Bras d'Or he lue eron TThe Bras B d’Or Stewardship H Society St y ew iet P.O. Box 158, , B0E 1B0 ardship Soc

VOLUME 19 JANUARY 2015 NO. I

three new articles of interest each From the general to the personal, in Editorial with a quite different focus. The first, this context. I have to get (costly) he last year has been an by Dr. Bruce Hatcher and his Cape lost hearing aids replaced, my Tinteresting one in Nova Scotia. Breton University (CBU) team, on the few remaining teeth looked after, We had a change of government. complex electronic salmon research a cataract removed and glasses In a provincial election the Liberals they are doing in the Bras d’Or Lakes. replaced but I can’t remember the replaced New Democrats; gone after The second derives from the report name of the dentist or the optometrist only one term. The New Economy biologist Minga O’Brien produced I saw last time… (Ivany) Commission Report on Nova at the request of the Stewardship James O’Brien Scotians came out and painted a Society about a meeting at CBU dismal picture of the future of Nova on the development of possible Scotia unless major changes take new forest products: what do these place at all levels. The price of a scientists and engineers understand NOTICE barrel of oil and with it Canada’s about Nova Scotia’s forests and THE ANNUAL GENERAL petro-dollar continues to plummet. forest-dependent wildlife? Do they In Cape Breton, controversy over have any sense of how degraded MEETING OF THE SOCIETY the planned monstrous Never-to-be they are, and the potential impacts WILL BE HELD ON Forgotten Memorial in the Highlands of even greater pressures on them? SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015 National Park tended to overshadow The third is quite different. This is AT 10:00 A.M. these issues. And the Province, in a charming story of high romance, particular Cape Breton, had one of AT THE MASONIC HALL daring elopement, mad dashes of IN BADDECK the harshest winters in years. lovers across the frozen Bras d’Or In this issue of the Blue Heron Lakes on sleighs, of angry rejected ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED besides the usual items, we have suitors with all the trimmings, told TO ATTEND AS WELL AS about and partially by John V. INTERESTED CITIZENS WHO Newlands about his Crammond ARE CONCERNED WITH THE In This Issue Islands ancestors: a made to measure FUTURE STEWARDSHIP OF Page libretto for a romantic nineteenth Editorial 1 century Italian style opera: Rosini, THE BRAS D’OR LAKES. News Items 2 Verdi, where were you when we Ross Ferry Stewardship Society needed you? Report Fall 2014 3 To finish on a less happy theme. This Report From the Bras d'Or Lake is the last issue of the Blue Heron “Our goal Biosphere Reserve for the Fall 2014 3 I will edit. Time is catching up with is to Crammond Island History 5 all that infers in terms of my various faculties. To quote Shakespeare Advancing Woody Biomass Options (from As You Like It) on the subject protect, in Nova Scotia 6 of advancing years conserve and More Salmon Secrets From ……………………………………. the Middle River 9 The last scene of all-- restore the Trans Canada Trail - Bras d'Or Lake "That ends this strange eventful Blueway Water Route 11 history is second childishness Bras d’Or Letter from Interim President Insert Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, Lakes” sans everything". www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Striped Bass Population: undermined by wave action and needed replacing. Funds provided NEWS ITEMS: t has been reported that the for this work came from Enterprise Istriped bass population in the Bras Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) d’Or Lakes has been increasing. and donations through a fund raiser Scientific Work on Middle The reason maybe the warming held in the summer of 2014. and Baddeck Rivers of the water temperatures as a consequence of global warming Railway Closure: allowing this fish to be considered By Chuck Thompson an invasive species. This species he former CN rail track from Port cience work continues will impact on other resident fish THawkesbury to Sydney will no Son Middle River as well as populations as it feeds on local longer operate because there is no . A joint effort aquatic dwellers. Catching striped ‘business case’ to support rail traffic. between Federal Department of bass is popular with recreational There has been much protest about Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) DFO fishermen. the closure of this line which cannot and Nova Scotia Department of support itself given current rail Fisheries (NSDoF) resulted in brood St. Peter’s Canal Hours: numbers. A commission was formed (spawning) stock being collected to save this historic infrastructure. from both rivers. These fish will be hanges in the hours that the St. An unaddressed concern is the fate raised at the Margaree Hatchery Peter’s Canal operates received C of the Grand Narrows rail bridge to be released back into parent some criticism from recreational that no doubt has seen its better stream when they reach parr size. boat owners who found they could As well, the annual dive counts by not get through the St. Peter’s lock days. The looming question is who DFO and UINR are underway in due to new hours of operation. The will be responsible for its moth a yearly attempt to estimate stock greatest impact was early in the balling and oversight. No doubt numbers. Middle River has held up season and in the fall. without any train traffic this ancient well given the poor state of salmon structure is redundant and poses a stocks elsewhere. Upgrades at potentially serious environmental safety (liability) problem. Kidston Island St. Peter’s Marina: Semi-Annual BSS Shoreline Protection: t. Peter’s Marina operated by Sthe St. Peter’s Lion’s Club is Meeting: n December 2014, work was undergoing upgrades to its facilities. Iundertaken to stop the erosion A new foundation is in place under n August 2014, the Society at the west end of Kidston Island the club house and the docking and Iheld its semi-annual meeting. in Baddeck. This required the finger piers are to be upgraded. A presentation was made by Dr. placement of large stones near the Funds to effect these improvements Susanna Fuller, PhD. regarding base of the light house on the shore were accessed through Enterprise the New Economy Commission’s to hopefully stop any further erosion Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) Report on the social and economic of the shore front. Increasingly, prior to its being consumed by issues facing Nova Scotia. Fuller there seems to be situations driven the Atlantic Canada Opportunities was a commission member traveling by wind, rain and wave power that Agency (ACOA). throughout the province as the are an impact on shorelines in the Commission listened to public Bras d’Or Lakes. Recently, a the Upgrades at the concerns about Nova Scotia’s CBC radio interview featured local economy and future. The New geologist, Fred Baechler, discussing Bras d’Or Yacht Club: Economy Commission’s report can the merits of protecting land by addeck’s Bras d’Or Yacht Club be accessed at www.onens.ca. the placement of armor stone Bhad its waterfront upgraded with on eroding shorefronts. Baechler a very well constructed new wharf stated that proper engineering that should withstand the powers is a critical component of such of Mother Nature. The wharf was remediation. completely rebuilt starting in late July 2014 and finished up in August 2014. This was a timely upgrade as the old structure had been

