MHW Stewardship Plan Phase 1

The Mabou Harbour Watershed Stewardship Plan
Phase 1
The Mabou Harbour Watershed Stewardship Plan Community Steering Committee
May 22, 2007

___________ ____________ DRAFT – Mabou Harbour Watershed Stewardship Plan: Phase One
Table of Contents
1. Project Background ...................................................................................................1
1.1 Purpose of project..................................................................................................1
1.2 Structure and methods ...........................................................................................1
1.3 Coordination ..........................................................................................................1
1.4 Purpose of this document.......................................................................................2
2. The Mabou Harbour Watershed..............................................................................2
3. Guiding Principles......................................................................................................3
4. Issues of Concern in the Mabou Harbour Watershed............................................4
4.1 Water quality..........................................................................................................4
4.2 Sedimentation.........................................................................................................5
4.3 Public education.....................................................................................................5
4.4 Garbage..................................................................................................................5
4.5 Sport fish populations ............................................................................................6
4.6 Water quantity........................................................................................................6
4.7 Outmigration..........................................................................................................6
5. Visions for the Mabou Harbour Watershed............................................................6
5.1 Recreational boating..............................................................................................7
5.2 Tourism ..................................................................................................................7
5.3 Aquaculture............................................................................................................8
6. Goals ............................................................................................................................8
7. Conclusion and Path Forward................................................................................10
8. Contact Information ................................................................................................10
*Cover Photo Credit: Nadine Hunt. Photos throughout the document provided by Shauna Barrington,
Nadine Hunt and Danielle Goff (DFO Habitat).

1. Project Background
1.1 Purpose of project
The Mabou Harbour Watershed Stewardship Plan is a two-year planning project that aims to
address water, coastal and aquatic resource issues in the Mabou Harbour Watershed. The
main goal of the plan is to ensure that a clean water supply and a healthy watershed are
present for the benefit of all users (including the agricultural, fishing and forestry sectors;
residential users; and wildlife). This will be achieved by working together as a community to
find positive and constructive means to maintain a healthy watershed, and a sustainable
community within it.
1.2 Structure and methods
Phase 1 of the project (April 2006 – March 2007) involved identifying the water, coastal and
aquatic resource issues that are important to the Mabou Harbour Watershed community. To
achieve this, 50 interviews were conducted during the summer of 2006 with residents from
different areas of the watershed, as well as from all different sectors, occupations and
interests. The main results of these interviews are presented in the following sections of this
document.
Next, 12 members of the watershed community
volunteered to serve on the Community Steering
Committee, which was formed in the fall of 2006.
The role of this committee is to provide direction
to the Stewardship Plan from the community’s
perspective. The first meeting was held in
November, and the committee has met monthly
since then to work on the draft Stewardship Plan.
Membership on this committee is open to anyone
interested in water issues. As representatives of
the watershed community, the committee has reviewed and provided advice and guidance on
the Stewardship Plan.
In Phase 2 (April 2007 – March 2008), a strategic operational plan will be developed that
outlines specific actions to be taken to achieve the Plan’s goals. These actions will be
developed by members of the community and experts. In many cases, additional information
will need to be gathered. The actions that will be recommended will be appropriate to the
social, economic and cultural context of the watershed.
1.3 Coordination
This project was initiated by, and is coordinated and administered through, the Mabou
Harbour Coastal Management Planning Committee (MHCMPC). This committee of
volunteers was formed in 2004 by the Mabou & District Community Development
Association. The mandate of the MHCMPC is to maintain and enhance the ecological health
of the Mabou Harbour Watershed and to plan for its sustainable development.
1

2
ith
ns
re
a
ring
on
r St.
,
the
Since 2004, the MHCMPC has worked closely w
the federal Department of Fisheries and Ocea
(DFO) and Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquacultu
to initiate an integrated management process for
this watershed. The MHCMPC has implemented
water quality monitoring program and regularly
participates in the Community Aquatic Monito
Program (CAMP), which gathers information
the health of the local ecosystem. A fourth-yea
F.X.U. student was interned in 2005 to write a
comprehensive report for this watershed1
. In 2006
the MHCMPC obtained funding to coordinate
development of a Stewardship Plan. This project is funded under the Canada-Nova Scotia
Water Supply Expansion Program, an initiative under the federal-provincial-territorial
Agricultural Policy Framework funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Nova
Scotia Department of Agriculture.
1.4 Purpose of this document
This is a community-scoped document that summarizes the community’s opinions,
perceptions and knowledge with respect to watershed-related issues. This document
summarizes the findings to date, and presents the main issues, visions, and overarching
goals that were developed during the first phase of this project.
We sought endorsement of this Stewardship Plan from the general public. The public
provided comments, questions, concerns and suggestions by contacting the Community
Watershed Coordinator (see page 12 for contact information) and/or by attending the open
meeting of the Community Steering Committee held on March 1, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Mabou Volunteer Fire Hall.
2. The Mabou Harbour Watershed
A watershed is the area of land that drains into a body of water. It is an extensive network of
streams, rivers, ponds, wetlands, surface and groundwater that all flow into a lake or ocean.
The Mabou Harbour Watershed is located on the western shore of Cape Breton Island, Nova
Scotia. The watershed is composed of three main rivers (the Northeast, the Mull, and the
Southwest Rivers). The Southwest River actually begins on the north side of River Denys
Mountain. These three rivers collect water from streams and springs as they flow from higher
elevations into Mabou Harbour, and eventually into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The blue lines
on the following map outline all the tributaries that drain into Mabou Harbour. This area
covers about 370 km2
of land.
1
MacLean, V. 2005. Towards an Integrated Coastal Management Approach for Mabou Harbour and Watershed.
Fourth year Interdisciplinary Studies in Aquatic Resources project, St. Francis Xavier University.

