2018 SMRA NEWS Online (NXPowerLite Copy)

Presidents Report
by: Scott Beaver
Good day to you my friends of the St. Mary’s River.
The 2017 year is now in the rear view mirror, and I
would like to chat about our accomplishments.
Our Stock Enhancement Committee is responsible for
the release of 60,000 salmon fry and 21,000 sea trout
fry during the spring of 2017. This committee captures
the fish, holds them until pick up or delivery to a NS
Fisheries fish hatchery in the province, and then
release the offspring back to our river. They deserve
a lot of credit for the work they are doing. Looking to
the future, much of the committee’s efforts will be
focussed on a more stable, longer term kelt rejuvenation
program and continued sea trout enhancement
efforts.
Our Habitat Enhancement Committee has reached a
mile stone of $1,000,000 of habitat work! All I can say
here is “if you build it they will come”. We have
already observed an increase in the number of
salmon redds in the restored sections of the river.
Coupled with work done in stocking, this is a trail
blazer to salmon recovery. Thank you everyone
involved in this wonderful project.
2017 was our Paddlers Paradise Committee’s first
year with a visual presence on the river. At the roadside,
you may have noticed our Paddlers Access
signage. These signs help
visitors who come to the
area, looking for a day of activity
on the river. We have
heard a lot of great feedback
from them. A very popular
fall paddling event brought
out paddlers in droves. Keep
your eye open for a similar
paddling event for fall 2018.
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The 2018 season brings on
considerable change for us
here at the SMRA Interpretive
center and how we do
business! Joanne Mailman,
our manager of 17 years has
retired. Her tireless efforts
will be a great loss to our organization
and we will miss
her. I would like to extend
our gratitude and thanks to
Joanne for her many years of
dedication towards all aspects
of SMRA business and wish her a wonderful
and fulfilling retirement. Thanks Joanne but please
don’t be a stranger!
I would like to remind folks that although we have
been busy there is still much to do regarding salmon
recovery. In the future we will be looking towards a
West branch pH program as well as investigating access
issue projects. We have an extensive report on
problem culverts and other access issues currently
ready for an action plan. As you can well imagine our
volunteers are stretched to the limit, we are always
looking to boost our membership, our volunteer base
and our funding sources. I would encourage you to
visit our website and renew your membership or just
drop in at our Interpretive Center and see how you
can help.
Another important concern to us is an alternate and
accurate way to count salmon in the river. A more
precise count of the number fish in our river will help
us acquire funds for habitat work, continue with stock
enhancement, mitigate access issues and set up pH
projects. DFO estimates indicate that the number of
returning adult salmon required for spawning
escapement, so there is no chance of extinction, is
approximately 3155 fish. A healthy population of
salmon means we just might once again see a
salmon angling season on the great St. Mary’s River.
How cool would that be?