Page 2 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org followed by a Family Supper. We watershed. All Board members Ross Ferry partnered with Clean Nova Scotia are volunteers who give their Stewardship and the Baddeck Tim Horton’s time to oversee the activities of and combined the Park Clean-up the association and to work on Society Report with a road clean-up. Clean Nova projects. We meet 9 times a year Fall 2014 Scotia provided us with garbage at community halls throughout the by Terri Shubrook and recycling bags. Tim Horton’s watershed! All of our meetings are provided Tim Bits and Hot Chocolate. he Ross Ferry Marine Park open to the public. The weather did not cooperate but is located on the scenic Bras T those few that showed up got the job Here are some highlights of our d’Or Lake in Cape Breton, Nova done. Trish Aker and Joella Foulds work over the past year. Scotia. The park is on the site of entertained us while we ate chili www.blbra.ca the ferry which operated for many and visited. years between Ross Ferry and Big Education Resource Project: The Harbour, across the Great Bras d’Or Our big project this year was to do Education Resource Committee is Channel. repairs to the Wharf. We received developing a resource document funding from ECBC – now ACOA – The Ross Ferry Stewardship Society for Grade 4 Science teachers (and with the understanding that we were is a volunteer based community other leaders/parents) to help to contribute 25% of the costs. We organization, formed in 2004. It children learn about, and connect hired a Contractor and proceeded was formed with the intention of with, the natural environment to raise our portion of the funds. improving the site and to provide around them. The resource is In addition to our Canada Day and continued access to the Bras focused on the Geology and Labour Day events we held a Pub d’Or. The Society negotiated an Habitats within the Bras d’Or Night. We were grateful for the agreement with the Province of Lake Biosphere Reserve. The $5,000 contribution from the County Nova Scotia to manage the site and document is divided into three of Victoria. work began to create the Marine sections: background information Park. In 2015 we are planning on installing for teachers; engaging materials a community bulletin board, Today we have a vibrant community for Grade 4 students to read updating our signage, expanding our park which includes picnic areas, themselves; and detailed outlines “Summer Evenings” and installing walking trails, refurbished wharf of hands-on, interactive activities. our Green Gym. facilities, a sewage pump out for Throughout the document, the boaters, a boat launch, and a Our AGM was held November 13, unique nature of the Bras d’Or Lake children’s playground, all in an 2014. Our 2015 Executive is: Terri and its watershed is emphasized. idyllic setting on the shores of the Shobbrook (Chair) – 902-674-0148, We are also taking an approach Bras d’Or. Marilyn McKenna, Brenda Rymes, that recognizes and celebrates the John Hugh Edwards, Murdock The park has continued to receive different cultures present around Morrison and Alex Gilchrist. funding from the federal government the Bras d’Or. The “Two-Eyed and municipal governments for Seeing” approach respects both summer students but apart from Western science and Indigenous these contributions the operation Report From the knowledge, and both ‘ways of and maintenance of the park is knowing’ complement each other. dependent on local fund raising and Bras d’Or Lake The second section for students donations. Biosphere Reserve will be available in English, French, We started a new activity this for the Fall Mi’kmaq and Gaelic. year … “Summer Evenings at the The final product will be the Park”. We had a Fossil Info night of 2014. resource document itself (which as well as an introduction to the By Jim Foulds will be printed and digitized), as Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere. Our well as related materials (such Astronomy nights were thwarted as videos of local stories/people by poor weather and the night we he Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere of interest) hosted online. Once did proceed, the sky opened up 10 reserve was designated by the resource is published, we will minutes after the event was over. T UNESCO in June 2011 and is hold a Professional Development We tried something different with governed by an 18 member Board day for teachers to introduce them the spring park clean-up this year. of Directors from around the We held a Park and Road Clean-up ...cont’d on page 4 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Page 3 Report from the Bras d'Or Lake Biosphere is the first to do so. Thanks Greg! challenges in developing Reserve for the Fall of 2014 cont’d ... On a grander scale, it looks like sections of the Bras d’Or Lake to this resource, and work with Richmond County will be the first Walking Trail. schools in the Biosphere Reserve municipality to start incorporating Museum Display: The display at to pilot the project. the logo and information about the the AGB National Historic site has Bras d’Or Biosphere in signage at Currently, the resource is in been installed! It will help to explain the St. Peters Canal as part of their the drafting stage. We have a the Biosphere Reserve concept to new tourism strategy. full document (approximately over 70,000 visitors /year! It also 120 pages, without diagrams). Walking Around the Bras d’Or promotes ’s Most sections are complete or Lake Project: This project has interest in the environment of the near-complete as far as content an ultimate goal of a walking trail Bras d’Or showing his interest in collection goes (with the exception that extends around the entire sustainability. The highlight of of the student section, for which a watershed. The idea of a trail that the display is the light-table of an significant amount of material still went around the lake has always aerial view of the watershed – on needs to be collected e.g., stories, been a positive, well supported loan from a long-time Bras d’Or legends, fun facts). We underwent goal to work toward. The example Biosphere supporter – the Bras a first