New Brunswick Activities Related to the Health of the Gulf of Maine Robert Capozi Coastal and Marine Planner New Brunswick Department of Environment

Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Quebec Maine Nova Scotia Bay of Fundy Gulf of St. Lawrence Bay of Chaleur

N B ENV and NB DAA promote and facilitate initiatives directly related to the GOMC Action. Present direction is to continue on this path in order to fulfill our commitment to the health of the Gulf of Maine. NB Environmental Trust Fund has funded hundreds of projects that have contributed to the health of the Gulf of Maine.

Parc Anchorage Park, Grand Manan State of the Environment Reporting: NB ENV is in the final stages of preparation of a proposed Coastal Designation Order (CDO) and Wetlands Designation Order (WDO) under the Clean Environment Act. The legislation will aim at protecting coastal features, dykelands and coastal wetlands, and significant inland wetlands. Intent – maintain ecological integrity of features while allowing some low-impact uses. Uses would include coastal essential activities related to fishing and coastal life, activities having greater public good, public health, or public safety outcomes, and maintenance of existing activities. NB ENV is preparing operational guidelines that will be used to manage activities on other wetlands not protected in the CDO or WDO. Proposed guidelines will limit development impacts on wetlands and provide clear rules. Guiding premise - direct developers to design development following principles of Avoidance, Mitigation, and Compensation.

Habitat Restoration: Petitcodiac River Causeway Project – NB Dept of Supply and Services will be removing the Petitcodiac River Causeway. Removal of this barrier will allow for the restoration of hundreds of acres of previously flooded coastal wetlands. Aulac Marsh Restoration Project– The removal of a large dyke protecting infrastructure at the head of the Bay of Fundy, along the NB/NS border, will allow for the restoration of hundreds of acres of tidal wetland. Coastal Lands and Wetland Securement – ENV facilitating work of NGO’s The Nature Conservancy, The Nature Trust of NB, and Ducks Unlimited – securing coastal lands, coastal wetlands, and inland wetlands. These lands are managed as educational initiatives, habitat for wildlife, habitat restoration, and for very limited low impact uses.

Climate Change and Coastal Resiliency: New Brunswick’s Regional Adaptation Collaborative Projects delivery in 2010 The ‘Coastal Hazards (coastal flooding, erosion, sedimentation and salt water intrusion) Dykelands Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Project’ will focus on adaptation of communities to issues. Coastal Flooding and Coastal Change (sea-level rise, storm surge, erosion and sedimentation), Risk to Infrastructure and Inland Flooding Risk to infrastructure (precipitation, erosion/sedimentation).

NB coast and NB/NS border area Project: Area has a long history of flooding due to coastal storms. The entire land area is at or below sea-level Communities and infrastructure (TCH and rail-line) are protected by dykes. Vital transportation, economic and physical link between NB and NS. Project will assist in preparing long-term dykeland management strategies to protect the vital linkages. Sackville and Amherst - ready to address climate change within municipal land use plans and emergency plans. Provinces will consider policy changes to address present and future climate change issues. Project provides municipalities with LIDAR mapping, a Digital Elevation Model, and future sea-level rise projections to protect the area from the effects of climate change. Outcomes - changes to municipal and rural plans and bylaws - Provincial Dykeland Management Strategy, - Land use development Adaptation Review Process Checklist - Flood assessment mapping - Identification of hazard zones - Building capacity with local/municipal planners and engineers - Web-based vulnerability tool kit for planning

Communications Atlantic Canada Schools of Engineering, Professional Engineers, and Geo-Scientists Building knowledge base of professional engineers through review of school curriculum for elements of climate change adaptation and informing Professional Engineers Association. Atlantic Planners Institute Improving understanding of climate change adaptation by Atlantic Planners through dissemination of knowledge and information to professional planners about climate change adaptation Municipal Associations Improving climate change adaptation knowledge transfer of information and expertise to municipal officials about climate change adaptation. Regional Watershed Groups Training of groups as water, wetland, and coastal stewards. Funding their programs creates vigilence and expands their efforts of educating of all stakeholders

Marine Spatial Planning: Building Capacity for Marine Planning in New Brunswick The introduction of the federal Ocean’s Act and Canada’s Oceans Strategy has focused attention on federal initiatives, including establishment of Marine Protected Areas, Integrated Management initiatives (Northumberland Strait), and LOMAs (Large Ocean Management Areas). New Brunswick is continuing to explore the development of provincial policy in the area of the larger marine environment. Four provincial departments are collaborating in this effort:

Protected Area B (Grey/Gris) Protected Area A The purposes of the effort include: to develop and articulate a common vision and approach for interacting with the federal government in the area of marine planning; to develop a critical mass of capability for future development of a marine policy, and, in the interim, for dealing with marine planning and management issues; to collaborate among key departments on marine and related issues.

Current Status of Marine Planning Involved in regional initiatives that seek collaboration on marine issues: Continuation of the Inter-Departmental Steering Committee and Working Group on Collaboration in Marine Planning. Participation in an Inter-departmental group which worked to designate the Musquash Marine Protected Area. Advisory Committee of various stakeholders meets regularly regarding the management of the MPA. Exploration of provincial roles in DFO’s initiative to develop an integrated management plan for the Northumberland Strait.