Besides the village of Mabou itself, the Mabou Harbour Watershed includes the following
communities: Mabou Harbour, West Mabou, Southwest Mabou, Hillsborough, Brook Village,
Nevada Valley, Mull River, Glencoe Mills, MacLeod Settlement, Glendyer, Smithville, and
Glenora Falls.
3. Guiding Principles
Open communication among watershed stakeholders is essential in order to ensure the
timely exchange of information and to foster a greater understanding of each other’s
perspectives. Positive working relationships between watershed community members are
essential to achieving this open communication.
Community members involved in this process need to be committed to participating with an
open mind and a solution-orientated attitude. A few principles to guide the decision-making
process (based on key words used by participants in the interviews) are outlined below:
o Respect: Interactions between stakeholders must occur in a respectful,
understanding and positive manner.
3

o Recognition: The historical and present contributions of the different sectoral
watershed users (e.g., farmers, fishermen, foresters, businesses) to this
community must be recognized.
o Collaboration: A spirit of cooperation between stakeholders will build meaningful
working relationships. This will also foster constructive dialogue about potential
solutions that are feasible for the parties involved.
o Transparency: Open and ‘up-front’ communication between all parties will build
trust.
o Inclusiveness: A stakeholder is any person who lives, works, or otherwise uses
the Mabou Harbour Watershed. This plan will be based on the input of all
stakeholders.
o Balance: Trade-offs between the environment and the economy must always be
considered in decision-making, so that one does not always take precedence over
the other.
o Cultural Integrity: The unique culture and heritage of this community must not be
negatively impacted by any decisions in this process.
4. Issues of Concern in the Mabou Harbour Watershed
The following is an overview of the top concerns of stakeholders in the Mabou Harbour
Watershed. It is based on the interviews with community members. Input was also sought
from government representatives and experts who are familiar with this watershed.
4.1 Water quality
Although many people felt that the overall water quality in the Mabou Harbour Watershed
(both freshwater and marine) is good, water quality is still a top priority concern. People want
to have safe, clean water to drink, and also for food production (e.g., dairy and beef
production, shellfish harvesting) and for recreational purposes (such as swimming and
kayaking).
The issue of quality covers a wide range of topics, but the main
threat to water quality in the Harbour is seen as the sewage
treatment plant in Mabou. Besides the possible environmental
impact, interview participants have also identified the treatment plant
as being aesthetically unpleasant. Other potential impacts to water
quality included run-off from agricultural operations, malfunctioning
septic tanks, or simply natural sources (e.g. wildlife).
4
The presence of bacteria in both the marine environment and in
drinking water supplies is a concern for interviewees. The upper part