round of revisions to of the Bruce Trail in the Niagara d’Or Preservation Nature Trust. incorporate the Mi’kmaq worldview, Escarpment Biosphere Reserve Summer Student 2014: has inspired this in great measure and we are currently undergoing a Elise although, as we have discovered, second round of revisions. Marsman there are many existing trails and To complete this project, we will worked as an many avid participants using them! need assistance from an illustrator, Assistant for The latest from the Trail committee: a professional editor, a website the Education designer, translators and a part- • Trail maps have been created Resource time project coordinator. The (thanks to CBRM staff). They project of budget will be mainly comprised of show existing trails but will also the Bras labour from the contractors listed have a glyph, website address, d’Or Lake above, as well as printing and Facebook symbol and updates Biosphere associated distribution costs. for NS Nature Trust and Bras Reserve d'Or Preservation Nature Trust Association during the summer of Signage for the Biosphere: properties We are actively promoting the 2014. Elise is currently a second- installation of Biosphere signage. • The maps will be distributed to year student in the Engineering Local organizations are taking out community centres/fire halls Transfer Diploma Program at memberships in the association – throughout the watershed Cape Breton University, majoring this gives them as soon as possible for the in Environmental Engineering. She the right to purpose of raising awareness brought to the job extensive extra- use our logo. and gaining further information curricular experience working with The South about existing trails and trail children, through refereeing soccer Mountain developments and organizing children’s day Arm of Gold • Two public information camps. She has always enjoyed Community documents will be prepared. outdoor activities, but especially Association One will be a digest of the swimming and boating on the Bras from the St. original background document d’Or Lake. Georges and the Final Report; the second As the Education Resource Channel area document will be a brochure- Assistant, Elise was tasked with (West Bay) has done so – proudly type publication containing a content gathering and editing displaying the sign (see picture) map and current information responsibilities. She spent time both inside and outside their about Trail opportunities. gaining an understanding of very busy hall. It is also available • To organize and support four the Two-Eyed Seeing approach for businesses to use in their community-level activities to (in which Western Science promotional materials. Greg Silver enable each area to undertake and Indigenous Knowledge of CAPEBRETONSAILING.COM trail projects and identify ...cont’d on page 5 Page 4 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Report from the Bras d'Or Lake Biosphere Islands. My grandmother, Victoria a mile wide, was ideally suited to Reserve for the Fall of 2014 cont’d ... Eliza, (nee Smith) Newlands, was both pasture and cultivation. complement each other). She the youngest of Archie Smith’s At the time, Mary, one of Donald gathered materials relevant to the eight girls. I thought that I would Smith's daughters, had reached Geology and Habitat content of share with you a little more the marriageable age, and indeed had the resource document, and spent history of the Islands. a sweetheart, Angus Ross, who time editing several sections. Alexander Smith, my 3rd great lived on the mainland. Angus had She also gathered biographies of grandfather, and his wife, recently acquired a farm but being people doing inspiring work within Catherine (nee MacLeod) and 3 of a thrifty Scot was biding his time till the Bras d’Or Biosphere! their children, John, Donald, and he was in a better financial position Biosphere Atlas: There is a wealth Catherine immigrated to West Bay before proposing to Mary. However, of information on-line in what we call in 1815 from Balallan, Isle of Lewis, in those days it was still customary the “Biosphere Atlas”. Our website Scotland. for parents to arrange marriages has a link to the atlas on every page. The two Crammond (Smith) Islands for their daughters, so when a Mr. The atlas is a Google Earth based were originally owned by Alexander Johnson from Lake Ainslie asked database with an ever increasing Smith as a result of a land grant for Mary's hand in marriage her amount of information on a variety petition that he was awarded on 22 parents, knowing him to be well-to- of general activities throughout July 1818. (I have in my possession do, gave their consent. the watershed. By clicking on or the original document). In 1820, he A fine ball was held at the off different layers, you can see or successfully petitioned for the third Smith home in honour of the hide the information. Major subject island, known as Floda. engagement. It was early in the layers are: Natural Resources After Alexander Smith’s death year and the lake was still frozen and Stewardship, Education, on 8 Apr 1850, all three islands over so Angus Ross skated across Development and Economy, passed to his youngest son, and attended the festivities. While Culture, Social & Recreation and Donald Smith (my 2nd great dancing with Mary, he emulated Science and Research. Under grandfather). Donald and his first his famous countryman Young each major heading, there a many wife, Ann (nee MacDonald) had Lochinvar by whispering in her groups of data to peruse. This seven children before her death at ear a plea to elope. This she was project started with an inventory the rather young age of 34. Donald very willing to do and going into a of community organizations within remarried Sarah Kennedy in 1845 bedroom adjoining the parlour she the watershed – to make sure we and together they had 3 additional climbed through the window. Her had an idea of what they did and sons; Archibald (Archie), my great two brothers gleefully entered into how we could contact them. We grandfather, John and Isaac. In the plot and helped Angus harness encourage everyone to have a look addition to farming, Donald Smith a horse to a sleigh. The