Shelburne Canadian Heritage River 10-year Monitoring Report

Shelburne River - CHRS 10-year Monitoring Report

Shelburne Canadian Heritage River10-year Monitoring Report

1997 - 2007

Prepared for the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board

May 2008

Painting by Alice Reed

Shelburne River - CHRS 10-year Monitoring Report2

Contents

1.0 Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.0 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.0 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.0 Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.0 Chronology of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.0 Natural Heritage Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6.1 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76.2 Condition of Natural Values Since Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

7.0 Cultural Heritage Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147.1 Background & Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147.2 Condition of Cultural Values Since Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

8.0 Recreational Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198.1 Background & Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198.2 Condition of Recreation Values Since Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

9.0 Integrity Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2510.0 Review of Management Plan Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2811.0 Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3712.0 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Tables

Table 1 Shelburne River Natural Heritage Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Table 2 Shelburne River Cultural Heritage Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Table 3 Shelburne River Recreational Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Table 4 Shelburne River Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Table 5 Shelburne River Management Plan Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Shelburne River - CHRS 10-year Monitoring Report 3

1.0 Executive Summary

Nova Scotia’s Shelburne River was designated as a Canadian Heritage River in 1997. This report reviews what has happened over the last decade and addresses the state of the river, while looking at progress and research. It examines what has happened to the river since designation, deter-mine whether heritage and recreational values are still intact, and reports on the Canadian Heritage River System (CHRS) integrity guidelines. The study also reports on the degree to which river manage-ment and other goals have been achieved.

Although the Shelburne is a remote wilderness river, many significant events have occurred in the area since designation. In particular, Tobeatic Wilderness Area was officially designated, offering legal protection for the upper and middle reaches of the Shelburne River. The designation is comple-mentary to existing protection within Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada.

Perhaps the most important recent occurrence is the acquisition of 1636 hectares of land with high conservation value that will be designated as the Shelburne River Wilderness Area (see Fig 5.1).This new wilderness area will provide protection to the lower section of the river corridor while securing rare species’ habitat, unique natural fea-tures and opportunities for wilderness recreation. The wilderness area was envisioned when the Province of Nova Scotia purchased 10 050 hect-ares of land from Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited in March 2007.

As a result of the acquisition, nearly the entire river corridor now lies within land owned by the Prov-ince of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Power. With about 5% of the river corridor at the river mouth owned by Nova Scotia Power.

AbitibiBowater remains an active conservation partner for the Heritage River, and will continue to fulfill research and management objectives set out in the Shelburne River Management Plan.A great deal of collaborative research has taken place over the years since designation. New community-based partners, notably the

Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) and the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association (SNBRA) have been active in the region, support-ing citizen-science and improved understanding and appreciation of protected areas.

Industry partners have met and exceeded objec-tives set out in the Shelburne River management plan, and have sponsored important research on the natural and cultural values of the river and its surrounding region.

Inter-agency partnership remains strong. Kejim-kujik National Park and Historic Site, Nova Scotia Environment, and Nova Scotia Natural Resources have worked with several academics on research and monitoring topics relevant to the river and its watershed. These research projects focussed on topics such as: lichens, Species at Risk, the effects of dams and forestry practices.

Overall, the heritage and recreation values of the Shelburne River remain intact. Only positive changes have taken place on the river. The river is worthy of continued designation as a nationally significant river within the CHRS.

2.0 Introduction

From the wild headwaters at Buckshot Lake, to the outflow at Lake Rossignol, the Shelburne River connects the major waterways of southwestern Nova Scotia in a series of rapids, still waters, lakes and streams. Nova Scotia’s most remote wilder-ness river, it flows 53 km from the granite barrens and patchy old forest in its upper reaches, through


quartzite plains with gently rising eskers, and outwash plains supporting old growth pine and hemlock forests in the lower watershed. Aside from wild, unspoiled beauty there are also out-standing wilderness recreation experiences on the Shelburne River; these include: canoeing, camp-ing, and hiking opportunities. In 1997, after years of study, the Shelburne River was designated as a Canadian Heritage River.

The Canadian Heritage River System (CHRS) is Canada’s program by which to promote freshwa-

ter heritage conservation and recognize Canada’s outstanding rivers based on heritage and recre-ation values. The program is a cooperative effort of federal and provincial/territorial governments, which works to ensure long-term management and conservation of Canada’s river heritage. CHRS requires annual reports, monitoring, and ten-year reviews to ensure that CHRS rivers maintain the values for which they were nominated.

