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General Terms
of the Agreement
Projects funded during
2005-2006
Projects Completed 2005-06
Request for Proposals for 2006-2007
Projects funded during
2006-07
Progress Report
- June 2007
Sample application
GOMCME Statement of
Support for BoFEP - June 2007 |
General Terms of the Agreement
(A copy of the full agreement may be obtained from the BoFEP Secretariat)
Contribution Agreement
between
The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
and
The Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership
The Parties to this Agreement are:
a) The Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership, (hereinafter called The
Recipient), is dedicated to fostering the well-being of the Bay of Fundy
Ecosystem within the Gulf of Maine. BOFEP is representative of the
coastal, marine, watershed scientific, government, academic, and
non-government communities which have interests in integrated ecological
management, conservation, and sustainable resource management of Bay of
Fundy natural resources .
b) The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
(hereinafter called The GOM Council), is a US-Canadian partnership
established by Governors and Premiers of States and Provinces bordering
the Gulf of Maine, to coordinate transboundary resource management
concerns and to promote activities that sustain the ecosystem of the Gulf
of Maine .
Whereas:
Each party to this Agreement has its own distinct mission and operates
independently, together they share similar purposes, goals and objectives
and a common interest in the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy.
The wise management of the Gulf is of concern to both
parties;
The GOM Council and The Recipient wish to establish a
greater and more formal linkage between the two organizations.
This Agreement will allow the Recipient to implement
aspects of its workplan that directly relate to and reflect the goals and
objectives of the 2001-2006 Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan: Protect and
Restore Coastal and Marine Habitats; Protect Human Health and Ecosystem
Integrity; and Encourage Sustainable Maritime Activities.
The Recipient' s
projects contain planned outcomes and clear deliverables that relate to
The GOM Council priorities. GOM Council support will be subject to mutual
agreement between The Recipient and The GOM Council regarding progress in
satisfying the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
The GOM Council has approved the provision of financial
assistance to The Recipient to enable it to carry out the activities
described in Clause 2.
1. Purpose and Expected
Results:
The purpose of the Agreement is for The GOM Council to provide support to
The Recipient to undertake project initiatives of mutual interest that
relate to activities outlined in the Gulf of Maine Council 2001-2006
Action Plan.
2. Activities to be Undertaken:
a) The Recipient will be the party responsible for coordinating the
projects of mutual interest as outlined in their agreed upon annual
workplan.
b) The Recipient agrees to perform activities and
deliver products outlined in the agreed upon annual workplan.
c) The GOM Council will be responsible for authorizing
the provision of resources to The Recipient for implementation of the
agreed upon annual workplan..
d) The Gulf of Maine Management Team and The Recipient
will annually hold a joint meeting (in person or by teleconference) to
review the contract and develop the contract workplan for the subsequent
year.(Participants at this meeting will include the Management Committee
of The GOM Council, the Chair of the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership
and representatives of the BoFEP Management Committee; more frequent
meetings at the working group level would support and derive from this
annual meeting).
3.
Contribution Amount:
The GOM Council agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, to contribute towards the costs incurred by The Recipient for
the activities described herein, to a maximum of $10,000 US per year for a
3-year period beginning in June, 2004, for a total of $30,000 US.
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Projects funded during
2005-2006 The 2005-06 GOMC
grant ($10K US) was awarded to the following projects.
1) Development of a Series of Historical Digital Mosaics Depicting
Change in Intertidal Habitat in the Minas Basin Dr. Danika van Proosdij,
Department of Geography Saint Mary's University ($4,990). The purpose
of this study is to assess and integrate all available historical aerial
photography on salt marshes within the Southern Bight of the Minas Basin,
into the comprehensive digital geodatabase initiated in 2004. This work
will compliment on-going initiatives to quantify the changes in ecosystem
habitat in the Minas Basin. The air photo mosaics produced can then be
used by researches to explore why changes are occurring, ideally
separating the natural versus antropogenic impacts. The final product of
this project is a georeferenced rectified air photo mosaic layer for each
year of available historical aerial photography at low tide integrated
into the GIS geodatabase. This database is being developed as a baseline
for future research on the impacts of tidal barriers on intertidal
ecosystems and is to be housed at St. Mary's University.
2) Annapolis Watershed Salt Marsh Evaluation Project, Clean
Annapolis River Project, Stephen Hawboldt ($5,000) The study will
examine the degree and cause of tidal restriction and the size and
potential biological productivity of the site including contributing
factors. Sites will be ranked as to their feasibility for restoration.
Project outcomes include: an inventory of candidate salt marsh restoration
sites in the western Annapolis Valley sites; the identification of
priority candidate sites; development of restoration plans for high
priority sites; and an initiation of protocols for pre-restoration
baseline monitoring of priority sites.
