This week at the Cheticamp River Salmon Association has been a busy week on the river. At the beginning of the week, the students were installing bank logs along the side of Aucoin Brook. Bank logs are important structures because they protect vulnerable and eroding stream banks from further damage. On Monday the students, along with the help of Albert Deveau, our chainsaw operator, continued the project that was started last week.
Rachelle Aucoin and Logan LaPierre securing the bank log in place.
Rachelle and Logan drilling the holes for the rebar.
The finished product.
For the majority of the week, the students have been installing brush mats. Brush mats are installed with the purpose of taking silt out of the water in order to stabilize point bars and eroding banks. Last year, there were many brush mats installed by the CRSA. Going back to those sites we can see the positive impact that these structures have had on improving the river. Over the last few days the students have been hard at work installing 4 more.
Rachelle putting the branches in place.
Brush mats being secured in place by the baler twine.
Day two of brush mats.
Logan and Antoine Aucoin looking for branches.
On Thursday we had the pleasure of having Brendan O'Brian with us from the Clean Foundation helping us out for the day. In the morning we went around to a bunch of different sites, showing him the different projects we have been working on for the last few weeks. In the afternoon the whole crew went out to help clear out some blockages along Fiset Brook.
Albert cutting away at the blockage.
Antoine and Matt Burns removing the logs.
Antoine, Brendan O'Brian, and Albert.
Jillian Baker moving the debris further off the side of the bank so it won't get washed back in again.
Removing some of the smaller material in the blockage.
This spider came crawling out of the blockage.
The area just after we finished for the day.
Keep coming back next week as we have some exciting things in store for you!