Restoration Activities on PEI

Mooney's Pond outflow on the Morell River, PEI

Covid 19 has been a major disruption to all our lives on a personal and professional level.  Despite this Maritimers as they usually do have been pretty at good taking it in stride (OK maybe with a touch of complaining), adapting, and carrying on. The environmental sector is no exception.  The work that ASF and our partners do has not been deemed essential work but many groups are finding ways of carrying on.

Physical distancing will be required while working in the streams. (Brian Higgins/CBC from the Yarr article)

While I know that this is happening across the range of wild Atlantic Salmon, there has been some great progress being made on PEI.  Earlier this week this was highlighted in an article by Kevin Yarr entitled "Watershed groups making pandemic adjustments, but 'delighted' to get back to work" that appeared on the CBC website. In the article, Yarr highlights how two PEI groups in particular, the Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation and the Kensington North Watersheds Association, are adapting to the times while finding ways to continuing their good work .  While only these two groups were highlighted in the article, I know that they are representative of what is happening across PEI. 

Abegweit Conservation Society crew installing brushmats in the Midgell River in 2016.  Photo from Abegweit Conservation Society Blog post.

This past week I was able to participate in a conference call with four other PEI organizations, Cascumpec Bay Watershed Association Inc., Trout Unlimited Prince County Chapter, Morell River Management Co-operative, and the Abegweit Conservation Society that are also exploring and finding new ways to engage in their conservation work during these difficult times.  These organizations are working together on an Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk grant that the Abegweit Conservation Society received last year.  The work is focused on three rivers, the Mill River (led by Cascumpec Bay Watershed Association Inc., and Trout Unlimited Prince County Chapter), the Morrell River (led by Morell River Management Co-operative), and Midgell River (led by Abegweit Conservation Society).  The work will involve habitat and fish passage restoration, fisheries monitoring, and incorporation of traditional ecological indigenous knowledge.  This project is not only a great example of safely working through the adversity of covid 19, but is a generally great example of partnership and working together to achieve shared goals. 

Via social media, phone calls, and media I have also been following the activities of many of the other watershed and conservation organizations on PEI.  If you don't already follow these groups I suggest that you do because many of them are doing fantastic work even in these difficult times.  A complete list of groups can be found on the PEI Watershed Alliance website.