Gespe gewaq Mi gmaq Resource Council Coastal Erosion Awareness Ugpi ganjig Sitmug Eel River Bar Beach 2
Table of Contents Introduction...1 Driving Force 1:...2 Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise Driving Force 2:...3 Wave and Current Action Driving Force 3:... Sediment Deficiencies Driving Force :... Human Impact Aerial Photograph:...5 Eel River Bar Community Talks...6 Keep our Coastlines Healthy...6 prepared by: Gespe gewaq Mi gmaq Resource Council 9B Riverside East Listuguj, QC G0C 2R0 T. 18.788.3017 F. 18.788.3192 info@migmaqresource.org Introduction The Gespe gewaq Mi gmaq Resource Council, with funding from Environment Canada, put together an awareness project on coastal erosion. The goal of this project is to assemble information on coastal erosion and its impacts, and to communicate them back to the community. The coastal awareness project will seek to increase awareness and understanding on the process of erosion, and on the impacts of a vulnerable coastal zone. Coastal erosion is a natural cycle of sediment motion that is caused by the combined action of the sea and climate factors. Sea-level rise, wave and current action, and sediment deficiencies are the three natural drivers of coastal erosion. These natural events, in addition to human development create problems related to coastal erosion in many areas. In Eel River Bar, this phenomenon appears to have increased in recent years, posing a threat to livelihoods and infrastructures along the coast. In speaking with community members, we were able to gain valuable information on what the coast represents to them. Activities of significance that were discussed included: eel fishing/spearing, clam digging, smelt fishing, sweet grass picking, swimming/diving, and many others. Many of these activities are tied to social, cultural, economical, and environmental values and an overall community well-being. Many of these activities have been impacted due to the significant land and coastal changes that have occurred over the years. This brochure is being provided to you to raise awareness on the natural elements that drive coastal erosion, and to also share the results from our open community dialogue session. We encourage you to inform yourself and others about the importance of Eel River Bar s coastline. September 2009 1
Eel River Bar Listuguj Pabineau photo: http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca Driving Force 1: Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise Green: Low Sensitivity Yellow: Moderate Sensitivity Red: High Sensitivity Present day submerging areas T he map shown here, Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise, from Natural Resource Canada, shows degrees of sensitivity to sea-level rise to which coastlines may experience physical changes such as flooding, erosion, beach migration, and coastal dune destabilization. Atlantic Canada is one of two major regions classified as highly sensitive. Eel River Bar is located in an area classified as Moderate. 2
Driving Force 2 Wave and Current Action Waves are energy in motion. Although most waves that are driven by the wind are relatively small, releasing relatively gentle energy, ocean storms can build up waves to extreme heights. When these waves come ashore, they can produce devastating effects. There are many other types of waves, including internal waves, splash waves, tsunami, tides, and human-induced waves, which are created by energy being released from within the ocean. Energy sources coming from within the ocean include: Coastal landslides and calving icebergs; Sea floor movement, which can change the shape of the ocean floor and can release large amounts of energy and create very large waves; Gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, which tugs on every part of the Earth s oceans creating vast, low, highly predictable waves called tides, and; Human activity, such as ships and boats traveling across the ocean. 3
Driving Force 3 Sediment Deficiencies The Earth s coastline is constantly changing. Rock is disintegrated and decomposed, moved to lower elevations by gravity, and carried away by water, wind, or ice. Natural rates of coastal change vary greatly from one place to another and depend on soil characteristics as well as factors such as climate, slope, and type of vegetation. In the past, erosion occurred at slower rates than it does today because more of the land surface was covered and protected by trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants. However, human activities such as farming, logging, and construc- tion, which remove or disrupt the natural vegetation, have greatly accelerated the rate of erosion. Without the stabilizing effect of plants, the soil is more easily swept away by the wind or water. The coastal region of the Eel River Bar area is made up of various rock formations. On one of our visits to the beach with a geologist, we noted the presence of pillow basalts, a rock that is more resistant to erosion, and as we walked towards Charlo, we saw a gradual change to more sedimentary rock formations, a rock that is more prone to erosion. Pillow Basalts, resistant to erosion Sedimentary rock formations, prone to erosion Driving Force Human Impact Construction and development along the coast can result in a rapid deterioration of our natural coastline. As landowners continue to build homes as close to the water as possible, they are forced to install artificial structures designed to reduce shoreline erosion. Our once-natural shoreline is becoming a mix of concrete and rock walls that impact wetlands and dunes, reduce public access, and cause the degradation of critical wildlife habitat. Overdeveloped shorelines reduce the ability of natural features like dunes, beaches and wetlands to protect against the severe storms and sea-level rise. Homes built too close to the shore are much more susceptible to flooding and storm damage. Concrete seawalls deflect waves causing nearby natural beaches to erode. Natural buffers degraded by human activity lose their ability to filter contaminated runoff before it enters the marine environment. Poorly functioning septic systems dump untreated water that can impact shellfish harvesting, an important economic activity in many coastal communities.
10 Ugpi ganjig Eel River Bar Past 1. 2. 3.. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 1. 15. 16. 11 3 6 16 5 6 9 12 3 7 13 Present Eel Fishing (spearing) - 1970 s & 80 s Blueberry Point Smelt Fishing (winter) - 1970 s Clam Beds - 1970 s Mackerel Fishing - late 1970 s High Tides over road Heavy Tides (crib boards) Lost swimming area Lost swimming/diving area Sweet Grass Picking Future Wharf Place for boats Beach Shoreline Habitat/Vegitation Sea trout (fresh water) Baseball Field 7 13 10 1 2 1 7 13 1 7 13 15 1 5 8 1 10 *The locations and dates of activities, were indicated by the community members of Eel River Bar, during a community project-meeting on March 05, 2009.
Community Talks GMRC had the opportunity to meet with members from Eel River Bar and asked them to discuss changes they ve observed over their lifetimes. The response was very revealing in terms of what the land truly means to the community. The preceeding page outlines just some of the activities that are of value to the com- munity. It is evident that we must be protective and cautious about our land use if we want to sustain its productivity. It was a pleasure learning about Eel River Bar s rich history and its vision for the future. Keep our Coastlines Healthy! Protecting our shorelines also means keeping it healthy. A healthy coast includes: Natural Habitats: The Atlantic coast supports a wide variety of seabirds, shorebirds, mammals, fish and shellfish. Natural Food Sources: Our coastal wetlands and estuaries provide a rich food source for many fish and wildlife species. Clean Water: Wetlands are truly one of our most valuable natural assets. They function as the kidneys of our coastal environment by filtering out silt, fertilizers, pesticides and other contaminants present in runoff. Natural Protection: The extensive root system and tall stems of plants trap windblown particles of sand that accumulate to form the spectacular beaches common to our coastline. What you can do to protect your homes while maintaining a healthy environment: Build your home well back from the shore and at an appropriate elevation. This will protect it against the effects of erosion and flooding. Maintain a natural plant buffer along any watercourse by planting fruit-bearing plants and shade trees as these provide valuable habitat for wildlife, offer a cool refuge on hot days, and retain soil moisture. 6
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