The objectives of this report are to:determine the degree to which the actions outlined in the management plan have been implemented;establish the current condition of the out-standing heritage values based on a review of values for which the river was nominated;determine whether the CHRS integrity guide-lines are still being met;describe changes that have occurred in relation to the river over the past decade; andreview the state of the river and to

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report on progress or setbacks the river has experienced.

3.0 Background

The Shelburne River flows northerly to Pine Lake and then easterly to Lake Rossignol in the central area of Southwestern Nova Scotia, south of Kejim-kujik National Park and Historic Site. The river starts at Buckshot Lake and flows 53 km along a series of seven lakes to Lake Rossignol. The heritage river corridor is limited to the width of the waterway.

In 1986, the Province of Nova Scotia reviewed 45 rivers and conducted detailed studies on the seven highest rated rivers. In 1988, a study of the Shelburne River was completed and a year later the Minister announced that the Department of Natural Resources would work toward nomination of the river. In January 1993, the Shelburne River was accepted for nomination as a CHRS river. The Shelburne Canadian Heritage River Management Plan was submitted to CHRS in 1996 and in 1997 the river was designated as a Canadian Heritage River.

In 1998, lead responsibility for the CHRS program in Nova Scotia was transferred to the Protected Areas Branch of Nova Scotia Department of the Environment from the NS Department of Natural Resources. After the transfer, DNR Regional Servic-es Division continued as a key partner in program delivery. Many of the objectives laid out in the management plan were implemented jointly, or with several partners.

4.0 Methodology

The main approaches used to gain information about the state of the river and progress that has been made are:

(i) review of annual reports submitted to the CHRS Board and field surveys (ii) secondary source research (iii) interviews with key individuals

Interviews with key individuals provided ample in-formation on changes, research and activities that


have taken place on and around the river since its designation. Discussions took place among Nova Scotia Environment staff, key stakeholders and Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute and Southwest Nova Biosphere researchers.

New CHRS frameworks were developed since the Shelburne River was nominated. This report con-verts identified values to coincide with current national frameworks. The recreational framework used was adapted from the Red River CHRS study. The condition of heritage values since designa-tion was discussed along with relevant projects or management plan actions. The condition of integ-rity guidelines was also examined to determine whether the river was still worthy of designation as a river of national significance within the Cana-dian Heritage River System.

5.0 Chronology of Events

1997 Shelburne River officially designated as a Heritage River within the CHRS.

1998Responsibility for the CHRS program in Nova Scotia transferred to Nova Scotia Department of Environment from Nova Scotia Natural Resources.Tobeatic Wilderness Area officially designated under the Wilderness Areas Protection Act.

1999 - 2000Appointment of a regional protected areas coordinator with responsibility for CHRS rivers in western Nova Scotia.Proposal for Southwest Nova Biosphere Re-serve initiated by a local community Associa-tion.Initiation of water quality monitoring for the Shelburne River, led by NS Environment and Labour and Environment Canada.

2000-2001

Publication of Keep It Wild, a guide for low- impact recreation in Wilderness Areas that follows the principles of Leave No TraceImplementation of an access signage program for Wilderness Areas and identification of

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priority field management initiatives with the Department of Natural Resources.Kejimkujik designated as a National Historic Site recognizing it as a Mi’kmaw Cultural Land-scape.Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve (which includes the Shelburne Canadian Heritage River) nomination document submitted to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cul-tural Organization (UNESCO) for consideration, and subsequently designated.A new hydrometric sampling station installed on the Shelburne River; planning underway for community-based water-quality monitoringScoping exercise to begin a management plan-ning process for Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

2001-2002

Kejimkujik initiates planning to review its management plan.Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve under goes review and receives endorsement from key partners including the Province of Nova Scotia, Parks Canada and 5 county municipali-ties.New hydrometric sampling station installed with plans for a community-based water qual-ity monitoring program.Tobeatic Wilderness Area Management Plan-ning Exercise launched with broad citizen advisory group.

2002-2003The Kejimkujik Management Plan process continues, led by Parks Canada planners and senior staff members of the national park. Several broad stakeholder meetings were completed on a range of topic areas. Following these discussions, a draft management plan

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was developed for public comment.Tobeatic Wilderness Area Management Plan-ning exercise begins with the first phase of public consultation meetings of the advisory group.