3) Lessons learned from recovering marshes: the hydrological network
in abandoned dykelands - Gail Chmura, Department of Geography, McGill
University ($2,500). This project is a study of vegetation
distribution and production in relation to the altered hydrology
documented in recovering marshes. The project will assess the responses of
two recovering dykelands - John Lusby Sanctuary on the Cumberland Basin
and Saints Rest March near St. John. Each marsh will be compared to a
reference, or control marsh, Allen Creek/Wood Point on the Upper Bay and
Dipper Harbour on the lower Bay, which have never been isolated from tidal
flooding. Products of this study include: a digital spatial database of
hydrological networks and elevation model; maps of modern hydrological
networks at four marshes; maps of original hydrological networks of two
dykes marshes; and a report of analyses of hydrological differences
between reference and dyked marshes in the two parts of the Bay.
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GOMC-BOFEP Agreement - Projects
Completed 2005-06
1) Development of a series of historical digital mosaics depicting
change in intertidal habitat in the Minas Basin (CAN$4,990)
Danika van Proosdij, Department of Geography Saint Mary's University
The purpose of this study was to assess and integrate all available
historical aerial photography on saltmarshes within the Southern Bight of
the Minas Basin, into the comprehensive digital geodatabase initiated in
2004. This work compliments on-going initiatives to quantify the changes
in ecosystem habitat in the Minas Basin. The air photo mosaics produced
can be used by researches to explore why changes are occurring, ideally
separating the natural versus anthropogenic impacts. The final product of
this project is a georeferenced rectified air photo mosaic layer for each
year of available historical aerial photography at low tide integrated
into the GIS database. The database was developed as a baseline for future
research on the impacts of tidal barriers on intertidal ecosystems and is
to be housed at St. Mary's University. The final
report will be available on the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership website
at: http://www.bofep.org/
2) Annapolis Watershed Salt
Marsh Evaluation Project (CAN$5,000)
Stephen Hawboldt, Clean Annapolis River
Project
This goal of this project was to identify, evaluate and develop
restoration plans for candidate salt marshes in the Annapolis watershed.
The study examined the degree and cause of tidal restriction and the size
and potential biological productivity of the site including contributing
factors. Sites were ranked as to their feasibility for restoration.
Project outcomes included: an inventory of candidate salt marsh
restoration sites in the western Annapolis Valley restoration; the
identification of priority candidate sites; development of restoration
plans for high priority sites; and an initiation of protocols for
pre-restoration baseline monitoring of priority sites. A copy of the final
report is available on the Clean Annapolis River Project website at:
www.annapolis.ca
3) Lessons Learned from Recovering Marshes: the Hydrological Network
in Abandoned Dykelands (CAN$2,500)
Gail Chmura, Department of Geography, McGill University
This project studied vegetation distribution and production in relation to
the altered hydrology documented in recovering marshes. The project
assessed the responses of two recovering dykelands - John Lusby Sanctuary
on the Cumberland Basin and Saints Rest March near St. John. Each Marsh
compared to a reference, or control marsh, Allen Creek/Wood Point on the
Upper Bay and Dipper Harbour on the lower Bay, which have never been
isolated from tidal flooding. Products of this study included: a digital
spatial database of hydrological networks and elevation model; maps of
modern hydrological networks at four marshes; maps of original
hydrological networks of two dykes marshes; and a report of analyses of
hydrological differences between reference and dyked marshes in the two
parts of the Bay. The final report is available at:
http://www.geog.mcgill.ca/faculty/chmura/
RFP 2006_2007 funding
(posted: April 21, 2006)
Re: Call for RFPs and Process for submission of applications for the
2006-07 GOMC grant ($10K USD)
under the BOFEP –GOMC
Agreement.
This is the last year of a three year grant to BOFEP from the Gulf of
Maine Council under the Gulf of Maine Council/BOFEP Agreement. The Council
has committed $10K USD for each of three years to supplement BOFEP funding
to implement aspects of the BOFEP workplan that directly relate to and
reflect the goals and objectives of the 2001-2006 Gulf of Maine Council
Action Plan. This funding is intended to support in part one or more
projects for a maximum of approximately $ 11,420K Canadian. (based on an
exchange rate of 1.1420 for conversion of $US to $Cdn as of Mar 24/06).
Applications from BOFEP Sub-Committees or Working
Groups are due by May 23, 2006 for review and consideration
by a Selection Team comprised of Barry Jones, BoFEP Chair, Pat Hinch, GOMC
Representative, and Mike Butler, BoFEP Steering Committee. Applications
will be evaluated for their fit with the GOMC Action Plan and ability to
further the work of BOFEP.
The workplan for the Tidal Barriers project
can be uses as
a template in preparing the
project proposal. Final decisions will be made on proposal submissions by
May 31st. Announcements of the winning proposals will be made the
following week. A copy of the Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan can be
found on the Council’s website at:
www.gulfofmaine.org.