of the Harbour is currently closed to shellfish harvesting2
, and some homeowners in the
watershed have detected high levels of fecal coliform and E. coli in their wells. There is also
concern that there may be chemical inputs to drinking water supplies and the marine
environment from the same potential sources listed above, among others. Many people
expressed the opinion that there was simply not enough information about this watershed.
4.2 Sedimentation
Many people have observed that the deposition of sediments in the Harbour has been
causing it to fill in. For example, interview participants mentioned that there is a picture of a
ship docked at the Mabou Harbour Lighthouse in the early 1900’s that is taller than the
lighthouse itself. This may indicate that the Harbour was indeed much deeper than it is today,
since only boats with less than a seven-foot draft are currently able to get into the Harbour.
Scientific data would need to be gathered to further support these types of observations.
Typically, infilling decreases water levels, making the Harbour difficult to navigate. Infilling
may also have implications for fish populations. As sediment gets deposited, the type of
bottom present in the Harbour may change from a rocky or gravel bottom to a soft mud
bottom. This changes the type of habitat that is available for bottom-dwelling creatures (such
as lobsters or oysters), which may prefer one type of substrate to the other.
The erosion of shorelines in the lower watershed and stream banks in the upper watershed
has contributed to this accumulation of sediments. Sedimentation can be attributed to natural
causes, but there is also a concern that some of it may be related to human activities (and
therefore can be improved). Particular areas in the watershed where sediment deposition has
been observed are the Landing, the cove beside Mabou Bridge, the Northeast Cove, and the
Channel at the entrance to the Harbour. Again, more information would need to be gathered
on this topic.
4.3 Public education
Many people interviewed felt that more public education about watersheds and ecosystem
functioning is needed, so that the public can make informed decisions about actions that may
impact the watershed. Public education (including both the general public and school-aged
children) was seen as the most effective method of promoting a sense of responsibility for the
watershed.
4.4 Garbage
People were also concerned about the garbage that they see around the watershed. This
includes the following:
• litter (refuse and recyclables thrown from vehicles, boats, or washed up on our shores);
5
• illegal dumpsites (abandoned cars or appliances that often accumulate at a particular spot
in the woods);
2
MacArthur, D., Craig, C. & Walter, D. 2004. Re-evaluation Report: Nova Scotia Shellfish Growing Area NS-05-
010-001 Mabou Harbour. Environment Canada: Environmental Protection Branch. Manuscript Report No. EP-
AR-2004-10.

• oil that is spilled on the ground or in waterways (accidentally or intentionally); and
• the practice of burning plastics instead of recycling them (which can release toxic
substances, such as dioxin, into the air and water).
4.5 Sport fish populations
Recreational fishing for trout and salmon is a popular
pastime in this watershed for both locals and tourists
alike. According to many people interviewed, the
salmon populations in this watershed have been
declining over the last century. The main cause of this
decline is felt to be habitat damage from old mills and
log drives.
According to those interviewed, trout populations have been improving over the last few
years. The Inverness South Anglers Association has been carrying out extensive habitat
restoration work in the watershed. Several people felt that this work has contributed to an
improvement in both trout and salmon populations.
4.6 Water quantity
The availability of a constant supply of water is a concern, mainly for the residents of the
village of Mabou. According to many people interviewed, the water supply in Mabou had
almost gone dry a few years ago. Also, the residents in the north end of Mabou are prone to
low water pressure and completely lose their water on a regular basis. Some people on well
systems were also concerned about their wells going dry, particularly if the seasons start to
become drier. In general, farmers were not concerned about an adequate supply of water for
their operations, since their current sources were meeting their needs, but some were
concerned about an acceptable source of water for their cattle.
Most people, however, agreed that they might not be concerned about water quantity right
now, but that they would be if they didn’t have it. Therefore, this issue could become a higher
priority in the future.
4.7 Outmigration
People felt that in general there are limited opportunities for employment in this watershed.
As a result, many people (particularly young people) must leave the area in order to make a
living. Interview participants felt that this outmigration of people has large social and
economic consequences for this area.
5. Visions for the Mabou Harbour Watershed
Most people who were interviewed would like to address the above issues so that there will
always be a healthy watershed for their children to enjoy. A healthy Mabou Harbour
Watershed was described as one that:
6

• Provides a clean, constant water supply for all users;
• Supports healthy fish and wildlife populations;
• Has healthy forests;
• Presents enough economic opportunities for people to remain in (or return to) the
community.
In essence, interviewees wanted a healthy environment, a
healthy economy and a vibrant community. These three
areas of concern are embodied in the concept of
sustainable development. Sustainable development is
usually defined as development that “meets the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs.”3
It is a continuous
decision-making process in which the environment, the
economy and society as a whole are in balance with each
other.
Most people interviewed agreed that economic growth must be encouraged in the watershed,
but not in a way that it compromises the health of the very resources that it depends upon.
People felt that several small, diversified operations would be more appropriate for this area
than any one large company locating here.
In addition to supporting the traditional resource-based industries in the watershed, people
would like to see more recreational boating, tourism and aquaculture in the future.
5.1 Recreational boating
Most people would like to see the Harbour used more for recreation, particularly boating.
Being out on the water gives a different perspective of the watershed, and would help foster a
stronger appreciation for it. Many people felt that an emphasis should be placed on promoting
the use of kayaks, canoes and sailboats, so that the peacefulness of the area is maintained.
This would also lessen the environmental impacts from motorized craft (e.g., oil spills,
fumes).
In order for people to be able to get out on the water more, public access to the water at
different points around the Harbour should be improved. For instance, the docking facility at
the bridge in Mabou would need to be expanded to allow more people (particularly tourists) to
dock their boats there.
5.2 Tourism
In addition to the ceilidhs, square dances and other local cultural events, many tourists are
attracted to the area by the natural beauty of the Mabou watershed. Many people interviewed
felt that tourism is a good thing, since it supports many local businesses. However, many also
7
3
Cicin-Sain, B. & Knecht, R.W. 1998. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management: Concepts and Practices.
Washington, D.C.: Island Press, p. 84.