lovers around the atlas and if you want was also a carpenter and some then set off across the four miles something added, let us know! locals referred to the Islands as of ice to Black River and thence to Carpenter’s Island. Arichat to be married. They did not fear pursuit as their horse, known As you noted in your article, “social as the Barra Mare, was famed for life was quite active”. And the speed on the ice. Crammond Island following tale gives a fine example History of some of that activity. This was Soon the elopement was discovered written by Vera L. Davison. It and the jilted Mr. Johnson was This (lightly edited) letter was appeared in the Atlantic Advocate naturally somewhat downcast. sent to Mr. David Gunn of Dundee Magazine in June 1958 and was He soon found compensation, by John Vernon Newlands of called The Double Elopement. however, in the charms of lovely Maine USA Henrietta MacKenzie, and shortly 'In 1845 there lived on Carpenters am writing to you in regards to the proposed marriage. Although Island (now known as Crammond article entitled ‘The Crammond already engaged to one Peter I Islands), in the beautiful Bras d'Or Islands’ which you authored and McFarlane, Henrietta accepted Lake, a certain Donald Smith and was published in the July 2012 and they too set out for Arichat. On his family. Smith was a prosperous issue of The Blue Heron Like farmer as the island, one and a Johanna MacKenzie, I too have half miles in length and about half a connection to the (Crammond) ...cont’d on page 6 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Page 5 Crammond Island History cont’d ... Smith Island so Dan deeded the eldest daughter, “Sadie”, who property to her. married Colin MacRae, and died the way they encountered Mr. And Catherine Bell believed that her at the young age of 23, the Smith Mrs. Angus Ross returning. There youngest son, Jim (James Smith girls all moved to Massachusetts. were no hard feelings and they / ‘Jim Crow’) would bring her Archie’s second wife, Katherine, drank to each other's health before groceries and so forth. Jim, who from whom “MacLean Island” continuing on their way. had been irresponsible, moved in was purchased, passed away in Henrietta's erstwhile fiancé) with his mother on the island. But, Woburn, Massachusetts on 26 Dec meanwhile was vowing vengeance he did not treat her well, so she left 1912. in no uncertain terms ‘til Henrietta's the island and came to live with her I do not know who currently owns the young sister Anne calmed him son, Dan, in Whycocomagh Portage Crammond Islands. But, somehow down. Being just thirteen at the time some fifty miles away. There she ‘Smith’ and ‘MacLean’ islands she promised she would marry him remained for the rest of her life. I must have come together again if he would wait two or three years. do not know what transpired with under one owner. I inquired about This he did, and did not regret his the ownership of ‘Smith Island’ this in the early 1990’s and I was wait. after Jim Smith left the island to go informed that they were possibly live with his brother Dan’s widow, Donald Smith’s last will and owned by a German investment Alice, in Whycocomagh. Dan testament bequeathed the western company. However, I do know that passed away in 1955, Jim in 1969 island, (“Smith Island”) and half of they both were offered for sale in and Dan’s wife, Alice in 1985. Floda Island to his son, Isaac Smith. the late 1980’s for $850,000 (US). Isaac and his wife, Catherine Bell As for “MacLean Island”, the middle So, perhaps John Hector MacLean MacKenzie, lived on Smith Island island, Donald Smith willed it and got a pretty fair deal for $1,000. and had three children, Daniel, the other half of Floda Island jointly My wife and I are planning a trip Mabel and James. to his wife, Sarah and his son, to Cape Breton this summer. We Archie (Archibald K. Smith) with Daniel (Dan) Smith, Isaac’s eldest hope we will be able to find a rental the stipulation that Archie would son, married Alice Muriel Cotterel in boat and make a pilgrimage to the become the sole owner upon 1918 and they lived on the western Crammond Islands. So maybe if Sarah’s passing which occurred on Crammond Island, commonly all goes well, one of Archie Smith’s 14 Oct 1885. called Smith's Island until 1930 great grandchildren will once again when he felt that his family must Archie, my great grandfather, who set foot on the Crammond Islands. relocate so that his daughters might passed away on 10 Oct 1905, did get their education. Previous to indeed have eight daughters. The this, he and his family lived with his first six of these girls, Sarah Mae parents Isaac and Catherine Bell (‘Sadie’), Mary Henrietta (‘Etta’), on the island. For many of those Katherine Isabella, (‘Katie’), Dolena years, Isaac was crippled so Dan Margaret, (‘Lena’), Annie Jane, Advancing shouldered all the responsibility (‘Jenny’) and Minnie Barbara, Woody Biomass of the farm on the island. Upon (‘Minnie’) were by his first wife, Isaac’s death, he willed the island Annie MacLachlan. Options in to Dan. It was one of the conditions Annie (nee MacLachlan) Smith died Nova Scotia: of Isaac’s will that Dan care for his 10 Feb 1885 leaving Archie on the Are researchers oblivious to or mother, Catherine Bell. island with his 6 daughters, ages purposely ignoring a long history Dan’s family seriously considered 11 to 2 years old and his widow of poor forestry practices moving to the United States. Flora mother, Sarah, who was then 79 in Nova Scotia? years old. In March of 1885, Archie MacLeod, at whose house in Mt. By Minga O’Brien MSc BSC married Katherine Maclachlan who Mabel Dan was born, encouraged Forest Technician this move and promised to help was the older sister of his first wife, n behalf of the Bras d'Or them settle. When she died Annie. Katherine and Archie had Stewardship Society, I suddenly, Dan and his family moved two more daughters, Edith Ellane O attended a workshop this fall at to Seal's Cove near Orangedale. and my grandmother, Victoria Eliza Cape Breton University entitled His mother, Catherine Bell, refused who was born on 24 Jan 1888. to leave the old homestead on With the exception of Archie’s ...cont’d on page 7