Please forward your project proposal to Pat Hinch
by e-mail at hinchpr@gov.ns.ca
or by mail at: NS Dept of Environment and Labour, Policy Division, PO Box
697, 5151 Terminal Rd, Halifax, NS, B3J 2T8. If you have specific
questions concerning your committee project, please contact
Pat Hinch at ph: (902) 424-6345. Thank you!
GOMC-BOFEP Agreement -
projects
selected for 2006-07
The following two BoFEP projects have been selected to receive GOMC-BOFEP
funding under the GOMC-BoFEP Agreement in 2006-07.
1) Mapping Persistent features, factors and processes in Southwest New
Brunswick for use in habitat and biodiversity conservation.
Maria-Ines Buzeta and John Roff
The work will involve producing GIS layers of information that will
assist in identifying, locating, and explaining areas considered to be of
high ecological or biological significance. The area of focus is Southwest
new Brunswick, although other sites already identified in the Bay of Fundy
will be included. The project will produce GIS layers on persistent
features, selected biogeography, larval availability and processes; GIS
layers of sampling and monitoring efforts in the area; and will extract
data available for multivariate analysis for hypothesis testing. The
project will also create a visualization of significant areas identified
and will co-author a BoFEP presentation of the above information.
2) Developing an Information and Knowledge Repository for the Bay of
Fundy
Elaine Toms, Bertrum MacDonald and Peter Wells.
The purpose of this project is to aggregate
the documents that have been created and/or compiled by BoFEP to date, and
to create a web-based and accessed, full-text, digital repository of those
documents. The intent is to provide Google-like access to the intellectual
resources of BoFEP, and to enhance that access by enabling searching for
documents by author, title, geographic location, species, etc., as well as
using general keywords, and to make the access publicly available via the
Web. This project will deliver a report that describes the process of
maintaining and updating the database, and a website that provides
full-text access to the documents created by BoFEP. The intent is to have
a demonstration product for the fall 2006 Fundy Science Workshop.
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Sample
application
DEVELOPMENT of a SERIES of HISTORICAL DIGITAL MOSAICS
DEPICTING CHANGE in INTERTIDAL HABITAT in the MINAS BASIN
Proposal prepared by
Danika van Proosdij
Department of Geography
Saint Mary’s University
In collaboration with:
Peter Wells
Environmental Conservation Branch
Ecosystem Science and Information Division
Environment Canada Atlantic Region
&
Hank Colstee and Ken Carol
NS Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
March 3, 2005
Introduction
In a ‘natural’ world, salt marshes represent a delicately balanced
system between hydrodynamic forces and ecological, sedimentological and
morphological responses. However, this balance may be changed as a result
of anthropogenic forcing functions such as construction of engineering
structures, dredging or altering landuse activities. Over the last
century, the majority of rivers entering into the Bay of Fundy have been
highly modified through the construction of tidal barriers. The
construction of these barriers resulted in either partial or complete
obstruction to tidal flow in many areas around the Bay. Tidal barriers
effectively decrease turbulent energy in the tidal system causing
sediments and other particles to drop from suspension and accumulate as
deposits of mud, sand and silt. In other areas, localized erosion is
initiated either directly upstream or downstream of a partially
restrictive barrier. Ecosystems inhabiting this zone, such as mudflats and
salt marshes, are some of the first environments to feel the effects of
coastal modification. These changes have cascading impacts on intertidal
ecosystems, some negative and others positive. Overall however, the
cumulative impacts of tidal barriers on intertidal ecosystems of the Bay
of Fundy are unknown. This is of particular concern with increasing
interest in removing or modifying tidal barriers in an effort to ‘return
the tides’. Without a solid or known baseline of past and present ‘states’
of these systems, assessing or predicting the success of restoration
activities in the context of the whole system is difficult.
In addition, cycles of progradation and retreat have
been documented on a number of marsh and intertidal systems6,7,1,,16.
These cycles have been linked to changes in sea level1,3 and in
the tidal prism due to human activities such as tidal barrier construction5,3,8,16
or dredging8,7, changes in wind/wave climate 1,13,7,
sediment supply3,9, cliff morphology10,13,12,
intertidal sedimentation14,16 and changes in the location of
the major tidal channel6,12,13,2,15. One of the most effective
ways of documenting these changes is through the analysis of rectified
aerial photographs within a GIS system. This is the preliminary stage that
is required before any true questions regarding the ‘why’ of these changes
are addressed.
