Kyle Lefort installs a bank log to protect an eroding bank on Aucoin's brook.
Week 4: July 22nd – July 26th was a very productive week for the Chéticamp River Salmon Association. Monday, the group, with the help of chainsaw operator Albert Deveau, continued work on the crib, installed a bank protector, prepped a second bank protector for installation, and cut lumber for work on a second crib in need of maintenance all in the area of heavy sediment buildup on Aucoin’s brook. Tuesday, the group continued work on the brush mat project on Aucoin’s brook in the area surrounding the gypsum mines trail. The third brush mat, which was started with Katherine from Adopt-a-Stream, was finished, and a fourth just upstream was also completed. Wednesday morning, the group laid hay in the ditches of a dirt road that had been ditched into a section of the gypsum mines brook. Because of the steep walls of the ditch, no vegetation was growing and the bank was eroding and flowing into the brook. By covering the walls of the ditch with hay, we were encouraging the growth of vegetation that would solve the problem. Wednesday afternoon, after some major problems with the jeep, the group returned to Aucoin’s brook to finish the installation of the second bank log that was prepped on Monday. Because of poor weather conditions Thursday and Friday, the group spent their time indoors, catching up on office work (blogging, data analysis, etc.) and discussing what would be taking place in the next few weeks. The jeep was also pulled from the woods and fixed.
Kyle Lefort works on a crib on Aucoin's brook.