2003-2004Wilderness Area management: planning ex-ercise for Tobeatic Wilderness Area continues with second phase of advisory group workCollaboration with Kejimkujik to redesign the Back Country Guide and MapRecognition of moose as an endangered species in Nova Scotia.Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve’s official designation ceremony.

2004-2005Tobeatic Wilderness Area Management Plan-ning Exercise continues with release of Draft Management Plan for Tobeatic Wilderness Area and conclusion of advisory group tasks. Publication of Into the Tobeatic - a guide for planning wilderness travel .Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) es-tablished to facilitate research and monitoring activity.Publication of Paddling the Tobeatic: Canoe Routes of Southwestern Nova Scotia by Nimbus Publishing; the book includes the Shelburne Canadian Heritage River.

2005-2006

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Approval of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area Management Plan.Development of The Tent Dwellers heritage ca-noe route project with Heritage River partners.Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute field station continues work on the Parks Canada Innova-tion Project entitled, “Collaborative research, management, and monitoring of aquatic health and landscape connectivity in the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve”.Amendments to the Special Places Protec-tion Act streamline the process used in the identification and designation of significant ecological sites on private and crown lands.MTRI receives charitable status and purchases a field station for 6 full-time staff, with match-ing funds from three Heritage River partners (Bowater, Kejimkujik, NSE)MTRI research on: Eastern pipistrelle bat dis-tribution; lichens in old growth forests; ecological effects of forest roads; forest ecosys-tem classification; ecology and management of the pale-winged gray moth; invertebrates as indicators of bog health; and the effects of dams on wetland species at risk.

2006-2007Extensive field work on the Shelburne River with MTRI focussing on the water quality of headwater lakes.DNR research on Jack Pine budworm defolia-tion of old growth pine.First annual Rivers Day celebration on Sand

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Lake includes a public guided outingExtensive field evaluation of Bowater lands on the Shelburne River.Acquisition of Bowater land, which will be designated as the Shelburne River Wilderness Area in 2008.Planning and development of The Tent Dwell-ers Centennial Festival with several commu-nity, municipal and agency partners. Friends of Keji as the host organization for the project to commemorate the 1908 publication of the book featuring the Shelburne River.

6.0 Natural Heritage Values

6.1 Background

The designation of the Shelburne River was based on the following key natural heritage features:

outstanding examples of undisturbed glacial landforms, such as eskers and outwash plains, and granite barrenshigh quality pine and hemlock stands, including the Shelburne IBP site which con-

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tains some of the oldest old growth trees in Nova Scotia (They were the oldest known at time of designation, but older trees have since been found south of the watershed).

The Shelburne River was noted for its outstanding wilderness canoeing opportunities, including the most remote wilderness tripping opportunity in Nova Scotia. It offers a variety of canoeing experi-ences and connects to other major routes as well as Kejimkujik National Park.

A new national framework for natural heritage val-ues has been developed since the Shelburne River was designated in 1997:

• A Framework for the Natural Values of Ca-nadian Heritage Rivers, 2nd Edition. 2001

The values for which the Shelburne River was nominated are summarized in the following table, according to this new natural heritage values framework. The table also outlines significant ac-tions over the last ten years, and any changes to nomination values.


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Bio

sph

ere

Rese

rve

Pro

ject

offi

cial

ly d

esig

-n

ated

in 2

000

Cap

acit

y-b

uild

ing

for r

esea

rch

, m

on

ito

rin

g, e

du

cati

on

, an

d c

om

-m

un

ity-

lead

ersh

ip.

MTR

I wo

rkin

g w

ith

Par

ks C

anad

a o

n th

e Ec

olo

gic

al In

teg

rity

Inn

o-

vati

on

Pro

ject

, wh

ich

exa

min

es

aqu

atic

hea

lth

an

d la

nd

scap

e co

nn

ecti

vity

Co

ord

inat

ed re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts.

4.2

Terr

estr

ial E

cosy

stem

sEc

ozo

ne:

Atl

anti

c M

arit

ime

Sou

thw

est N

ova

Bio

sph

ere

Rese

rve

Pro

ject

offi

cial

ly d

esig

-n

ated

in 2

000

Co

ord

inat

ed re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts,

mo

nit

ori

ng

an

d s

tew

ard

ship

.

Am

end

men

ts to

the

Spec

ial

Plac

es P

rote

ctio

n A

ct s

trea

mlin

e th

e p

roce

ss u

sed

in th

e id

enti

fi-ca

tio

n a

nd

des

ign

atio

n o

f sig

nifi

-ca

nt e

colo

gic

al s

ites

on

pri

vate

an

d C

row

n la

nd

Imp

rove

d a

bili

ty to

des

ign

ate

adja

cen

t lan

ds.


