Municipality Climate Adaptation Case Study Report

Basin, with the only outlet for this water being through two gates which are opened at 12-hour
intervals, coinciding with each tide cycle. The combination of several events, such as a major
water runoff event upstream coupled with a mechanical or power failure making it impossible to
open the gates, could trigger serious flooding. 5
Hydroelectric Development
Nova Scotia Power operates the Avon Hydro System which includes two hydroelectric stations
on the Avon River with a series of upstream dams and reservoirs in the lake system in the
southwestern part of the municipality. The Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) for Avon
Hydro System describes potential flooding as a result of dam breaches or structural failures, as
well as severe storms. The operation of this system further intensifies the flood risk potential for
the dykelands above the causeway, as well as other low-lying areas in the floodplain.
Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company Ltd. is responsible for the St. Croix River System which
includes two generating plants with dams on the St. Croix River and Big St. Margaret’s Bay
Lake. The main storage is behind Upper St. Croix Dam which impounds water in Panuke Lake,
a 30- kilometer-long lake extending from the community of St. Croix south to the Halifax
Regional Municipality boundary. The EPP for the St. Croix River System explains the flood risk
potential for dykelands on the St. Croix River, as well as other low-lying areas in the
communities of St. Croix, Newport Station, Ellershouse and Three Mile Plains, as a result of
dam breaches or severe storms.
2.2 Development and History
History
The Municipality of the District of West Hants was incorporated in 1879; however, settlement of
the area began long before that. The early inhabitants were the Mi’kmaq. The French Acadians
began to settle in the Avon Valley around 1685, coming from Les Mines in what is now Kings
County. The Acadians were farmers and first built the dykes and aboiteaux that allowed the
marshlands along the Avon, St. Croix and Kennetcook rivers to be farmed. By 1714, 53 families
with 337 members were living in the area. By 1731, the number had increased to 150 families,
and by 1748, as many as 2,700 Acadians had settled in the Avon Valley “from the ‘forks’ of the
Avon River to Mount Denson, on the banks of the Minas Channel”. 6
With the construction of Fort Edward at Pisiquid (Windsor) in 1750, the British presence began
to be felt more strongly in the area. The original Mi’kmaq and Acadian trail from Windsor to
Halifax was upgraded and used as a military road connecting Fort Edward and Fort Sackville, at
the head of the Bedford Basin. 7 Following the deportation of the Acadians in 1755, the area
was resettled, mainly by English settlers. The New England Planters arrived in Windsor in
5 West Hants Planning Department, Non-farm Development on Dykelands, pp. 1-3.
6 G. Shand, Historic Hants County, p. 7.
7 J. Dawson, Nova Scotia’s Lost Highways, p.3.
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