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Minutes of Consultation with the Community
Groups for the NBC JAG
Environment Canada Boardroom, Environmental Science Centre, Moncton
Attendees: Dominique Audet, Shediac Bay Watershed Association Laura Barrett, Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc. Harry Collins, Miramichi River Environmental Action Committee Nada Comeau, L’association des bassins versants de la grande et petite rivière Tracadie Remi Donelle, Kent Watershed Association Patrick Émond, Groups de gestion du bassin versant de la region de Cap-Pelé Susan Farquharson, SWNB Marine Resources Planning Initiative Raymond Gallant, Comité Sauvons nos Rivières Neguac Inc. Jocelyne Gauvin, Le Groupe de développement durable du Pays de Cocagne Mathieu Leblanc, Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance Nathalie Leblanc-Poirier, Kent Watershed Association Marc Leger, Friends of the Fundy Footpath Jeremy Matheson, Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc. Marc-André Plourde, Les ami(e)s de la Kouchibouguacis Kim Reeder, St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. Elie Roussel, Comité de gestion environnementale de la rivière Pokemouche
S. Farquharson (Co-Chair) brought the meeting to order. Roundtable introductions were conducted. S. Farquharson gave a brief history of the formation of the NBC JAG and an update on the meetings that have been held since the clinics. S. Farquharson then presented the Terms of Reference and Logic Model for the NBC JAG to the group. · The attendees asked which community groups could attend the NBC JAG meetings in the future. · Response: S. Farquharson stated it is recommended that all coastal community groups in NB have the chance to sit on the NBC JAG and represent their respective organizations. · H. Collins stated that the list of government agencies on the membership list overwhelms the amount of NGOs and he wondered if the voice of the NGO would be heard. · Response: S. Farquharson stated that when the NBC JAG was being formed a representative from each participating agency and 3 ENGOs were asked to participate to develop the foundation for the NBC JAG. That seemed to provide a manageable number of people at the meetings. · S. Farquharson stated that the foundation is complete; now the top heaviness on the government side will be offset by more involvement of the community groups as was recommended by the NBC JAG members at the last meeting when it was stated that “Without community group involvement, most of us would not sit at this table.” · H. Collins stated that the Logic Model seems to be coastal focused but that 99% of his watershed is terrestrial. H. Collins asked, “how can the model take more terrestrial priorities and can we address fresh water versus coastal priorities and issues”. · Response: S. Farquharson stated she would argue that 85% of all land-based activities do affect the coastal zone. · The attendees asked whether other groups such as the Southern Gulf of Saint Lawrence Coalition (SGSL) and the Gulf of Maine Council (GOM) fit into the NBC JAG; should they be members. · Response: S. Farquharson stated that membership of the SGSL, the GOM and the National Programme of Action (NPA) have all been discussed by the NBC JAG members. It was agreed that the NBC JAG was developed to support such groups and their activities and not to detract from their accomplishments and goals.
Following the agenda, S. Farquharson led the group through a discussion of the NBC JAG priorities (Sewage, Nutrients, Habitat/Resource Management) that came from the two clinics.
S. Farquharson asked the fourteen environmental group attendees to prioritize the NBC JAG environmental issues (Sewage, Nutrients, and Habitat/Resource Management) based on their watershed by using the coloured dot system under the three categories. The attendees were also given the option of adding a new category. The colours are below: 1. Red (Highest Priority) 2. Yellow (Intermediate Priority) 3. Green (Lowest Priority) Two new environmental priorities were added; Land Use and Climate Change. The results are listed below: · Nutrients – 3 Intermediate, 4 Low · Sewage – 4 Intermediate, 5 Low · Habitat/Resource Management – 12 High, 1 Intermediate · Land Use – 5 Intermediate, 1 Low · Climate Change – 2 High, 1 Intermediate, 4 Low
S. Farquharson stated 12 of the 14 groups in attendance chose Habitat/Resource Management as the first priority in their watershed. S. Farquharson stated the next step was to break everyone into groups to discuss the reason they chose Habitat/Resource Management, what their focus/indicator was for this priority, what project they are operating or would like to operate to address it, and finally what resources they would require including human, equipment and information. S. Farquharson stated these items would be presented to the NBC JAG as possible activities for the group. Please find the groups below: Group #1 – Remi, Patrick, Jocelyn, Dominique, Nathalie Group #2 – Elie, Nada, Raymond, Marc-André, Harry Group #3 – Mathieu, Kim, Jeremy, Laura, Marc
S. Farquharson led the groups in a discussion about their results. Many of the groups agreed that they believed more baseline work needed to be performed. Some suggestions for methods to determine baseline are CAMP (Community Aquatic Monitoring Program) or CABIN (Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network). Resources required for CAMP are: a beach seine, YSI monitoring, grain size analysis, an academic consultant, training, a minimum of 2 staff/group, and means to travel to the test sites.
S. Farquharson asked the attendees to propose projects they would like to see done in their watershed to address their first priority of Habitat/Resource Management. Project suggestions: · Marsh restoration and protection · Culvert inventory – for fish passage · Natural loading – Estuary – sourcing · Coastal land development – education and assessment · Coastal Resources – Economic Sustainability · Shellfish, Dune, Eelgrass Habitat restoration · Transportation and impacts on river and marine systems · Education - Remediation and Management – Onsite sewage septic systems · Water Monitoring and Classification
At the end of the meeting S. Farquharson informed the group that she appreciated the amount of information they were reviewing and discussing today and asked that they ALL think about their program/project needs (data, resources) as well as visit the NBC JAG website to review information posted there. She also stated that further consultation would occur with the groups through email and telephone.
Meeting was adjourned at 3:00pm.
Actions: 1) ECW to follow-up with attendees about the results of this session and gather further input. 2) ENGOs to be included on invitation list for the next NBC JAG meeting. If ENGO representatives intend on attending they will have to provide as much notice as possible so space to accommodate everyone can be secured.
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