The Cheticamp River Salmon Association is in the process of drafting plans and submitting funding applications for its 2014 field season. In addition to its regular habitat restoration program on Aucoin Brook and other smallish brooks around Cheticamp, the Association has also set its sights much bigger for this year: the Cheticamp River!
The Cheticamp River has one of only two healthy spring salmon runs left in Nova Scotia (the other is North River, Victoria Co). The Association has long recognized the importance of work on the Cheticamp River, however, given that it flows almost entirely through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, working on the Cheticamp River can be logistically difficult. Fortunately, Cape Breton National Park has agreed to partner with the Association in order to jointly tackle some of the problems that Atlantic salmon face during their spring migration.
Although there are a number of issues worth addressing on the Cheticamp River, the CRSA is hoping to work with the Park to improve fish passage on the lower river in a section where the main channel has become severely over-widened. Although we are tempted to share more information at this time, given that this exciting new project is funding-dependent (we are keeping our fingers crossed), we will share additional details if the Association is given the green light. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, below is a picture of part of the over-widened lower Cheticamp River (directly above the Cabot Trail bridge).
Photo credit: Archie Doucette, Cape Breton Highlands National Park