Water Quality

Vision H2O is a watershed group located in southeastern New Brunswick. Since 2002, the group has been working to maintain a healthy ecosystem and to conserve water of sufficient quality to safeguard aquatic life and the needs of human communities in the Village of Cap-Pelé and the Beaubassin-Est Rural Community. The group aims to analyze the recorded data acquired by this project to determine if work is necessary in order to protect our rivers and to keep a good quality of water. In addition, the group aims to work on public awareness of our impact on our waterways and to work on an action plan for the protection of our rivers and aquatic species. Finally, the group aims to demonstrate to people that it is possible, with the necessary tools and knowledge, to do their part for our local environment.

Thank you so much to the Environmental Trust Fund of New-Brunswick for the funding provided for this project!

Link: Atlantic DataStream

The Cap-Pelé watershed is a hydrologic entity with a total area surface of 320 km². The Cap-Pele watershed includes more than 70 km of coastline from Cap-Bimet to Shemogue Harbor. For more specific information on land use, geology and drainage you can take a look at the maps (pdf format).

The Cap-Pele watershed is divided into many subwatersheds. A subwatershed is the land area that drains to a single tributary of a major river. The main subwatersheds are:

Bear Creek Subwatershed (total area of 13,1 km²)
Aboujagane River Subwatershed (total area of 53 km²)
Kinnear River Subwatershed (total area of 53,7 km²)
Kouchibouguac River Subwatershed (total area of 54 km²)
Tedish River Subwatershed (total area of 44 km²)
Copp Brook Subwatershed (total area of 9,8 km²)

Water Quality Indicators

E. coli Results

E. coli is a widespread bacteria present in intestines and excrements of animals and humans. The presence of E. coli can indicate the presence of other germs and pathogens (bacteria, virus). For fresh recreational waters used for primary contact activities, the guideline value is ≤ 400 E. coli/100 mL (Geometric mean concentration (minimum of five samples) = 200 E.coli/100 ml) (1).
Results of Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations

In aquatic environments, dissolved oxygen (DO) is a relative measure of the amount of oxygen (O2) dissolved in the water. Lowest acceptable dissolved oxygen concentration for cold water biota in early life stages is 9,5 mg/L and 6,5 mg/Lfor other life stages (1).
Results of Nitrate Levels

Nitrates are a form of nitrogen found in water and are associated with nutrients. Nitrates generally come from excess fertilizer. In high concentrations nitrates can provoke an excessive growth of algae. The long term concentration to assure the protection of the aquatic life in freshwater is 13 mg/L or 13 ppm (3). To convert NO3-N to NO3 in parts per million (ppm, or mg/L), multiply NO3-N by 4.42.
Results for Phosphorous Levels

Phosphorous comes from the erosion of farm fields enriched with phosphorous, from purification discharge and factory discharge. Phosphorous combined with nitrogen can cause an excessive growth of algae. The maximal recommended value for the protection of the aquatic life is 0,03mg/L (Reference).
Results for pH

pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The pH of water varies from 0 to 14, 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. The recommended pH of freshwater for the protection of aquatic life is between 6,5 and 9 (CCME).
Results for Water Temperature

The maximal recommended water temperature for the protection of the aquatic life is 20°C (3).
References

(1) – Water quality guidelines used by New Brunswick (2017)

(2) Health Canada (2012). Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality Third Edition

(3) Melanson. T., Murphy, L., Goff, D., MacInnis, C., Keen, D., Bastien-Daigle, S., Ritchie, B., Ferguson, E., Haché, D., Weldon, J., Caissie, D., Leblanc, M., Cormier, M., Rutherford, B. 2008. Ecological Restoration of Degraded Aquatic Habitats: A Watershed Approach. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 182 p

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library/321286.pdf

Waterway Data Sampling Sites

Bear Creek

Station name : Bear Creek on Aboujagan Road @ Basse Aboujagane = Cap Pelé 1
NAQUADAT : 00BR01BT0021

Description : Bear Creek is a tributary of the Aboujagane river located between Malakoff road and Basse-Aboujagane road. The lower section of the creek is farmland while the upper section is wooded area. The data sampling site is located along Aboujagane road from route 933.

Latitude : N 46O 08' 35.5"
Longitude : W 064O 25' 11.1"

[see map]
Aboujagane River

Station name : Aboujagane River @ Rte 933 near Bourgeois Mills = Cap Pelé 2
NAQUADAT : 00BR01BT0022

Description : The Aboujagane River is a long waterway going through a territory composed of farm lands and wooded areas. The sampling site is located along route 930 near Bourgeois Mills. Sampling is done 20 m upstream of the bridge.

Latitude : N 46O 10' 23.9"
Longitude : W 064O 25' 17.0"

[see map]
Kinnear River

Station name : Kinnear River @ road between Haute Aboujagane & Cormier-Village = Cap Pelé 3

NAQUADAT : 00BR01BT0023

Description : Kinnear River is a stretched water course emptying itself in the Aboujagane River. Inland in goes through a wooded section between the localities of Cormier-Village and Haute-Aboujagane. Upstream, the river branches off into many smaller streams in an exploited forest area. The sampling site is locates along route 945. Sampling is done 10 m upstream from the bridge.

Latitude : N 46O 09' 53.5"

Longitude : W 064O 23' 00.0"

[see map]
Kouchibouguac River

Station name : Kouchibouguac River @ Rte 945 near Cormier-Village = Cap Pelé 4
NAQUADAT : 00BR01BT0024

Description : Kouchibouguac river crosses the villages of Robichaud (near the estuary) and Cormier-Village (inland). At the mouth of the river are weak tides. Inland, the river is mostly surrounded by mixed forests scattered with fields. The flow is fairly weak because the terrain is flat. The river is 6 to 12 m in width. The sampling site is located on route 945 about 30m upstream from the bridge.

Latitude : N 46O 10' 22.0"
Longitude : W 064O 20' 47.6"

[see map]
Tedish River

Station name : Tedish River @ crossing, 2km above Rte 15 = Cap Pelé 5
NAQUADAT : 00BR01BT0025

Description : Tedish river is the main waterway going through the village of Cap-Pelé (near the sea) up to the village of Saint-André-LeBlanc (inland). At its mouth the river is submitted to a weak tide regime from the Northumberland Straight. It goes through farmlands and a scattered mixed forest upstream. Land is relatively flat and hence the flow weak. The sampling site is located along the Butte à Napoléon road about 20 m upstream from the bridge.

Latitude : N 46O 11' 58.6"
Longitude : W 064O 17' 50.1"

[see map]
Copp Brook

Station name : Copp Brook @ Rte 15 = Cap Pelé 6
NAQUADAT : 00BR01BT0026

Description : Copp Brook is a small waterway emptying into the Havre de Shemogue and flows under Highway 15 at the height of Shemogue. The sampling site is located about 15 m upstream from Highway 15. The brook is about 2 m wide with a good cover.

Latitude : N 46O 09' 47.0"
Longitude : W 064O 11' 23.6"

[see map]

Projects

Water Quality

Water Quality Indicators

Waterway Data Sampling Sites

Ressources