Partners: Nova Scotia Department of Lands & Forestry, Nova Scotia Salmon Association, Dalhousie University
Project Description:
For the past couple of years, the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA), Dalhousie University, NS Department of Lands and Forestry, and other partners have conducted a trial whereby small catchments have been helicopter limed to assess impacts on stream water quality for fish. This work has been led by Dr. Edmund Halfyard and conducted in the West River watershed area northwest of Marinette (off Hwy 224) where the NSSA had already been conducting in-stream lime dosing. The main objective was to see if partial catchment liming (mainly riparian areas) would lead to improvements in stream water chemistry by treating adjacent land/soils feeding these streams. Results to date have been positive. The next logical step was to expand liming to more upland areas to assess the impacts on forest soils and related tree growth/health, with the premise that liming of whole catchments could accelerate the long-term recovery of both soils and surface waters from acid deposition impacts.
Along with more catchments in the West River trial area being treated in fall 2018, two small upland areas (~4 ha each) in the Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest were limed with the purpose of monitoring long-term impacts on forest soils and related tree growth and health (including regeneration where applicable). Otter Ponds sites were selected for this work because (i) they are close to existing trials, (ii) they have similar soils as the West River sites, (iii) they have desirable mature tree cover (both softwood and hardwood), (iv) they have good access, and (v) the work is compatible with OPDF objectives.
The liming project was overseen by Kevin Keys, a soil scientist with the Department of Lands and Forestry, and Master’s student Caitlin McCavour was selected to establish experimental plots and conduct pre- and post- treatment measurements and sampling of soils and tree tissue. Caitlin’s MSc project work was supervised by Drs. Shannon Sterling (Dalhousie), Edmund Halfyard (NSSA), and Kevin Keys. Although the MSc project is only scheduled for two years, the intent is to assess and sample these sites long-term (minimum 5-year and 10-year) since the benefits of this type of restoration work can take many years to be fully realized. This additional monitoring will be coordinated by Kevin Keys. In addition to treated areas, control plots were also established for comparison purposes. All plot locations were selected in cooperation with the OPDF, and liming was complete in late October 2018.
Project Description:
For the past couple of years, the Nova Scotia Salmon Association (NSSA), Dalhousie University, NS Department of Lands and Forestry, and other partners have conducted a trial whereby small catchments have been helicopter limed to assess impacts on stream water quality for fish. This work has been led by Dr. Edmund Halfyard and conducted in the West River watershed area northwest of Marinette (off Hwy 224) where the NSSA had already been conducting in-stream lime dosing. The main objective was to see if partial catchment liming (mainly riparian areas) would lead to improvements in stream water chemistry by treating adjacent land/soils feeding these streams. Results to date have been positive. The next logical step was to expand liming to more upland areas to assess the impacts on forest soils and related tree growth/health, with the premise that liming of whole catchments could accelerate the long-term recovery of both soils and surface waters from acid deposition impacts.
Along with more catchments in the West River trial area being treated in fall 2018, two small upland areas (~4 ha each) in the Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest were limed with the purpose of monitoring long-term impacts on forest soils and related tree growth and health (including regeneration where applicable). Otter Ponds sites were selected for this work because (i) they are close to existing trials, (ii) they have similar soils as the West River sites, (iii) they have desirable mature tree cover (both softwood and hardwood), (iv) they have good access, and (v) the work is compatible with OPDF objectives.
The liming project was overseen by Kevin Keys, a soil scientist with the Department of Lands and Forestry, and Master’s student Caitlin McCavour was selected to establish experimental plots and conduct pre- and post- treatment measurements and sampling of soils and tree tissue. Caitlin’s MSc project work was supervised by Drs. Shannon Sterling (Dalhousie), Edmund Halfyard (NSSA), and Kevin Keys. Although the MSc project is only scheduled for two years, the intent is to assess and sample these sites long-term (minimum 5-year and 10-year) since the benefits of this type of restoration work can take many years to be fully realized. This additional monitoring will be coordinated by Kevin Keys. In addition to treated areas, control plots were also established for comparison purposes. All plot locations were selected in cooperation with the OPDF, and liming was complete in late October 2018.
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Photo credits: Dan Hutt, Caitlin McCavour, Shannon Sterling
Relevant Documents:
| Caitlin McCavour- Upland Catchment Liming in Mooseland, NS |