The purpose of this collaborative research project is to assess and
integrate all available historical aerial photography into the
comprehensive digital geodatabase initiated in 2004. This proposal will
focus on the Southern Bight of the Minas Basin and will compliment
on-going initiatives to quantify the changes in ecosystem habitat in the
Minas Basin. The air photo mosaics produced can then be used by both
academic and government researchers to explore why these changes
are occurring, ideally separating out the natural versus anthropogenic
impacts.
Work Plan
- One senior undergraduate geography major with a background in
geomatics and physical geography will be hired to work as a research
assistant (RA) on the project full time from May 9st to
August 12th
- Dr. D. van Proosdij will be the primary supervisor and the student
will be stationed at Saint Mary’s University in the Maritime Provinces
Spatial Analysis Research Centre (MP_SpARC).
- Limited field work will need to be conducted to collect control
points for accurate rectification of aerial photographs and survey
profiles.
Final Products:
- Georeferenced, rectified air photo mosaic layer for each year of
available historical aerial photography at low tide integrated into the
GIS geodatabase being developed as a baseline for future research on the
impacts of tidal barriers on intertidal ecosystems to be housed at Saint
Mary’s University. Access to researchers will be negotiated on an
individual basis dependent on academic data licensing restrictions.
Collaborators will have full access to data.
Budget
This research will be supported by a number of anticipated financial
and in-kind contributions. The summer student salary ($11/hr x 35 hr x 14
wks = $5390) will be supported in part by a $2,400 SEEP grant from Saint
Mary’s University, and $1,500 from Dr D. van Proosdij’s current NSERC
discovery grant. The remaining $1,490 is being requested as part of this
proposal.
Developing a comprehensive, historical air photo mosaic is expensive
and a very time consuming undertaking. Based on preliminary assessments
(calculations for 1:10,000, 9" x 9" photos only, non-stereo), a total of
160 photos per year are required to cover the Southern Bight for available
years. Currently sections of the Bight are completed for 1996 and 2003.
Therefore, there are at least, based on initial scoping for photos at low
tide, photos available for the 1960s, 70s and 80s as well as earlier
photos in the 1940s for select areas from the National Air Photo library.
At $7.50 a photo (with educational discount), approximately $3,600 will be
required to purchase a complete set of photographs. The collaborators will
work together to pool existing resources, however it is anticipated that
at least $1,500 will be needed to purchase ‘critical’ images (e.g. closer
to the Windsor Causeway area).
Summary:
- Summer Student Salary $ 1,490
- Aerial photographs $ 1,500
- Miscellaneous field expenses (e.g. gas, computer disks) $ 200
- Use of MP_SpARC : ArcGIS seat ($100 wk x 14 weeks) $ 1,400
- Use of GPS and Total Station ($200 wk x 2
weeks) $ 400
$4,990
References:
1 . Allen, J.R.L. 1989. Earth Surface
Processes and Landforms 14: 85-92.
2. Allen, J.R.L. 1996.
Proceedings of the Geologists Association 107: 15-23.
3 .
Allen, J.R.L. 2000. Quaternary Science Reviews 19: 1155-1231.
4. Allen, J.R.L. & M.J. Duffy. 1998. Marine Geology 146: 147-171.
5. Amos, C.L. 1977. Publication no 28 Acadia University Institute
pp. 233-253.
6. Baker, G. and van Proosdij, D. 2004. Proceedings of the 6th
Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership Conference, Annapolis Royal, NS.
Environment Canada – Atlantic Region, Occasional Report. 7 pp.
7. Cox, R; Wadsworth, R.A. & A.G. Thomson. 2003. Continental Shelf
Research 23:1833-1846.
8. French, J.R. & H. Birmingham. 2003.
Proceedings of Coastal Sediments ‘03 ISBN 981-238-422-7. 14 pp.
9. Gordon, D.C;Cranford, P.J., & C. Desplanque. 1985. Estuarine,
Coastal and Shelf Science 20: 205-227.
10. Moeller, I. & T. Spencer. 2002. Journal of Coastal Research SI
36: 506-521.
11. Ollerhead, J; Davidson-Arnott, R.G.D. & A. Scott. in press. In:
Geomorphologia Littoral I Quaternari: Homenatge al Professor V.M. Rossello
I Verger, E. Sanjaume (ed).
12. Pringle, A.W. 1995. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
20-387-405.
13. Pye, K. 1995. Journal of
Coastal Research 11(2): 337-356.
14. S chwimmer, R.A. & J.E. Pizzuto. 2000.
Journal of Sedimentary Research 70(5): 1026-1035.
15. Shi, Z.; Lamb, H.F. & R.L. Collin. 1995. Marine Geology 128:
73-83.
16. van der Wal, D.; Pye, K. & A. Neal. 2002. Marine Geology
189:247-264.
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Progress Report - June 2007
Gulf of Maine Council - Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership
Agreement
In December, 2003, the Council agreed to establish a collaborative
agreement with the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (BOFEP) and
provide $10,000 per year for three years to support projects and
programs of mutual interest that link to the Council’s Action Plan.
