Watershed Culvert Assessment Presentation (link on request)
Stats Can Email
Required Tools for Culvert Project
Culvert Field Survey Sheet 2007
Pesticide Permit Sheets
Wastewater Treatment Options for Florina Beach and Treasure Island
Paul Jordan's info on Wetland Delineators


Attendees:
Dominique Audet, Shediac Bay Watershed Association
Laura Barrett, Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc.
Harry Collins, Miramichi River Environmental Action Committee
Rémi Donelle, Kent Watershed Association
Francois Emond, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Ernest Ferguson, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Region (DFO-Gulf)
Jocelyne Gauvin, Le Groupe de développement durable du Pays de Cocagne
Carole Godin, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Region (DFO-Gulf)
Larry Hildebrand, Environment Canada (EC)
Marianne Janowicz, NB Dept. of Environment (DENV)
(alternate representing: Kim Hughes, NB Dept. of Environment)
Frédéric Paillard, Groupe de bassin versant de la région de Cap-Pelé
Marc-André Plourde, Les ami(e)s de la Kouchibouguacis
Megan Reicker, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Maritimes Region (DFO-Maritimes)
(alternate representing: Rob MacDougall, DFO-Maritimes)
Luc Richard, Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance
Élie Roussel, Comité de gestion environnementale de la rivière Pokemouche
Peggy Thompson, Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc.
Karen White, NB Dept. of Health (DoH)

Regrets:
Kathy Brewer, NB Dept. of Agriculture and Aquaculture (DAA)
Nada Comeau, L’association des bassins versants de la grande et petite rivière Tracadie
Raymond Gallant, Comité Sauvons nos Rivières Neguac Inc.
Monique Anne Morin, NB Dept. of Fisheries (DoF)
Annick Poirier, Partenariat pour la gestion intégrée du bassin versant de la baie de Caraquet

Meeting Actions:
1. Action for L. Hildebrand: Provide information regarding EC role with pesticides.
2. Action for M. Janowicz: Provide name of person at DENV who deals with quarries.
3. Action for E. Ferguson: Provide information regarding ability for ENGOs to receive CAMP data. Provide information from the Eelgrass Working Group. Provide status on the production of the “Eelgrass and the Environment” posters and pamphlets.
4. Action for J. Gauvin: Provide study “Wastewater Treatment Options for Florina Beach and Treasure Island” to K. White.
5. Action for D. Audet: Provide list of tools required for culvert assessment to Secretariat.
6. Action for Secretariat: Create a survey to collect the information required to update the list of members and their responsibilities and also, each watershed group’s expertise and resources. Put this information on the NBC JAG website.
7. Action for Secretariat: Set a theme for next meetings news updates.
8. Action for Secretariat: Contact DNR to see if they can do a presentation discussing ownership of submerged land and how these lands are managed.
9. Action for Secretariat: Contact Michel DesNeiges from the NB Environmental Law Society regarding a presentation.
10. Action for Secretariat: Send information on SEANB to the ENGOs to see if a presentation from this group would be worthwhile.
11. Action for Secretariat: Collect information on nutrient monitoring and distribute to the NBC JAG members. (This work may occur as a mapping project in the new fiscal year.)

P. Thompson (Chair) brought the meeting to order. Roundtable introductions were conducted. P. Thompson went briefly through the meeting actions from the October 25, 2007 NBC JAG meeting.
· The committee agreed a survey would be the most efficient method to collect the information required to update the list of members and their responsibilities and each watershed group’s expertise and resources.
· L. Barrett stated at the last meeting there was an inquiry as to where statistics regarding the number of cottages along coastlines could be found. L. Barrett stated she contacted Statistics Canada (infostats@statcan.ca). Please see their reply attached.
· L. Barrett discussed a letter that has been drafted, after discussion at the last meeting, recommending to the Department of Environment the Know Your H₂O program continues in 2008. She stated that ENGOs wishing to be included in the letter should let her know.
· P. Thompson asked if all coastal ENGOs who have been attending the meetings should be added to the committee list. The attendees agreed with this change in the committee list.

