Annual Report 2015-2016

PROJECTS 2015-2016
A look at some of our cornerstone projects from the past year.
SAINT JOHN WATER
MANCHESTER BIRD SANCTUARY
Lorneville Water Quality Monitoring and
Robertson Lake Stream Habitat Assessment
are multi-year monitoring projects for Saint
John Water. Lorneville monitoring was
executed due to a leak at the Lorneville Road
Sewage Lift Station. Primary assessment
was done in 2015 to obtain baseline data for
comparison of the affected watercourse, as
well as to be compared to 2016 monitoring to
determine the natural recovery of the creek.
ACAP’s role in the Robertson Lake assessment
was to determine the probability of fish
survival in the event that the water flow
from Robertson Lake dam was suspended. In
addition, mapping of fish habitat refuges and
fish rescue planning were also addressed.
Additional monitoring and mapping will
be conducted in 2016 to account for annual
and seasonal fluctuations, and long-term
monitoring protocols will be established as
Saint John Water moves forward with their
Safe Clean Drinking Water Project [SCDWP].
ACAP has been working with the City of Saint
John to revisit the only previous field survey
and management plan of the sanctuary
undertaken by ACAP Saint John in 2003, and
build upon its research with in-depth longterm
management recommendations along
with public education initiatives. These
will include the design and installation of
interpretive signage at select public vantage
points along the perimeter of the site and
clean-ups of human debris from of the edges
of the property to maintain a more pristine
appearance, and to foster civic pride in the
area.
In 2015, a number of tree plantings and
staking events took place with the help of
volunteers. “Living bird feeders” were planted
in the sanctuary. These plants produce
berries for the birds and other wildlife and
provide ground cover for the forest ecosystem,
increasing biodiversity in the sanctuary.
16 Annual Report 2015-2016