The agreement requires BOFEP to present an annual progress report to
the GOM Council. The following presents an update of work for 2006-07
and a summary of previous work accomplished from 2004-2007.
Work completed/under completion 2006-2007 (under contract)
- Maria-Ines Buzeta and Dr. John Roff - Mapping Persistent features,
factors and processes in Southwest New Brunswick for use in habitat
and biodiversity conservation.
The work involved producing GIS layers of information to assist in
identifying, locating, and explaining areas considered to be of high
ecological or biological significance. The area of focus is Southwest
New Brunswick, although other sites already identified in the Bay of
Fundy were also included. The project produced: GIS layers on
persistent features, selected biogeography, larval availability and
processes; GIS layers of sampling and monitoring efforts in the area;
and extracted data available for multivariate analysis for hypothesis
testing. The project created a visualization of significant areas
identified. Presentations of the above information was made during the
7th BoFEP Workshop held in October 2006, in St. Andrews,
NB. The final report will be made available on the BoFEP website by
the end of June 2007.
- Dr. Elaine Toms, Dr. Bertrum MacDonald. And Dr. Peter Wells,
"Developing an Information and
Knowledge Repository for the Bay of Fundy".
The purpose of this project is to aggregate the documents that have
been created and/or
compiled by BoFEP to date, and to create a web-based and accessed,
full-text, digital
repository of those documents. The intent is to provide Google-like
access to the intellectual resources of BoFEP, and to enhance that access
by enabling searching for
documents by author, title, geographic location, species, etc, as well
as using general keywords, and to make the access publicly available via
the Web. This project will deliver a
report that describes the process of maintaining and updating the
database, and a website
that provides full-text access to the documents created by BoFEP. The
final report will be made
available on the BoFEP website by the end of June 2007.
Work completed from 2005 - 2006 (under contract)
- Van Proosdij, Dr. Danika, Department of Geography Saint Mary's
University, Halifax, Nova Scotia (2006). Development of a series of
historical digital mosaics depicting change in intertidal habitat in
the Minas Basin. The purpose of this study was to assess and integrate
all available historical aerial photography on saltmarshes within the
Southern Bight of the Minas Basin, into the comprehensive digital
geodatabase which had been initiated in 2004. This work compliments
on-going initiatives to quantify the changes in ecosystem habitat in
the Minas Basin. The air photo mosaics produced can be used by
researches to address questions of why and at what rate these changes
are occurring, ideally separating the natural versus anthropogenic
impacts. The final product of this project is a georeferenced
rectified air photo mosaic layer for each year of available historical
aerial photography at low tide, integrated into the GIS database. This
database has been developed as a baseline for future research on the
impacts of tidal barriers on intertidal ecosystems and is housed at
St. Mary's University. The final copy of the report will be placed on
the BoFEP website at:
http://www.bofep.org/
- Sullivan, Denise (2005). Clean Annapolis River Project, Annapolis
Royal, Nova Scotia, Annapolis Watershed Salt Marsh Evaluation:
Surveying Tidal barriers along the Annapolis Basin (2005). The goal of
this project was to identify, evaluate and develop restoration plans
for candidate salt marshes in the Annapolis watershed. The study
examined the degree and cause of tidal restriction and the size and
potential biological productivity of the site including contributing
factors. Sites were ranked as to their feasibility for restoration.