C. Godin gave a presentation titled “Watershed Culvert Assessment – A Tool Developed to Address Fish Habitat Fragmentation”.
· D. Audet stated the Shediac Bay Watershed Association was one of the pilot groups that tested the culvert assessment tool. She stated that two people at least were required to complete the assessments. She stated the NB Wildlife Trust Fund helped to fund their participation as a pilot group. She stated DFO provided her with a list of required tools to conduct the project. The tools cost approximately $1500.
· It was stated that the Department of Transportation was required to apply to DENV for a permit to replace or put in new culverts.
· The use of arches (bottomless culverts) instead of culverts was discussed. It was suggested that arches are being installed more frequently in some places because they do not touch the stream so the installer may not be required to pay HADD (harmful alteration, disruption or destruction) compensation.
· It was suggested there had been a study on zinc from rusting culverts completed by a person from EC.

P. Thompson asked government representatives in attendance to provide news from their agency.

M. Janowicz stated a final report for the 2007 Know Your H2O program would be completed by the end of March 2008 and would be available to the ENGOs at that time. She also discussed the Coastal Areas Protection Policy, stating since 2002 the department has been averaging 600 files a year and that erosion control structures are on of the biggest issues in terms of the policy. She stated enforcement for the policy is done by DENV and that in most cases taken to court the judge has ruled in the favour of the policy. There was a short discussion regarding who can delineate the boundaries of a wetland. M. Janowicz stated DENV has a list of approved people and to be on this list people are required to take a training session given by DENV. Paul Jordan or Lee Swanson would have more information about this training session.

L. Hildebrand discussed the Atlantic Ecosystem Initiative, which currently consists on ACAP (Atlantic Coastal Action Program). He stated EC is currently in a two-year transition period in which they are trying to figure out what the future of the initiative will be. He also stated that EC prioritizes freshwater.

E. Ferguson stated the ability to present the CAMP (Community Aquatic Monitoring Program) data to ENGOs would be discussed at a meeting on January 25, 2008. He also stated that CAMP would continue in 2008. He continued by stating the Eelgrass Working Group would be meeting January 23, 2008 to decide the plan for the upcoming year. He stated production of the “Eelgrass and the Environment” posters and pamphlets that had been suggested at the last meeting were of interest to his department and funding would not be difficult to find. The difficulty is finding a person who has the time to research and develop the posters and pamphlets. Lastly he stated now that protocols regarding fragmentation of habitat are being dealt with the next step is to develop a protocol for erosion and sedimentation. A working group consisting of DFO – Gulf (Terry Melanson), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), DAA and some ENGOs will discuss this topic at a meeting on January 25, 2008.
· M. Janowicz suggested that DENV should also be on this working group. She also stated she would be in contact with E. Ferguson to see if information from the eelgrass working group would be available to DENV.

K. White stated an onsite standard operating group has been established. She stated Nina van der Pluijm had developed a directive for the Moncton region that lead to a partnership in which DoH’s Moncton office would provide DENV with new permit applications for septic systems so the Coastal Areas Protection Policy can be taken into consideration on all new systems. She stated she is attempting take this directive to all regions in the province.

F. Emond and M. Reicker stated there was no news from their agencies.

P. Thompson asked ENGO representatives in attendance to provide news on their projects.

H. Collins stated possible projects for the upcoming field season are septic system remediation, weekly beach seining, a research spin-off from CABIN (Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network), and research on a rare mussel found in the Doaktown area.

D. Audet stated her organizations possible projects are CAMP, continued water quality monitoring with new indicators being added this year, and sedimentation protocol with DFO-Gulf (the next step after last year’s culvert protocol).

F. Paillard stated his organization is looking at IAPP (Invasive Alien Plant Program) through EC, water quality monitoring, and work on an Eco Park for the upcoming field season.

