Mahone BayMahone Bay

““What we have”What we have”Discovering our assets in Discovering our assets in the Woods, Wetlands and the Woods, Wetlands and the Watercourse of the the Watercourse of the

publicly owned publicly owned

“ “Old School Lands”Old School Lands”© Friends of the Mahone Bay Woods and Soccer Field © Friends of the Mahone Bay Woods and Soccer Field

June 2007June 2007

The WoodsThe Woods

Our Acadia Woodland known as the “Old School Our Acadia Woodland known as the “Old School Lands” is the backyard of our town. Together with Lands” is the backyard of our town. Together with

the wooded portion of Jubilee Park it covers the wooded portion of Jubilee Park it covers approximately 23 acresapproximately 23 acres..

Our Acadia Woodland known as the “Old School Our Acadia Woodland known as the “Old School Lands” is the backyard of our town. Together with Lands” is the backyard of our town. Together with

the wooded portion of Jubilee Park it covers the wooded portion of Jubilee Park it covers approximately 23 acresapproximately 23 acres..

Acadian Forests are bio-diverse Acadian Forests are bio-diverse environments. They are environments. They are

characterized by the diversity of characterized by the diversity of types and ages of trees. They contain types and ages of trees. They contain

small wetlands which provide a small wetlands which provide a habitat to many species of plants and habitat to many species of plants and

animals.animals.

Our Acadian forest is an asset to our town Our Acadian forest is an asset to our town because it:because it:

• Protects against drought and floodProtects against drought and flood

• Stores water in the soilsStores water in the soils

• Creates the air we breathCreates the air we breath

• Slows down run-off and prevents erosionSlows down run-off and prevents erosion

• Provides our own “carbon sink” to Provides our own “carbon sink” to counteract global warmingcounteract global warming

The Nova Scotia Forest Alliance is concerned about the rapid

disappearance of the Acadia Forests. Protecting publicly owned forest is one

way to prevent further loss.

The Nova Scotia Forest Alliance is concerned about the rapid

disappearance of the Acadia Forests. Protecting publicly owned forest is one

way to prevent further loss.

““one of the fundamental causes underlying the loss one of the fundamental causes underlying the loss of biodiversity throughout the planet is the fact that of biodiversity throughout the planet is the fact that societies have failed to value the environment and societies have failed to value the environment and

its resources. “its resources. “

““one of the fundamental causes underlying the loss one of the fundamental causes underlying the loss of biodiversity throughout the planet is the fact that of biodiversity throughout the planet is the fact that societies have failed to value the environment and societies have failed to value the environment and

its resources. “its resources. “

E.O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life. 1992E.O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life. 1992

The “Old School Lands” contain remnants of The “Old School Lands” contain remnants of “old growth forest”. Most of the trees are “old growth forest”. Most of the trees are

approximately 80 years oldapproximately 80 years old

Within 30 - 35 Within 30 - 35 years this will all years this will all be old growth.be old growth.

At present only 2% At present only 2% of Nova Scotia’s of Nova Scotia’s forests are old forests are old growthgrowth

This narrow stretch of Fairmont St. is the point at This narrow stretch of Fairmont St. is the point at which a well traveled path enters the woods which a well traveled path enters the woods

between the old Crouse and Viennotte propertiesbetween the old Crouse and Viennotte properties

This narrow stretch of Fairmont St. is the point at This narrow stretch of Fairmont St. is the point at which a well traveled path enters the woods which a well traveled path enters the woods

between the old Crouse and Viennotte propertiesbetween the old Crouse and Viennotte properties

““Old School Lands” walking trails are Old School Lands” walking trails are also accessed from the playing field, also accessed from the playing field,

the rail trail and Jubilee Parkthe rail trail and Jubilee Park

Footpaths created Footpaths created through common use through common use over many decades over many decades traverse the traverse the woodlands.woodlands.

They are used on a They are used on a daily basis year daily basis year round for walking, round for walking, skiing and nature skiing and nature education for education for children and youthchildren and youth

Footpaths created Footpaths created through common use through common use over many decades over many decades traverse the traverse the woodlands.woodlands.

