The Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland (SAEN) has a long history of involvement with St. John’s rivers, especially Rennie’s River and the Virginia River. That involvement has included a variety of projects — habitat cleanups, habitat enhancements, salmon run restoration and a variety of public education and interpretation efforts, both on a stand-alone basis and as a member organization of the Quidi Vidi Rennie’s River Development Foundation.
The plans for both projects, as shown on the Engage St. John’s website, show considerable impacts on the river, or more precisely on the riverbanks and the riparian vegetation lining the watercourse.
SAEN, therefore, has looked with alarm at the city’s proposals for both these rivers as part of the Bike St. John’s Master Plan and the flood mitigation measures for the lower sections of Rennie’s River above and below Portugal Cove Road.
The plans for both projects, as shown on the Engage St. John’s website, show considerable impacts on the river, or more precisely on the riverbanks and the riparian vegetation lining the watercourse. The bike plan, in particular, shows extensive clearance of streamside vegetation and the construction of retaining walls that would eliminate a high percentage of the habitat for both resident and migratory trout stocks and eliminate much of the shading of the rivers, leading to higher water temperatures. As continued climate change leads to higher air and water temperatures, we will see a much higher likelihood of fish kills related to stressful conditions and the elimination of protective habitat such as undercut banks and overhanging vegetation.
SAEN believes both these projects should be subject to a full environmental impact assessment process before any river related work is allowed to proceed, and in the interim calls on the city to address these issues proactively.
Kevin Power, vice-president
Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland
St. John’s
