HUNTER RIVER, P.E.I. - The health of Island waterways will soon be improved thanks to a federal grant.
Angela Douglas, project manager of the P.E.I. Watershed Alliance Inc., said the announcement of more than $2-million dollars in federal funding earmarked for the alliance is “fantastic” news for the organization.
Douglas was in Hunter River on May 18 where Malpeque MP Wayne Easter, on behalf of federal fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc, announced the alliance will receive close to $2,066,000 over five years for a project to help restore coastal habitats across P.E.I.
The contribution is from the Coastal Restoration Fund, part of the federal Oceans Protection Plan, Easter said. The $75-million fund was announced last May.
“Over the next several years, we will use this fund to invest in the preservation, protection and restoration of Canada’s coastal areas.”
Douglas said the alliance and partner groups will be addressing a number of issues that Island waterways face.
“We’re looking at restoring migratory corridors for fish, such as smelt and Atlantic salmon, so we’ve prioritized some areas that we’re working to develop projects,” she said following the announcement.
The P.E.I. Watershed Alliance will partner with the following eight groups:
- Central Queens Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation
- Souris and Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation
- Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group
- Kensington North Watersheds Association
- Winter River-Tracadie Bay Watershed Association
- Hunter-Clyde Watershed Group
- Wheatley River Improvement Group
- Trout Unlimited Canada – Prince County Chapter
Douglas said another area they will be tackling is the issue of sedimentation, saying historically they’ve dealt with those issues in fresh water systems but are now looking at where the sediment ends up – in estuaries.
“I think it’s really important that we start to address that, especially in terms of fish passage and health of ecosystems and estuaries on P.E.I.,” she said. “We’re pretty excited to continue on with these projects and have them as example projects going forward for the other groups.”
During his announcement, Easter said there are more demands on Canada’s oceans today than ever before.
“It is therefore vital that we protect them in a way that ensures environmental sustainability, safe and responsible commercial use,” he said. “That best happens in collaboration with coastal and Indigenous communities.”
The importance of working in partnership with the Indigenous community was mentioned a couple of times during Easter’s speech, but there was no one from the Indigenous community at the announcement.
“There isn’t here today, but there is work that takes place with the Indigenous community,” Easter told The Guardian. “I think there has to be a lot more encouragement to see that more work does happen with the Indigenous community.”
Easter suspects Indigenous participation will be more in some area than others.
“I think if you’re over around the area of Rocky Point Reserve or at Lennox Island, then you would see more Indigenous participation.”
The P.E.I. Watershed Alliance is working in partnership with the Abegweit Conservation Society.
The Guardian was unable to reach the Abegweit Conservation Society before the story went to print.