They are used on a They are used on a daily basis year daily basis year round for walking, round for walking, skiing and nature skiing and nature education for education for children and youthchildren and youth

The WetlandsThe WetlandsThe WetlandsThe Wetlands

The “Old School Land” consists of forest and The “Old School Land” consists of forest and wetland. Wetlands consist of swamps and streams wetland. Wetlands consist of swamps and streams which aid the flow of water in and out of a forest.which aid the flow of water in and out of a forest.

The “Old School Land” consists of forest and The “Old School Land” consists of forest and wetland. Wetlands consist of swamps and streams wetland. Wetlands consist of swamps and streams which aid the flow of water in and out of a forest.which aid the flow of water in and out of a forest.

Wetlands prevent serious water Wetlands prevent serious water

shortagesshortages Wetlands prevent serious water Wetlands prevent serious water

shortagesshortages

They retain water, They retain water, providing a natural providing a natural flood barrier that flood barrier that slows down spring slows down spring run off and storm run off and storm water.water.

Wetlands help to reverse global Wetlands help to reverse global warming by acting as carbon sinks. warming by acting as carbon sinks.

Wetlands help to reverse global Wetlands help to reverse global warming by acting as carbon sinks. warming by acting as carbon sinks.

The Department of the Environment The Department of the Environment and Labour of the Nova Scotian and Labour of the Nova Scotian government recognizes the value of government recognizes the value of wetlands.wetlands.

This is reflected in their This is reflected in their ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY ACT:PROSPERITY ACT:Section 4(2)(n) “one of the province’s Section 4(2)(n) “one of the province’s goals is to achieve a policy of no net goals is to achieve a policy of no net loss of wetlands by 2009. loss of wetlands by 2009.

Furthermore:Furthermore:

Section3(2)c reads “…the environment and Section3(2)c reads “…the environment and the economy of the Province are a shared the economy of the Province are a shared

responsibility of all levels of Government, the responsibility of all levels of Government, the private sector and all the people of the private sector and all the people of the

Province”Province”

Section3(2)c reads “…the environment and Section3(2)c reads “…the environment and the economy of the Province are a shared the economy of the Province are a shared

responsibility of all levels of Government, the responsibility of all levels of Government, the private sector and all the people of the private sector and all the people of the

Province”Province”

The WatercourseThe WatercourseThe WatercourseThe Watercourse

The watercourse begins its journey on The watercourse begins its journey on the ridge of land bordered by the the ridge of land bordered by the

Fauxburg Rd. to the south and by the Fauxburg Rd. to the south and by the old railway trail to the eastold railway trail to the east

Deep ditch water passes under the trail at Deep ditch water passes under the trail at several points and joins with the ground several points and joins with the ground

water run-off from the swamp on the south water run-off from the swamp on the south side of the rail trail forming a major stream side of the rail trail forming a major stream

traveling northtraveling north

Deep ditch water passes under the trail at Deep ditch water passes under the trail at several points and joins with the ground several points and joins with the ground

water run-off from the swamp on the south water run-off from the swamp on the south side of the rail trail forming a major stream side of the rail trail forming a major stream

traveling northtraveling north

This stream This stream eventually eventually meets up with meets up with another at the another at the western edge of western edge of the Power Lines the Power Lines at Jubilee Parkat Jubilee Park

This stream This stream eventually eventually meets up with meets up with another at the another at the western edge of western edge of the Power Lines the Power Lines at Jubilee Parkat Jubilee Park

Swamp water behind Fairmont St. Swamp water behind Fairmont St. Extension, arches around #195 Extension, arches around #195

Fairmont, filling a small pond, finally Fairmont, filling a small pond, finally passing under the Street and forming a passing under the Street and forming a

stream.stream.