Page 6 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Advancing Woody Biomass Options and ecologically, Nova Scotia’s – 14,450 acres) per year. For in Nova Scotia cont’d ... forests are in very poor shape. The comparison, in 2012, the total legacy of land clearing, human- area clearcut in the province was lit fires, and more than 40 years 27,000 hectares (or 66,690 acres). "Advancing Woody Biomass of widespread clearcutting has The demand for woody biomass in Options and Opportunities in transformed our naturally diverse, Point Tupper is thus accounting for NS". Essentially, the workshop uneven-aged, long-lived Acadian 19-23% of the provincial harvest. was about presenting new and forests to low value, low vigour, atypical ways to make use of wood We have (mis)managed our forests short-lived hardwoods like white products. and now we are scraping the and grey birch, red maple and bottom of the barrel. Currently, The workshop at CBU’s poplar, and insect-prone balsam fir the only ‘viable’ products are Verschuren Centre was interesting and white and black spruce. We softwood chips for pulp and and enlightening. The mood was have cut most of the older forests. paper mills, small-sized softwood upbeat, with many of the presenters It is now common to see logging logs destined to become 2 x 4’s, enthusiastic about their research. I trucks with trees less than 3 inches and woody biomass. Even the learned about projects investigating in diameter. Today, tall straight viability of generating power from opportunities for all manner of white pine – once the most coveted woody biomass is questionable: wood products, such as BioOil, trees in the province – are difficult at the 2010 hearings of the NS BioChar, betulinic acid, activated to find outside protected areas and Utility and Review Board, NSPI carbon, and cellulistic ethanol inaccessible terrain. showed reluctance and aversion (wood based ethanol that can fuel Forests play a critical role in to biomass projects. However, cars), as well as experimental trials reducing water temperatures with the province guaranteeing a at CBU and Point Edward growing and temperature fluctuations, rate of return from the production short rotation willow and poplar nutrient losses, storm runoff and of electricity from woody biomass, crops. Betulinic acid, for example, sedimentation. They are also the corporation’s risks were is derived from the bark of birch habitat for a large number of forest- minimized and the Point Tupper trees, and is purported to have dependent species, such as barred biomass plant was built. Finewood anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti- owls, bats, woodpeckers, moose, Flooring, a value-added hardwood cancer, anti-malaria, and antibiotic marten, salamanders, wood turtles, flooring business in Middle River, properties. It is worth $1,000 per snakes, and unusual orchids. Victoria County, closed its doors gram! Activated carbon is made out in 2014 due to a lack of supply of of birchwood, and has an enormous How much wood is needed to good quality sugar maple logs. surface area per volume. It can produce woody biomass products be used to capture contaminants like electricity and ethanol, and will At the workshop at CBU, one such as heavy metals from smoke these wood-based energy sources member of the audience (an stacks and tailings ponds. It is even have a lower carbon footprint employee of the Department of used in hospitals as a treatment for than fossil fuels? Consider Nova Natural Resources) asked about poisoning. Scotia Power Inc.’s co-generation the sustainability of repeated facility of Point Tupper. At the harvesting for fibre on soil nutrients In a province with a poorly biomass workshop, the NSPI and organic matter. Unfortunately, diversified forest industry - pulp, engineer overseeing the bioenergy the response was vague and ill- paper, and construction lumber - it operations at Point Tupper informed: that research is being is good to see new forest products confirmed that 670,000 tonnes of done on the topic. In fact, there emerging that add greater value woody biomass were burned in the has been more than 30 years per unit of wood harvested. NSPI boiler at Point Tupper in its of research on this topic, and a What was missing from this first year of operation. That's 50-60 quick search of the literature since workshop, however, was context. truckloads carrying 1,780 tonnes the early 1980s would reveal a Imagine researchers getting of green biomass per day. The large number of peer-reviewed, excited about new jellyfish products vast majority of forest harvesting scientific publications. Dr. Andrea as jellyfish populations bloom and in the province is by clearcutting, Service, an ecologist based out biodiversity declines in response so supplying these amounts to of the Annapolis Valley, prepared to human-induced, cumulative the NSPI co-generation facility is an extensive, 164 page literature impacts on the ocean. roughly equivalent to clearcutting Like the oceans, economically 5,160 – 6,255 hectares (or 12,750 ...cont’d on page 8 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Page 7 Advancing Woody Biomass Options (25 years ago), showed that on- Massachusetts' new regulations. in Nova Scotia cont’d ... site carbon storage is reduced I would posit that here in Nova considerably with timber harvesting, Scotia, we are much closer to review entitled "Silvicultural and and does not approach old-growth the worst case scenario, and Ecological Impacts of Conventional storage capacity for at least 200 that our soils are already highly Forestry and Forest Biomass years (provided the site is not cut depleted of nutrients and organic Harvesting at the Stand and again during that period). A study matter due to repeated cutting, Landscape Levels: A Literature by J. Aber and others (presented land clearing and burning. In this Review". This paper was prepared in the Canadian Journal of Forest context, the province needs to for the Nova Scotia Department of Research in 1978, 37 years ago) review the scientific literature and Natural Resources, and St FX and predicted that soil organic matter revisit the inclusion of large scale Dalhousie Universities in 2009. [I decreases for 15 to 30 years after industrial uses of woody biomass have a digital copy of it, and can clearcutting in the Acadian Forest in its renewable energy policy. share it with interested individuals.] and takes 60 to 80 years to recover The researchers and presenters to pre-harvest levels. 1 These calculations are based on conversions attending this workshop need to from tonnes to cubic meters made available by Concerns raised by scientists and think about the demands their the NS Dept of Natural Resources, and cubic others about the carbon neutrality products will be placing on forest meters of wood per ha of clearcut from the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers National of using woody biomass to generate habitat and a highly degraded Forestry Database heat and power prompted the State resource. of Massachusetts to commission Thanks to Jamie Simpson for There is an underlying assumption a life-cycle analysis of carbon sharing his report ‘Forest Biomass behind policies and regulations emissions from forest harvesting Fuel and Carbon Emissions: Is that favour greater use of woody for biomass energy. Released Renewable Energy Policy Keeping biomass: that woody biomass is in 2010, the study by T. Walker Pace with Science?’ a renewable source of energy, and others confirmed that forest and carbon neutral. A comment biomass, in the Massachusetts from one of the workshop context, is not inherently carbon- presenters emphasized the carbon neutral at the time of burning. This sequestration rates of younger 182-page report reviewed many forests, but made no reference to possible scenarios under which a the loss of soil carbon caused by carbon debt incurred by burning The Bras d’Or Stewardship biomass can be “repaid” over time, clearcutting, or to the vast pool of Society is interested in carbon stored in the belowground as the harvested forest regrows. contributions from our biomass of older forests. Even Under best case scenarios (i.e., the International Panel on partial harvesting, highly efficient members. If you have use of biomass, and replacement Climate Change has made this something to contribute of inefficient use of fossil fuels assumption, and promoted the to the Newsletter or use of biomass-derived energy to such as older coal-fired power reduce greenhouse gas emissions. stations), the carbon debt can be would like to work with Similarly, under the Kyoto Protocol, repaid within an estimated 10 to 20 the society’s board, years. Under worst case scenarios carbon released when burning please let us know. The biomass fuels (that is, vegetation (clearcut harvesting, inefficient use or vegetation-derived fuels), of biomass, replacement of highly society is an all volunteer are exempt from being counted efficient fossil fuel use such asa organization that welcomes modern natural gas power station), towards a nation’s greenhouse gas input from individuals emissions. the carbon debt will not be repaid for over a century. Informed by interested in promoting the The scientific literature shows that the results of this study, the State harvesting forests – especially by conservation, protection of Massachusetts changed its clearcutting – can result in very and restoration of the regulations on renewable energy significant losses of forest carbon. and biomass. It is notable that Bras d’Or Lakes and its A paper published in Science by Point Tupper would not qualify watershed. M. Harmon and others, in 1990 as "renewable energy" under