M. Plourde stated possible projects for the upcoming field season are septic system remediation, an outreach project for waterfront landowners, salmon habitat enhancement, CAMP, by-catch education with fisherman regarding striped bass through the Species at Risk Habitat Stewardship, freshwater invertebrate education with high school students, and a partnership with the Université de Moncton (U de M) for environmental assessment and to gather traditional knowledge of the area.

L. Richard stated his organizations project ideas for the upcoming season are water quality monitoring, Best Management Practices (BMPs) for golf courses, partnering with the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper to train volunteers for the City Streamwatch, culvert assessment at Jonathan Creek, and an educational river run with a high school class, after which the students will develop a magazine to distribute to landowners along the river.

É. Roussel stated possible projects for his organization are septic system remediation and education in schools about climate change and fish habitat.

R. Donelle stated the possible projects he will be working on are water quality monitoring and data management and GIS for the four groups in the Kent area (Kent Watershed Association, Le Groupe de développement durable du Pays de Cocagne, Southeastern Anglers Association, and the Irving Eco-Centre, la Dune de Bouctouche)

J. Gauvin stated her organizations possible projects are septic system remediation, ongoing special talk series, working with businesses on climate change issues, partnership with U de M to educate grade 3 students about sedimentation, partnership with the coordinator of the Youth Action Group of the New Brunswick Environmental Network (NBEB) (http://youth.nben.ca), and a working with two community groups that formed to deal with the study “Wastewater Treatment Options for Florina Beach and Treasure Island”.

P. Thompson stated her organization is assisting local clam harvesters to set up a Clam Co-op, also with clams they are working on a conservation closure in Digedeguash to try clam aquaculture seeding techniques and this year will be Phase 4 of an Occupational Permit Lease in Lepreau to continue research on clam aquaculture and sustainability. L. Barrett stated her possible projects are the continuation of the NBC JAG, development of an illegal dumping educational presentation for adults, developing partnerships with local elementary schools to conduct educational presentations, and developing partnerships with local municipalities to develop Municipal Green Plans.

P. Thompson introduced the next agenda item, “Topics of discussion submitted by environmental groups”.
1) Update on the status of the New Brunswick Coastal Protection Policy?
·                 M. Janowicz addressed this topic earlier today.

2) Are there regulations that deal with the domestic use of pesticides by waterfront property owners? If so who, is the regulator and is there any water monitoring done for this issue?
·                 It was stated that Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) deals with the regulation of pest control products in Canada and DENV regulates the use of these registered products in NB. M. Janowicz stated Mark Miller at DENV deals with pesticides. She provided a copy of an example Landscape Pesticide Use Permit for a Pesticide Approval Holder. L. Hildebrand stated he would follow up on this question and see what EC role is with pesticides.

3) What are the provincial guidelines on the establishment of pits and quarries? Is there a limit on the number of pits and quarries that can be in the province as a whole?
·                 M. Janowicz stated Mitch O’Donnell with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deals with quarriable substances. She stated she would check to see who deals with this issue for DENV.

4) Should DNR be invited to the next meeting to discuss the Submerged Land Policy? Should the Sustainability Education Alliance of New Brunswick (SEANB) be invited to present at the next meeting?
·                  It was suggested that a presentation from DNR should discuss ownership of submerged land and how DNR manages this land. It was suggested that information on SEANB be sent to the ENGOs to see if they feel a presentation from the group would be worthwhile. H. Collins suggested that Michel DesNeiges from the NB Environmental Law Society might also be a good presenter.

L. Hildebrand stated the International Coastal Zone Conference of the Coastal Zone Canada Association would be coming to PEI in 2010. He suggested that perhaps next meeting this conference could be discussed more. Also, he suggested a creating a theme for each meetings news updates. The news themes could relate back to the original three issues, sewage, nutrients, and habitat and resource management raised at the two clinics in 2005.

Meeting was adjourned at 2:00pm.