Swamp water behind Fairmont St. Swamp water behind Fairmont St. Extension, arches around #195 Extension, arches around #195

Fairmont, filling a small pond, finally Fairmont, filling a small pond, finally passing under the Street and forming a passing under the Street and forming a

stream.stream.

This stream runs alongside #178. It is This stream runs alongside #178. It is this water-table which provides well-this water-table which provides well-

water for this property.water for this property.

This stream runs alongside #178. It is This stream runs alongside #178. It is this water-table which provides well-this water-table which provides well-

water for this property.water for this property.

It then forms spongy swamps metres It then forms spongy swamps metres wide and rich with ferns, lichens and wide and rich with ferns, lichens and other plants on the Old School Lands other plants on the Old School Lands

and in Jubilee Park and in Jubilee Park

It then forms spongy swamps metres It then forms spongy swamps metres wide and rich with ferns, lichens and wide and rich with ferns, lichens and other plants on the Old School Lands other plants on the Old School Lands

and in Jubilee Park and in Jubilee Park

Swamps are sources of groundwater which provides Swamps are sources of groundwater which provides much of the drinking water in Nova Scotia and are much of the drinking water in Nova Scotia and are

protected by law. protected by law.

Swamps are sources of groundwater which provides Swamps are sources of groundwater which provides much of the drinking water in Nova Scotia and are much of the drinking water in Nova Scotia and are

protected by law. protected by law.

On either side of this swamp is steep On either side of this swamp is steep wooded rocky terrain. This mixture of wooded rocky terrain. This mixture of

swamp and slope is the site for the swamp and slope is the site for the proposed Youden development.proposed Youden development.

On either side of this swamp is steep On either side of this swamp is steep wooded rocky terrain. This mixture of wooded rocky terrain. This mixture of

swamp and slope is the site for the swamp and slope is the site for the proposed Youden development.proposed Youden development.

The run-off which began its course in the hills to the The run-off which began its course in the hills to the SW of the town eventually enters the town’s Duck SW of the town eventually enters the town’s Duck Pond either by stream or by groundwater seepagePond either by stream or by groundwater seepage

The run-off which began its course in the hills to the The run-off which began its course in the hills to the SW of the town eventually enters the town’s Duck SW of the town eventually enters the town’s Duck Pond either by stream or by groundwater seepagePond either by stream or by groundwater seepage

The Jubilee Park Duck Pond depends on this The Jubilee Park Duck Pond depends on this watercourse for its existencewatercourse for its existence

Excess pond water flows from the north corner Excess pond water flows from the north corner through a culvert and into a stream bed on the through a culvert and into a stream bed on the

other side of the laneother side of the lane

The stream alongside Tiny Tot playground, The stream alongside Tiny Tot playground, continues northward from the pond.continues northward from the pond.

It passes under It passes under Clairmont street by Clairmont street by culvertculvert

After a single June After a single June rainfall the flow is rainfall the flow is considerableconsiderable

The stream empties into the Maggie-Maggie The stream empties into the Maggie-Maggie River behind #50 Clairmont St.River behind #50 Clairmont St.

Much of it though Much of it though remains behind in remains behind in the swamps and the swamps and bogs of the “old bogs of the “old school lands” school lands” protecting the protecting the town from flooding.town from flooding.

The watercourse which winds its way through the The watercourse which winds its way through the “Old School Lands” and Jubilee Park is carried by “Old School Lands” and Jubilee Park is carried by

the Maggie-Maggie to the sea.the Maggie-Maggie to the sea.

What would we What would we lose if the lose if the

woods were cut woods were cut down,down,

the wetlands the wetlands

filled in and the filled in and the watercourse watercourse drastically drastically altered?altered?

What would we What would we lose if the lose if the

woods were cut woods were cut down,down,

the wetlands the wetlands

filled in and the filled in and the watercourse watercourse drastically drastically altered?altered?

The Woods, Wetlands and the The Woods, Wetlands and the Watercourse are real and Watercourse are real and

tangible assets to the people tangible assets to the people of Mahone Bay. We need to of Mahone Bay. We need to

protect them.protect them.