felt that the annual influx of tourists should not compromise the cultural uniqueness of the
community.
5.3 Aquaculture
8
Most people interviewed were supportive of oyster aquaculture in
the Harbour, as it would provide jobs and would likely help
improve the water quality of the Harbour (since oysters feed by
filtering the water). People felt that a few small, locally run
operations would be appropriate. It would also be important to
keep the amount of gear to a minimum (e.g., buoys, suspended
gear), so that other uses are not unduly affected (e.g., boating).
All of these potential future uses would help build appreciation for
the watershed and build the economy. However, people in the interviews stressed that the
area should not become ‘overrun’ with boats, tourists or aquaculture leases. Finding the right
balance between the economy, the environment, and the cultural characteristics of this
community, in a way that all users can benefit, is key.
6. Goals
The following overarching goals will provide the future direction of the Stewardship Plan.
They are based on the interviews and have been reviewed by the Community Steering
Committee and the general public. Below each goal is a description of potential strategies
and/or actions to reach these goals, which are presented here as examples only. These
strategies will be developed further in Phase 2, as more information is gathered.
Goal 1: Improve both fresh water and marine water quality for agricultural use, residential
use, commercial use, and as habitat for fish and wildlife.
Potential strategies to reach this goal, as suggested by interview participants, may include:
• Update the sewage treatment plant.
• Identify infrastructure needs desired by sectoral watershed users that will help improve
water quality.
Goal 2: Reduce sedimentation in the watershed to improve accessibility of the Harbour and
to improve fish habitat.
• Identify areas of erosion that can be remediated or prevented.
• Determine if and where the Harbour could be dredged.

Goal 3: Promote environmental stewardship and responsible land-use practices.
• Educate the public about watersheds and ecosystem functioning.
• Recognize and promote the positive actions that sectoral users or individuals have taken
to protect the environment (e.g., environmental farm plans, adoption of Beneficial
Management Practices).
• Work with interested sectors (e.g., farming, fishing, forestry) to determine acceptable
ways to implement sector-specific best management practices.
Goal 4: Reduce the amount of garbage in the watershed.
• Organize garbage clean-up days in the watershed that include an educational component.
• Determine the best strategy to address and remediate illegal dumpsites.
• Public education about the effects of oil spills and burning plastics.
Goal 5: Improve and maintain fish habitat, particularly habitat that supports salmon and trout
populations.
• Identify areas that need improvement.
• Carry out habitat restoration projects in these areas.
Goal 6: Ensure all users (including commercial and residential) have an adequate and
reliable water supply.
• Promote the conservation of water.
• Determine if there are infrastructural opportunities to increase the quantity of water
available in the Mabou water supply, if necessary.
Goal 7: Foster an understanding of and appreciation for sectoral activities that have made
both historical and present contributions to this community.
• Public education about where food comes from, how it is produced, and how it is
harvested (e.g., farming and fishing operations).
9

Goal 8: Promote the concept of sustainable development.
• Promote the use of non-motorized recreational vessels in the watershed, including to
outside users (e.g., sailing tourists).
• Identify infrastructure needs to improve access to the Harbour for both locals and tourists
alike, such as expanding the available docking facilities.
• Encourage the development of a sustainable aquaculture strategy for the Harbour.
7. Conclusion and Path Forward
We have sought feedback from the public on this document, particularly on the goals
described within it. Comments, questions, concerns and suggestions were forwarded to the
Community Watershed Coordinator (details below). An open meeting of the Community
Steering Committee was also held on March 1, 2007, at which the community unanimously
approved this Stewardship Plan.
This document is a summary of Phase 1 of the Stewardship Planning project. It has identified
the community concerns and indicates the direction that the Stewardship Plan is moving in. In
Phase 2, an overall operational strategy will be designed based on community input, scientific
information and expertise.
If you wish to be involved in the further development of strategies to reach any of these
particular goals, please do not hesitate to join the Steering Committee. We are always open
to new members.
8. Contact Information
Community Watershed Coordinator
Shauna Barrington Office: 945-2771 Cell: 258-5654
Fax: 945-2324 Email: sbarring@dal.ca
Community Steering Committee Members
Donnie Nicholson (Chair)
Lynette Babin (Secretary)
Bonnie Jean MacDonald
Alec MacNeil
Cheryl Gallant
Daniel Rankin
Graham Pottinger
Betty Ann MacQuarrie
Nadine Hunt
Robbie Sutherland
Mary MacPhee
Leo Cox
Suzanne Craig
10

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