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Manuscript for The Blue Heron -­‐ B.G. Hatcher -­‐ 5 January, 2015 1

MORE MORESALMON SALMON SECRETS SECRETS FROM THE MIDDLE FROM RIVER THE MIDDLE RIVER Bruce G. Hatcher, BruceBras G. Hatcher, d’Or Institute for Ecosystem Research, Cape Breton University Bras dʼOr Institute for Ecosystem Research, Cape Breton University

In the last issue of InThe the lastBlue issue Heron of The (Vol.18 Blue Heron (2), (Vol.18 July (2014),2), July 2014), I described I described the the Bras Bras dd’OrʼOr Acoustic Acoustic Array Array in the Atlantic Arena of the Globalin the Ocean Atlantic Tracking Arena of the Network, Global Ocean and Tracking reported Network, on and the reported outcomes on the outcomes of our first of our experiments tracking the movements of firstAtlantic experiments Salmon tracking smolts the moveme capturednts of Atlanticand tagged Salmon smoltsin the captured Middle and River tagged during in the 2012. Those results posed more interestingMiddle questions River during than2012. theyThose answered.results posed Heremore interesting I summarize questions the than results they answered. of the 2013 and 2014 tagging Here I summarize the results of the 2013 and 2014 tagging experiments to date, and describe the experiments to date,work and we starteddescribe for 2015 the. work we started for 2015.

A summary of our MiddleA summary River of our Salmon Middle River smolt Salmon tracking smolt tracking results results to date to date is givenis given inin Table 1 1below. below.

Glenn Crossin fromGlenn the DalhousieCrossin from theBiology Dalhousie department Biology department again joinedagain joined the theCBU CBU and and UINR UINR teams teams in thein the Spring of 2013 to tag smolts capturedSpring by of 2013the UINR to tag smolts smolt captured wheel by in the Middle UINR smoltRiver. wheel The in Middlesmolt River.run wasThe smolt consistent, run was and we were able to tag 50 fish overconsistent, a period and of we 5 weredays able in toMay. tag 50 The fish resultsover a period from of 5this days larger in May. sampleThe results of from a strong this smolt run reinforce larger sample of a strong smolt run reinforce the patterns observed in 2012. Only 7 (14%) of the 50 the patterns observedtagged in smolts2012. were Only never 7 (14%) detected of again the and50 taggedare assumed smolts to have were died neveras a direct detected or indirect again and are assumed to have died as a directeffect of or the indirect tagging process effect. Thisof the is a tagginglower value process. than the 25% This tag is-induced a lower mortality value incurred than in the 25% tag-induced mortality incurred in2012, 2012, reflecting reflecting improvements improvements in tagging technique in tagging and the technique use of the smaller and theVEMCO use V -8of the smaller VEMCO V-8 acoustic tags. The acousticremaining tags. 43The fish remaining were 43 detectedfish were detected at as atmany as many as as11 11(mean (mean ofof 3.3)3.3) listening listening gates gates in the river and in the river and the estuary, for as long as 64 (mean of 22) days after tagging. A further 7 fish the estuary, for as disappearedlong as 64 between (mean the of river 22) and days the mouthafter oftagging. Nyanza Bay, A further and are 7assumed fish disappearedto be natural between the river and the mouth of Nyanzamortalities Bay, and(probably are theassumed result of predation to be natural in the large mortalities river delta) (probablydemonstrating the the result perils faced of predation in the large river delta) demonstratingby smolts thein this perils critical faced transition by from smolts fresh into thissalt water. critical Of transitionthe 36 fish that from left Nyanzafresh to Bay, salt 24 water. Of the 36 fish (66%) reached the outer ends of the Great Bras dʼOr and Little Bras dʼOr channels (6 &18 fish that left Nyanza Bay,resp.), 24 and(66%) another reached two must the have outer sneaked ends out of past the our Great listening Bras gates d’Or because and they Little were Bras d’Or channels (6 &18 fish resp.), and anotheramongst two the 16must fish have(37% ofsneaked the tag survivors) out past detected our listening crossing the gates gates becauseat the Cabot they Strait weregate amongst the 16 fish (37% of the tag survivors)and, or the detected Strait of Belle crossing Isle (650km the togates the NNE!). at the One Cabot of the Straitfish was gate even and, heard or by thea robot Strait of Belle Isle (650km to the NNE!). One gliderof the that fish constantly was plieseven the heard surface by waters a robot of the gliderGulf or that St. Lawrence! constantly It is a pliestremendous the surface waters of the Gulf advantage that the Bras dʼOr acoustic array is nested within these other, large OTN arrays that or St. Lawrence! It detectis a tremendous salmon migrations advantage into the NW that Atlantic the Ocean. Bras d’Or acoustic array is nested within these other, large OTN arrays that detect salmon migrations into the NW Atlantic Ocean. It follows that 11 smolts (26% of the tag survivors) remained in the Bras d’Or for as long as 64 days (when tag batteries are running down). Of those that remained, 8 may have died prior to tag battery depletion. But they could also have stayed in areas where no receiver could detect them (i.e. most of the volume of this huge estuary!) So we still cannot demonstrate conclusively that there are Salmon smolts that do not leave the estuary and survive into adulthood within the estuary. The Spring of 2014 followed a particularly severe winter on the Bras d’Or, and the Middle River smolt run was late, weak and sporadic. Michael Orr from CBU worked closely with Shelley Denny, Tyson Paul and the UINR team to deploy and operate the smolt wheel so as to maximize the number of fish available for tagging while minimizing tag-induced mortality. We used two types of tags in this experiment (generously provided by the NS Dept. of Fisheries and the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans): powerful V-9 tags in large smolts, and specially- programmed V-8 tags in smaller smolts that transmitted for 45days, then turned off to save battery power, then turned on again after a further 60 days. The idea is to detect smolts that remained in the estuary into the autumn; long after their cohort had left. (We anxiously await the download of the Bras d’Or array in 2015 to see evidence of long-term residence of smolts in the estuary). We tagged a total of 30 Smolts into early June 2014, and the CBU team (including senior students Alicia Penney, Caelin Murray and Jesse McDougal) tracked fish in the river with both fixed receivers and from a small boat.

