the amount of mud and sediment in watercourses. Like pollution, these effects can harm the fishing industry, a key sector for our region's economy.
To make room for development, green infrastructure techniques such as rain gardens and retention basins can be implemented to help with the loss of some vegetation in populated areas. Green infrastructure also helps maintain good water quality by reducing the amount of runoff into watercourses.
The Cap-Acadie watershed covers an area of over 320 km². Visit our web page for an overview of our watershed for more information on our watershed and a list of streams and rivers.
In our region, we are fortunate to enjoy relatively good water quality, thanks in part to our good forest cover. However, it is important to promote development that takes environmental protection into consideration.
One of the most effective ways of protecting water quality is to preserve vegetation along watercourses. These buffer zones play an important role in our watershed. As well as preventing erosion, they absorb and filter sediments and pollutants.
Vegetation also helps to cool the water, which is getting warmer as a result of climate change. It creates shade and provides habitat for pollinating insects, birds and other animals.
To protect water quality in our region, it's essential to remember that every watercourse is important, whatever its size. Whether it's a small stream or a river, they all carry water and connect different parts of the watershed.
Unfortunately, many homeowners choose not to maintain buffer zones along watercourses. But the good news is that more and more people are realizing that small changes in their habits - like not mowing too close to the water - can make a big difference!
Such is the case of new homeowners in Cap-Acadie, whose house is located along Bear Creek. They decided to stop mowing part of their property. Today, native plants grow in their yard, attracting birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other pollinating insects. What's more, they enjoy angling in this little stream, so they're doing their bit to protect it.
Water quality monitoring is essential to maintaining the health of our waterways. That's why Vision H2O regularly monitors ten watercourses in the watershed, measuring parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and bacteria levels. These indicators enable us to assess the state of the water and identify possible sources of pollution.
Populations of aquatic insects (macro-invertebrates) are also sampled to assess the quality of aquatic habitats, essential for the survival of fish and other species. This data is shared with the New Brunswick Department of the Environment.
Water quality plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy environment. It supports recreational activities such as canoeing, kayaking and fishing, which are enjoyed by local residents. However, fluctuations in water temperature and oxygen levels underscore the importance of taking steps to protect our streams and rivers.
A vegetated riparian zone, providing shade and limiting erosion, is essential to preserving these ecosystems. We must also consider the dynamic nature of watercourses, which are constantly evolving as a result of erosion, sedimentation and seasonal variations in flow.
By carefully monitoring water quality and stream health, we can take informed action to protect these precious ecosystems, essential to our well-being and that of future generations.
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