Project outcomes include: an inventory of candidate salt marsh
restoration sites in the western Annapolis Valley restoration; the
identification of priority candidate sites; development of restoration
plans for high priority sites; and an initiation of protocols for
pre-restoration baseline monitoring of priority sites. The final
report is available at:
http:///www.annapolisriver.ca
- Dr. Gail Chmura, Department of Geography, McGill University,
Montreal, Quebec, Lessons Learned from Recovering Marshes: the
Hydrological Network in Abandoned Dykelands (2006),
The purpose of this project was to study vegetation distribution
and production in relation to the altered hydrology documented in
recovering marshes. The project assessed the responses of two
recovering dykelands - John Lusby Sanctuary on the Cumberland Basin
and Saints Rest March near St. John. Each marsh was compared to a
reference, or control marsh, Allen Creek/Wood Point on the Upper Bay
and Dipper Harbour on the lower Bay, which have never been isolated
from tidal flooding. Products of this study include: a digital spatial
database of hydrological networks and elevation model; maps of modern
hydrological networks at four marshes; maps of original hydrological
networks of two dykes marshes; and a report of analyses of
hydrological differences between reference and dyked marshes in the
two parts of the Bay. A final copy of the report is available at:
http://www.geog.mcgill.ca/faculty/chmura/
Work completed 2004-2005 (under contract)
- Dr. Danika van Proosdij , "Bay of Fundy Tidal Barriers GIS
Database Development", is available on the BoFEP website at:
http://www.bofep.org/Publications/barrierGIS/BOFwebsite/vanProosdij_Dobek2005finalreport.pdf
The first year of funding was applied to a geographic information
system study with Environment Canada, to map tidal barriers in the Bay
of Fundy. The purpose of this
project is to integrate Bay of Fundy Tidal Barrier Audits
information from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, into a comprehensive
digital database. The database will be used as a baseline to assess
the cumulative impacts of tidal barriers in the Upper Bay of Fundy and
serve as a platform for future research. Specific deliverables
completed under this contract included:
- an integrated text report on CD of empirical data collected through
the Bay of Fundy Tidal Barrier Audits including a series of PDF maps of
all base layers (where available) and location of all barriers discussed
in the Ecology Action Centre and CCNB reports. (Completed: March 31,
2005);
- a digital spatial database of tidal barriers and metadata sets of
other data discussed in the report and a guide to their use, is now
accessible through the internet in PDF form was completed June 30, 2005;
(a hyperlink to fact sheets will be available for NS only);
- a final report and written assessment of availability of historical
documents on terrestrial activities which might impact the ecosystem
health of intertidal environments was completed June 30, 2005
- a progress report presentation by Dr. Danika van Proosdij, Assistant
Professor, Department of Geography, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, on
the Tidal Barriers Study during the GOMC Working Group Meeting in
Fredericton, on March 17, 2005.
Other work elements specified in the GOMC – BOFEP Agreement December
2005 through June 2006 (not funded)
The agreement requires that BoFEP:
1)"Act as the key information source for the Bay of Fundy and other
northern parts of the GOM"
Workshop/GOMC related activities
- participated in GOM forum on coastal development (GOMC meeting Dec
2003);
- -reported on BoEP activities and progress during GOMC Summit (Oct
2004);
- provided tours of the KC Irving Environmental Science Centre at
Acadia University and Acadian
dykelands (June 2004);
- hosted the BOFEP Windsor Causeway Panel (January 2005);
- presented a progress report on the Tidal barriers Project to the GOM
WG (March 2005);
Presentations
- presented a summary report during the GOM Summit in Sept. 2004, on
BOFEP activities, issues and priorities from the 6th BOFEP
workshop for future consideration and action;
- developing a framework for preparing periodic State of the Bay of
Fundy Reports (ongoing);
- conducting studies on the cumulative effects of mercury and parasite
burdens on migratory shorebirds (semi-palmated sandpipers) (ongoing).
- continuing to review the literature on the biology and ecology of
Corophium volutator (ongoing) (A compilation of more than 600
citations has been prepared by the Corophium Working Group of BOFEP.
Draft is available only in hard copy. (Contact:
communications@bofep.org )
- continuing to conduct research on toxic contaminants and
implement programs on habitat restoration within the NB and NS area
through its Working Groups and in conjunction with the Gulf of Maine
Council through participation on GOM Working Groups including
Environmemtal Quality Monitoring Committee; Sewage Task Force; and
Habitat Conservation, Restoration (Cheverie Creek Project), and
Monitoring committees);
Communications:.
- maintains and develops the BoFEP website providing a wealth of
continually updated information on the Bay of Fundy
- prepares and distributes a quarterly e-newsletter "Fundy Tidings"
to all BoFEP members and other interested individuals. Current and
past issues are available at:
http://www.bofep.org/tidings.htm;
- prepares online popular articles on current Bay of Fundy topics.
Further information is available at:
http://www.bofep.org/articles.htm
- developed information Kiosks and posters for distribution in
selected areas around the Bay of Fundy
- prints and distributes BoFEP reports regionally and
internationally
- makes presentations to agencies and the public on BoFEP and its
objectives
- distributes BoFEP publications to libraries
- members of BoFEP meet regularly with the GOMC Working Group to
present results of BoFEP projects and workshops.
- created and sponsored a display on saltmarshes entitled" From
Habitant to Habitat" originally presented as a temporary exhibit at
the O’Dell Museum in Annapolis Royal. The display is now a permanent
display housed in the Interptetation Center at the Annapolis Royal
Historic Gardens as part of their Saltmarsh and Acadian history
interpretation program;
2) " Contribute to the scientific understanding of the Bay of Fundy
ecosystem through research and programs on contaminants and habitat
restoration including new research projects such as a GIS study of
tidal barriers in the Bay of Fundy"
A CD is now available with PDF copies of principal BoFEP
Publications (six Science Workshop Proceedings, 28 Fundy Issues and a
Bay of Fundy Coastal Forum) as well a a cumulative index by key word
and author. Contact:
communications@bofep.org
Reports and Publications:
- Dyer, C, S. Wehrell and Dr. G. Daborn (2005). Acadia University,
Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, Wolfville, Nova Scotia,
Fisheries Management Issues in the Upper Bay of Fundy. ACER
Publication No.80. Available at:
http://www.bofep.org/PDFfiles/Final_ReportUBFFMPPJuly05.pdf
- Fundy Issue # 25 "Contaminant Concerns: Heavy Metals and the Bay of
Fundy" (All Fundy Issues are available on the BoFEP website at:
http://www.bofep.org/fundy_issues.htm);
- Fundy Issue #26 "Saving Special Spaces: Protected Areas".
