On November 2 2024 the St. Mary's River became Canada's first Ecologically Significant Area candidate river!

Watch a short video of St. Mary's River ESA day!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWE8XTSVkA8&t=16s

St. Mary’s River named candidate for Ecologically Significant Area designation
Joanne Jordan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Guysborough Journal
Nov 6, 2024

SHERBROOKE — The St. Mary’s River has been named a candidate for Ecologically Significant Area (ESA) designation under the Canada Fisheries Act.

Donald Humphrey, director of eco-systems management for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), made the announcement during an open house at the St. Mary’s River Association (SMRA) office Nov. 2.

“We have done some further work and, as a candidate, this means we can now go forward with the establishment process, which is a multi-year process to get to a designation, meaning it will go into the planning stage and establishment of regulations,” Aimee Gromack, a DFO senior biologist – who informed Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s council recently that the federal department was carrying out work to determine the possibility of the St. Mary’s River gaining ESA status, told The Journal during the recent Open House.

Now, she said, “The St. Mary’s River has now been formally named a candidate.”

Gromack added, “…With our partners, and the community and partners in the community, and the Mi'kmaq, we’ll be working together to figure out what it will look like in the regulations, what we are trying to protect.

“We know it will be fish habitat related, so it’s going to be salmon, eel, brook trout and other ecologically significant species.”

She noted that achieving ESA status can be a lengthy process, one that requires a cooperative effort.

“It’s a really exciting thing. Now that it’s been formally named a candidate, we can have those more formal consultation meetings, and work together with our partners and stakeholders,” Gromack said.

Noting that the St. Mary’s River has been historically, culturally and spiritually significant – not to mention an important food source – to the Mi’kmaq people for thousands of years, Alanna Syliboy – culture, education and engagement manager of the Mi’kmaw Conservation Group, thanked everyone who is striving to secure ESA designation.

“It’s a highway, a grocery store; and, the work you are doing has turned reconciliation, into reconsiliACTION,” she said during the open house of the effort to ensure the St. Mary’s River will be protected for generations to come and people will be able “to enjoy this space without hindrance.”

Scott Beaver – SMRA president – shared that, while doing the case study work for the ESA candidacy, the partners unearthed “some pretty cool stuff.”

The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq (CMM) have identified multiple species of rare freshwater mussels – also known as brook floaters – which he said are “doing fabulous” on the St. Mary’s River, an indication of a healthy ecosystem. He added that the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has already identified 40 rare species on the watershed route.

Due to support from partners and government, Beaver noted that approximately $4 million of restoration work has been completed; and approximately 30 linear kilometres of river have been restored, which includes narrowing and deepening, and making it a channel of cold-water refuge for Atlantic river salmon.

Beaver said mainland moose are being spotted more often along the green protected area that runs along the river system, one that creates a corridor from Archibald’s Lake wilderness area to the Liscomb game sanctuary.

He added that one of the most significant discoveries is “the largest population of wood turtles on the planet – right here in Nova Scotia.”

With the possible ESA designation, Beaver said that the people of St. Mary’s have “a very unique opportunity to do something special and cool,” and the ability to lead Canada in the creation of ESA regulations.

He added, “It is time to come together and see what this legislation could look like.”

Beaver challenged the local community, including farmers, woodlot owners, small business owners and the municipality, to become involved with the larger groups “to carve out a very significant niche.”

St Mary’s resident Marlis Lade, who attended the open house, told The Journal she was “very happy” to hear the information on the wood turtle.

“We saw wood turtles everywhere,” she said of when she and her husband lived on Waternish Rd. in 2001, adding that the couple spent a lot of time “putting them off the road.”

She noted she is pleased that the Mi’kmaq community is involved in the process.

“Because this is their land - it is Mi'kma’ki territory – and they have lived here for a thousand years. I hope, I really hope, that the community is accepting that and getting involved.”

Lade offered, “It is such a beautiful area. It should be protected, and we should all work on that.”

Jordan Pye of DFO – from the conservation and protection branch – also attended the open house.

“We oversee what happens in our area,” he told The Journal.

If the St. Mary’s River receives ESA designation, his branch would most likely be responsible for compliance and enforcement of any additional regulations involved.

“And that is why we are here, and why we are having these conversations with members of the communities, different stakeholders and organizations, and those who live, work, fish and hunt within the boundaries of those areas,” Pye said.

St. Mary’s Deputy Warden Beulah Malloy was impressed with the open house presentation, which updated the information council received during the previous committee of the whole meeting.

“I think it’s great, just great,” she said of the potential ESA designation, noting the effort of the federal government, so far, and that there remains much work to be done by the stakeholders.

Warden James Fuller said, “We are all fortunate to live and work in the beautiful St. Mary's watershed.

“Being the first in the nation to apply for this extra protected status for the St. Mary’s River reflects well on the leadership of the SMRA to preserving this valuable resource.”