Program Helps to Preserve Nova Scotia Waterways

Nova Scotia's Department of the Environment is helping conservation groups protect and preserve provincial waterways.

In 1998 alone, more than 30 organizations received funding under the department's Water Licence Fee Credit Program for fish habitat improvements, water quality monitoring, water-related research and stewardship promotion initiatives.

"This innovative program is one of the ways the department is working with stewardship groups to help restore and maintain waterways for future generations," said Environment Minister Michel Samson. "It's a successful partnership with a range of environmental enhancement initiatives supported by volunteers in communities throughout the province."

A few of the groups benefiting from the fee credit program are the following: East Shelburne County Rivers Association; Millbrook Fisheries; Pictou County Rivers Association; St. Mary's River Association; Kings County Wildlife Association; Cumberland County Rivers Enhancement Association; Sackville Rivers Association; New Waterford Fish and Game Association; and Margaree Salmon Association.

Research projects by academic institutions such as Dalhousie and Acadia universities are also supported as well as initiatives by groups such as Clean Nova Scotia Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and the Nova Scotia Youth Corp. The Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture are involved through related programs.

"The program is helping many groups in their efforts to restore fish habitats," said Amy Weston, program manager with the Nova Scotia Salmon Association's Adopt-a-Stream Program. "It is essential that the public and corporate sector be involved in restoration efforts."

Program funding comes from companies that are required to pay a licencing fee in exchange for withdrawing large quantities of water from provincial waterways. The program enables those companies to use a portion of fees to fund environmental enhancement projects. In 1998, Nova Scotia Power Inc., Halifax Regional Water Commission, Stora Port Hawkesbury, Minas Basin Pulp & Power Co. and Bowater Mersey qualified for the fee credit program. Funding must first be approved by the Environment Department to ensure projects comply with its water resources criteria.

"The fee credit is the basis for our Waterwork program, a successful initiative that supports government agencies and a broad range of public interest groups to sustain and promote waterway protection," said Doug Campbell, manager of Hydro Systems at Nova Scotia Power. "Right from the community grassroots level, it allows us to manage this important renewable resource and at the same time achieve our goal of continual environmental improvement."

Nova Scotia Power also sponsors major conferences relating to water, including the upcoming national conference of the Canadian Water Resources Association, which will take place at the Old Orchard Inn in Wolfville in June. In addition, it provides support to Envirothon and Waterfest, which are educational programs for high school and elementary school students.

Since the fee credit program was introduced in 1993, the province has helped support more than 100 projects in communities throughout Nova Scotia.

To encourage better use and protection of water resources, the Environment Department is ready to release a new Water Resource Management Strategy. This strategy will focus on watersheds, with an emphasis on pollution prevention. With the new strategy, community-based organizations will be involved in decisions on the way water resources are used and managed.