- Fundy Issue #27: Parlous POPs; Persistent Organic Pollutants in the
Bay of Fundy (available on
the BoFEP Website at
http://www.bofep.org/pops.htm
- Perry-Giraud, Christian (2005). Thirty Year Assessment of the
Cornwallis Estuary Evolution: Aerial Photograph and GIS Analysis.
Report on an Internship project for the Minas Basin Working Group by
Christian Perry-Giraud, Master "Environment, Ground and Water",
University of Rouen, France September 2005. 65 pages. Available at:
http://bofep.org/PDFfiles/GISCornwallis_PerryGiraud.pdf
- J..A. Percy,
A.J. Evans, P.G. Wells, and S.J. Rolston Eds. (2005). Proceedings of
the 6th Bay of Fundy Workshop, "The Changing Bay of Fundy: Beyond 400
Years", held September 29-October 2, 2004, Cornwallis, NS. Environment
Canada - Atlantic Region Occasional Report No. 23. March 2005.
Available at:
http://www.bofep.org/PDFfiles/COASTAL_FORUM_WORKSHOP_RPT.pdf
BoFEP Science Workshop Series:
- sponsored the 6th BOFEP workshop in October 2004 which
provided overviews of current scientific research on issues of concern
in the Bay of Fundy. Proceedings available in hard copy and at http://www.bofep.org/bofep%20workshops.htm
printed.);
- BoFEP hosted the 7th Bay of Fundy Science Workshop
"Challenges in environmental management in the Bay of Fundy-Gulf of
Maine" Oct 25-27, 2006, The Fairmount Algonquin, St. Andrews, NB.
Purpose: to maximize opportunities for exchange and
dissemination of scientific information among partners.
Discussion topics: biodiversity/ecology (incl. but not limited
to research activities within the
Discovery Corridor', near-to offshore environments); integrated
coastal management/ ecosystem approaches (incl. fisheries); nearshore
fish community structure/habitat; salt marsh ecology;
environmental/science education outreach programs, and nearshore marine
monitoring. (The proceedings are currently under completion).
Working Group Activities:
Minas Basin Working Group:
- developing a comprehensive environmental management plan for the
Minas Basin (ongoing)
- developing a specific framework for preparing periodic State of
the Bay of Fundy Reports (ongoing);
- met with municipal and regional planners around the Minas basin
to consider ways of encouraging planners to consider coastal ecosystem
and watershed implications of their activities and to develop
appropriate planning tools.
Salt Marsh and Rehabilitation Working Group:
- compiling an inventory and audit of existing tidal barriers, and
identifying potential salt marsh
rehabilitation projects (see Dr. Danika van Proosdij reports
above).
Sublittoral Ecology and habitat Conservation Working Group:
- disseminating information on sublittoral ecology and habitat
conservation in the Outer Bay of Fundy to decision-makers, other
researchers and the public through development of a systematic method
for synthesis of relevant data and information;
- examining approaches and methods for indicating areas of high
ecological value requiring protection;
- conducted a survey to document research capabilities of
individuals and groups involved in benthic habitat and ecological
process research in the region to assess the capacity to address
emerging regional initiatives.
Corophium and Mudflat Ecology Working Group:
- continues to summarize an make available existing
information/knowledge on the biology and ecology of Corophium spp.
identify key research questions and approaches, especially ecological
models; facilitates research opportunities and mechanisms for
cooperative research
- working on a monograph on Corophium volutator n the Bay of
Fundy and a comprehensive bibliography the species. (A compilation of
more than 600 citations has been prepared by the Corophium Working
Group of BOFEP. Draft is available only in hard copy. (Contact:
communications@bofep.org )
Defining Stress and Cumulative Effects Working Group:
- conducting studies on the cumulative effects of heavy
metals on salmon
Fundy Biosphere Working Group:
- promoting the concept of establishing an ecosystem reserve at the
head of the Bay of Fundy
- collecting scientific and empirical data relative to the
uniqueness of the area in support of this initiative.
Upper Bay of Integrated Fisheries Management Working Group:
- working with DFO to develop a pilot project for an integrated
Fisheries Management Plan for the Upper Bay of Fundy;
- received project funding from the EJLB Foundation to produce a
report entitled "Fisheries Management Issues in the Upper Bay of Fundy.