...cont’d on page 10 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Page 9 Michael’s surgical technique was good and we documented only one (3%) tag-induced mortality, but another two fish did not leave the river. Of the 27 (90%) that did, 23 (77%) exited Nyanza Bay, and 21 (70% of tag survivors) are known to have reached the outer ends of the two exit channels. (Note that no tagged smolt has ever been detected leaving the Bras d’Or estuary through the St. Peter’s Canal). As always, we must await the returns from data downloads of the other arrays before finalizing our results from the 2014 smolt experiment. But it is apparent we have greatly reduced the mortality associated with tagging, and that 2014 was a very different year. A much higher proportion of smolts appear to have left the estuary than in previous years, and a majority of them migrated through the Great Bras d’Or Channel. These 96 small, vulnerable fish exhibited a large range of migration behaviours over the course of our studies. Some made a dash for the ocean, leaving the estuary by the shortest route in as little as 17 days. Others seemed to explore widely before leaving, or deciding to stay, visiting Whycogomagh Bay, returning to Nyanza Bay, then into the Great Bras d’Or Channel, then back down to the Barra Strait before finally being detected in the St. Andrews Channel prior to exiting the estuary through the Little Bras d’Or Channel. Or not… What factors motivate these different behaviours? Weather, predators, water quality, inherited memories of watery havens? The smoltification process is stressful, so the condition of the fish when they exit the river may be an important factor. More questions… CBU graduate student Alicia Penney analyzed the behaviours of fish that exited the estuary in some detail. She found that the average swimming speed of smolts between listening gates in the Bras d’Or array was 1.77 Body Lengths per second (approx. 0.9 kph), but reached maxima of 4.24 BL/s and 5.34 BL/S in the Great Bras d’Or and Little Bras d’Or Channels (resp.). The fish typically wait until the favourable (ebbing) tide at night to pass through the channels. They assemble at the mouths of these channels and may wait for many days until the conditions are right. Why so many of the smolts show a preference for the more distant, narrow, shallow Little Bras d’Or Channel over the much larger Great Bras d’Or Channel remains an open question. Perhaps the smaller channel feels more like a river to these fish, and poses less of an osmotic challenge than the sharp salinity fronts that characterize the tidal progression through the larger channel (from where fish often turn around and swim back into the estuary). In the first non-salmon acoustic tagging experiment in the Bras d’Or Array during the Autumn of 2013, Allison MacIsaac and the Eskasoni Fish & Wildlife (EFWC) team captured 7 Striped Bass (ranging in size from 209 to 508cm fork length) in Benacadie Pond, inserted V-9 acoustic tags and released them between the listening gates in the Barra Strait. Two of these fish disappeared into the big Lake after two days, while five (71%) headed directly to St. Patrick’s Channel and into Whycogomagh or Nyanza bays in as little as 6 days (max 17d), where fishermen report large aggregations of striped Bass near the Steelhead aquaculture pens and at the mouth of the Baddeck River (resp.). Are these large fish a significant source of mortality for juvenile salmon leaving the rivers of the Bras d’Or watershed? Speaking of predation: Alicia tracked one emigrating smolt that travelled from the Little Bras d’Or Channel to the Cabot Strait line in only one day! This translates to approx. 8.5 BL/s, which is about five times faster than the known, sustained swimming speed of an Atlantic Salmon smolt. It approximates the swimming speed of a Grey Seal (3.5 kph) however, and we suspect that the smolt (and it’s tag) reached St. Paul’s Island in the belly of a seal! When we were tracking smolts in the lower reaches of the Middle River in the Spring of 2014 we counted more than 40 Salmon kelts (post-spawn adults) milling about in a broad reach. Do they eat their young? Or were they waiting to escort the emerging smolts out to sea? The habits of adult salmon are poorly known in the Bras d’Or, and so this Autumn we established a sub-array of receivers in the Middle and Baddeck rivers in anticipation of an adult tagging experiment. In a close partnership with the NS Dept. of Fisheries team, the Guardians from Wagmatcook, the UINR team, and members of the Middle River Watershed Association; Michael worked with Glenn and graduate student Xavier Bordeleau from Dalhousie to tag 15 adult salmon kelts at the Margaree Fish Hatchery that were used to augment salmon reproduction in these two rivers, and then to capture and tag a further 3 fish in the rivers by angling. These are very large and powerful V-16 tags that will last at least a year. Based on preliminary data to date (13 Dec. 2014), twelve of these kelts have been heard in the rivers where they were released, but only three are known to have traveled to the mouth of the rivers where they join Nyanza Bay. Again: we anxiously await the interrogation of the expanded Bras d’Or array later this year. Finally, I am very pleased to report that after four years of pains-taking work (and a considerable learning curve), the vision of the Ocean Tracking Network’s Bras d’Or Acoustic Tracking Array is mature. This high tech science tool is helping a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural group of researchers to answer here-to-fore intractable questions about the secret lives of Atlantic Salmon (and other fish species) in the Bras d’Or Biosphere. It has served to create a broad partnership of people with a shared purpose and curiosity. The trick now is to build on this infrastructure, and gain as much knowledge and mutual understanding as we can from the experience. I thank all of the many partners, named and unnamed here, for their intellectual, logistic and financial support; as well as their generous friendship. Page 10 www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org TRANS CANADA TRAIL Bras d’Or Lake Blueway Water Route