CH

RS

Nat

ura

l Fra

mew

ork

(2

00

1) T

hem

es &

Su

b-t

hem

esSh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Nat

ura

l Her

i-ta

ge

Elem

ents

Des

crip

tio

nSi

gn

ifica

nt

Act

ion

s, R

esea

rch

or

Stu

die

sC

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to N

om

ina-

tio

n V

alu

e(s)

Rese

arch

on

: eco

log

ical

eff

ects

o

f fo

rest

road

s; fo

rest

eco

syst

em

clas

sific

atio

n; a

nd

eco

log

y an

d

man

agem

ent o

f th

e p

ale-

win

ged

g

ray

mo

th

Co

ord

inat

ed re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts,

mo

nit

ori

ng

an

d s

tew

ard

ship

.

5 V

eget

atio

n5.

1 Si

gn

ifica

nt P

lan

t Co

mm

un

i-ti

esA

qu

atic

/Rip

aria

n p

lan

ts: i

n fl

oat

-in

g b

og

s an

d fe

ns;

Tre

es: d

ynam

ic

old

gro

wth

hem

lock

Rese

arch

on

: lic

hen

s in

old

g

row

th fo

rest

s; e

colo

gic

al e

ffec

ts

of f

ore

st ro

ads;

fore

st e

cosy

stem

cl

assi

ficat

ion

; eco

log

y an

d m

an-

agem

ent o

f th

e p

ale-

win

ged

g

ray

mo

th; a

nd

inve

rteb

rate

s as

in

dic

ato

rs o

f bo

g h

ealt

h

Imp

rove

d re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts.

5.2

Rar

e Pl

ant S

pec

ies

Woo

dwar

dia

areo

lata

(Net

ted

ch

ain

fern

)W

oodw

ardi

a ar

eola

ta is

nat

ion

-al

ly im

per

iled,

sp

ecie

s o

nly

exi

sts

in N

S w

her

e it

is im

per

iled

Imp

rove

d re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts.

Atl

anti

c C

oas

tal P

lain

Flo

raPa

rks

Can

ada,

Ap

plie

d G

eom

atic

s re

sear

ch G

rou

p a

nd

Nat

ura

l Sci

-en

ces

and

En

gin

eeri

ng

Res

earc

h

Co

un

cil o

f Can

ada

rese

arch

on

C

oas

tal P

lain

Flo

ra a

t Bea

vers

kin

an

d P

ebb

lelo

gg

itch

Lak

es.

Imp

rove

d re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts.

6 F

aun

a6.

1 Si

gn

ifica

nt A

nim

al P

op

ula

-ti

on

sM

ain

lan

d m

oo

se a

nd

Eas

tern

p

ipis

trel

le b

ats

Rese

arch

on

: mai

nla

nd

mo

ose

(S

pec

ies

at R

isk)

; Eas

tern

pip

-is

trel

le b

ats;

inve

rteb

rate

s as

in-

dic

ato

rs o

f bo

g h

ealt

h; e

ffec

ts o

f d

ams

on

wet

lan

d S

pec

ies

at R

isk;

an

d e

colo

gy

and

man

agem

ent o

f p

ale-

win

ged

gra

y m

oth

Imp

rove

d re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts

thro

ug

h a

pro

acti

ve e

cosy

stem

m

anag

emen

t an

d o

utr

each

pro

-g

ram


CH

RS

Nat

ura

l Fra

mew

ork

(2

00

1) T

hem

es &

Su

b-t

hem

esSh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Nat

ura

l Her

i-ta

ge

Elem

ents

Des

crip

tio

nSi

gn

ifica

nt

Act

ion

s, R

esea

rch

or

Stu

die

sC

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to N

om

ina-

tio

n V

alu

e(s)

6.2

Rar

e A

nim

al S

pec

ies

Mai

nla

nd

mo

ose

Rese

arch

on

: mai

nla

nd

mo

ose

(S

pec

ies

at R

isk)

an

d th

e ef

fect

s o

f dam

s o

n w

etla

nd

Sp

ecie

s at

R

isk.