A final report is available at:
http://www.bofep.org/PDFfiles/Final_ReportUBFFMPPJuly05.pdf
Fundy Informatics Working Group
- recently formed to identify ways to facilitate the dissemination
of, and efficient online access to existing scientific and other
information about the Bay of Fundy and coordinate its efforts with
similar informatics initiatives of the Gulf of Maine Council to avoid
duplication and ensure that projects are functionally integrated as
much as possible.
- developing a number of projects designed to facilitate online
access to information about the Bay of Fundy including BoFEP’s various
publications, bibliographies and working group reports. Made a
presentation to the March 2006 GOM Working Group meeting in Halifax to
introduce the Working Group, report on activities, and begin to
explore opportunities for collaboration.
Eel Grass Working Group:
- recently formed to support and facilitate collaboration,
networking and information exchange regarding eelgrass (Zostera
marina) in the Bay of Fundy and elsewhere in eastern Canada.
Other activities:
Ecosystem Status reporting
- BoFEP members continued to work with both DFO and GOMC on the
development of a
framework for periodic State of the Bay of Fundy reporting. DFO was
working on Ecosystem Overview and Assessment reports (EOA) and the
GOMC, on indicators and reporting under ESIP (Ecosystem Indicators
Partnership). BoFEP contributed substantially to developing a working
framework for describing stressors and effects on the Fundy
environment for the EOA reports (Section 8). There is continued input
through conference calls, meetings and reviews of documents both for
the development of the Strategy for Gulf of Maine indicators and State
of Environment reports.
- BoFEP also provided ESIP with considerable reference material on
indicators to permit the development of the strategic document together
with its framework for linking indicators, monitoring, reporting and
management actions.
- BoFEP members continue to work on several initiatives resulting
from the 2004 Summit process including working on the Contaminants
Working Group of ESIP and keeping current with the science of
monitoring, the choice of suitable indicators and the process of
developing state of the environment reports.
Gulf of Maine Summer Institute
- BoFEP has provided funding in support of the Gulf of Maine Summer
Institute 2006 in Cornwallis.
3) "Expand BOFEP to include more US representatives; BOFEP
continues to welcome the participation of US representatives in BOFEP
Working Groups and workshops "
- US representatives of USEPA. University of Maine, the Island
Institute, Texas A&M University, Suffolk University and Bigelow
Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, made presentations during the 6th
BOFEP Workshop entitled "The Changing Bay of Fundy -
Beyond 400 Years".
- US representatives were also invited to attend the 7th
BOFEP Workshop, entitled "Challenges in Environmental Management in the
Bay of Fundy-Gulf of Maine"St. Andrews, NB, Oct 25-27, 2006. Oral and/or
poster presentations were made by US participants including: Brian Todd,
John Coon, Mimi Larsen Becker, Page Valentine, Megan Tyrell, Thomas Noji,
Vincent Guida, Andrew Beaver, James Case, Sara Ellis, Lewis Incze,
Nicholas Wolff, Shale Rosen, Adam Baukus, Kate Smuckler, Peter Taylor,
Ray Konisky, Katherine Mille, Barbara Knuth, Patrick Sullivan, Thomas
Trott, Cameron Wake, Bill Burtis, Elizabeth Burakowski, Thomas
Huntington, and Susan Snow- Cotter.
4) "Promote effective communication and information exchange
between GOMC and BOFEP members, and cross-link information sources
such as web sites, displays, and joint fact sheets"
- BOFEP and GOMC maintain open communications and exchange
information on issues of concern throughout the Gulf of Maine/Bay of
Fundy coastal, marine and watershed;
- BOFEP website is cross linked to the Gulf of Maine Council
website;
- BOFEP displays and information materials have been on exhibit at
the GOM Summit (Oct. 2004), GOM Visionary awards ceremony (Jan.2005,
2006, 2007), GOM WG meetings (March 2005, June 2005, June 2006 ) and
Council meetings (June 2005, June 2006).
- BoFEP members continue to collaborate, serve and
support the work of the GOMC through participation of its members from
NB and NS, on the GOMC Working Group, Environmental Quality Monitoring
Committee; Sewage Task Force; and Habitat Conservation, Restoration (Cheverie
Creek Project), and Monitoring committees, ESIP, and 2004 Summit
followup activities.
5) "Provide consultation and scientific advice on issues of importance
to the Council"
- BOFEP has continued to make presentations and participated as
members of the GOMC Working Group, Committees, Task Forces, and
panels. BOFEP members continue provide advice on issues and priorities
of concern throughout the Gulf of Maine from a Canadian perspective.
Recommended action: For information only.
Prepared by: Patricia Hinch, NSEL
Date: June 7, 2007 |
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