nitiated in 1992 to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary on July 1, 2017, the Trans Canada Trail I(TCT) is one of the world’s longest networks of multi-use recreation trails, connecting our country from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

With 75 per cent already com- North Sydney where the TCT current and future generations. plete, millions of Canadians and can connect to Newfoundland. Jessica Farrell has been hired visitors from abroad hike, cycle, The Bras d’Or Lake blueway by Nova Scotia Trails - Trans canoe, kayak, horseback ride, water route is expected to Canada Trail’s recognized agent ski and snowmobile the trail to include up to two-dozen launch for the province - to advance the explore our country’s beautiful areas or public access points for connection of waterway routes natural environments, rich cul- canoe and kayak enthusiasts. A and land trails on Cape Breton ture and history. number of communities around by providing information and A portion of Cape Breton is al- the Bras d’Or Lake have already support to communities inter- ready connected via the Celtic expressed interest in developing ested becoming part of this ex- Shores Coastal Trail, which an access point in their area. citing, Trans Canada Trails na- spans 92 km from Port Hastings Participation in the blueway tional legacy project. to Inverness. A proposed trail will water route is an opportunity If you, or your community group, connect Inverness to Whycoco- for us to take advantage would like to learn more about magh where the Bras d’Or Lake of community development the Trans Canada Trail Bras blueway alternate water route opportunities, raise awareness d’Or Lake Blueway water route will begin at the Whycocomagh of the Bras d’Or Lake and it’s project, please contact Jessica Waterfront Centre and then en- ecosystems, encourage tourism, at (902) 227-8017 or jessica@ compass a 322 km route around and preserve our culture and novascotiatrails.com. our beautiful Bras d’Or Lake to heritage for the benefit of both

www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org Page 11 The Bras d’Or Stewardship Society Addresses and telephone numbers of the Board of Directors Henry W. Fuller, Timothy Lambert, Ph.D. Stephen Sober Jim Carson ̀Interim´ Chairman Lower Ship Harbour 1675 Southside RR#1 & Treasurer RR#2 #1065 Big Harbour RR#1, River Denys, N.S. West Bay, NS Baddeck, N.S. Lake Charlotte #752 B0E 2Y0 B0E 3K0 B0E 1B0 Nova Scotia (902) 756-2390 (902) 345-2268 (902) 295-2664 B0J 1Y0 (902) 845-2189 James M. Crawford Charlie Dennis Rosemary Burns, P.O. Box 277 P.O. Box 8096 Vice Chair David L. Gunn 74 Abershore Road 4102 Shore Road 3042 West Bay Highway 2792 RR#2 Whycocomagh, N.S. Eskasoni, NS St. George’s Channel West Bay, N.S. B0E 3M0 B1W 1C2 RR #2 West Bay, N.S. B0E 3K0 (902) 756-3556 (902) 379-2163 B0E 3K0 (902) 345-2263 (902) 345-2896 James Foulds, Ph.D. 6025 Kempt Head Rd. Mabel MacEachern Walter MacNeil Boularderie, NS 93 Rigby Street 41 Grove St. B0C 1B0 Sydney, NS B1P 4T5 Sydney, N.S. (902) 674-2578 (902) 562-6138 B1P 3M7 (902) 562-5434 Jim O’Brien RR#2 #1180 Big Harbour Baddeck, N.S. B0E 1B0 Bras d’Or Watch (902) 295-2344 to report any observed acts, incidents and violations that threaten the integrity of Bras d’Or Lakes please call any of the directors listed above.

Our Email: www.brasdorstewardshipsociety.org

2015 BRAS D’OR STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY MEMBER $15.00 Yes, I am in favour of conserving and restoring the FAMILY $25.00 Bras d’Or Lake and watershed through responsible stewardship. CONTRIBUTOR $50.00 SUPPORTER $100.00 Name LIFETIME MEMBER $500.00 Address Mail check or money order along with your name and address to: Bras d’Or Stewardship Society Phone e-mail P.O. Box 158 Baddeck, Nova Scotia, B0E 1B0 Fax

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