Reco

gn

itio

n, b

y fo

rmal

list

ing

of

Mai

nla

nd

Mo

ose

as

an e

nd

an-

ger

ed s

pec

ies

in N

ova

Sco

tia

in

2003

-200

4

Imp

rove

d re

sear

ch e

ffo

rts.

Imp

rove

d b

y a

pro

acti

ve e

cosy

s-te

m m

anag

emen

t an

d o

utr

each

p

rog

ram

Imp

rove

d p

rote

ctio

n o

f sp

ecie

s in

wat

ersh

ed


6.2 Condition of Natural Values Since Designation

Water quality monitoring began on the Shelburne River in 2000 when a new hydrometric sampling station was installed. The River is now part of Nova Scotia’s Auto-mated Water Quality Monitoring Program, but work needs to be done in terms of coordination of informa-tion.

These efforts, combined with Mersey Tobeatic Research Initiative and academic research efforts, have improved the quantity of data collected with regards to the river and watershed ecosystems and significant species. The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Project (SWNBRP) and MTRI work has increased capacity for research, monitoring and educational efforts along with aug-menting opportunities for community leadership.

Through collaborative efforts and coordinated research, particularly through the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, there is increased awareness and stewardship of the natural and cultural heritage components of the Shelburne River. Also, amendments to the Special Places Protection Act streamline the process used in the identification and designation of significant ecological

sites on private and crown lands.

Some MTRI projects occurred outside of the heritage river corridor, but did take place on lakes that flow into the Shelburne River. Songbird Detectability During Point Counts (Beaverskin Lake); The Kejim-kujik-Mersey Loon Watch Program (Beaverskin Lake, Back Lake, and Lower Silver Lake); and Assessment of Coastal Plain Flora (Beaverskin Lake).

Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources research identified hemlock stands at Irving Lake, Sand Lake and at the mouth of the river; no damage by pale-winged gray moths was indicated along the Shelburne River. Research did show, however, an outbreak of Jack Pine Budworm to the east of Pine Lake, which affects ma-ture and old growth pine stands.

Many of the actions that have occurred along the Shel-burne River have led to improved protection of species within the watershed. The collaborative work of the MTRI and the SWNBRP, along with the official designation of Tobeatic Wilderness Area and the announcement pro-posed designation of the Shelburne River Wilderness Area, has led to proactive ecosystem management and outreach programs, which often, in turn, lead to improved natural heritage values.


7.0 Cultural Heritage Values

7.1 Background & Status

A new national framework for cultural heritage values has been developed since the Shelburne River was designated in 1997:

• A Cultural Framework for Canadian Heritage Rivers, 2nd Edition. 2000

The Shelburne River was not nominated based on cultural heritage values due to insufficient informa-tion at the time of nomination. Historical context was provided in the nomination document. A variety of cultural values are summarized in the following table, according to the new cultural heritage values framework developed for the CHRS. The table also outlines significant actions over the last ten years, and any changes to cultural heritage values.


Tab

le 2

Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Cu

ltu

ral H

erit

age

Val

ues

CH

RS

Cu

ltu

ral F

ram

ewo

rk

(20

00

)Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Cu

ltu

ral H

eri-

tag

e V

alu

e(s)

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

Res

earc

h o

r St

ud

ies

Ch

ang

es o

r Th

reat

s to

No

min

a-ti

on

Val

ue(

s)1

Res

ou

rce

Har

vest

ing

1.1

Fish

ing

Arc

hae

olo

gic

al s

ites

iden

tifie

d

at m

ou

th o

f riv

er s

ug

ges

t fish

ing

u

se a

t lea

st 3

000

to 5

000

year

s ag

o. T

he

rive

r was

als

o u

sed

for

fish

ing

in th

e 18

00 a

nd

190

0s.

Mi’k

maq

Rig

hts

Init

iati

ve re

-se

arch

on

trad

itio

nal

Mi’k

maq

u

se lo

cate

d p

ote

nti

al a

rch

aeo

-lo

gic

al s

ites

Imp

rove

d k

no

wle

dg

e o

f pre

-co

n-

tact

use

of t

he

rive

r.

1.2

Sho

relin

e Re

sou

rce

Har

vest

-in

gA

rch

aeo

log

ical

evi

den

ce s

ug

-g

ests

hu

nti

ng

on

the

rive

r at

leas

t 300

0-50

00 y

ears

ag

o

A d

raw

do

wn

of w

ater

du

rin

g th

e N

ova

Sco

tia

Pow

er D

am R

efu

r-b

ish

men

t Pro

ject

led

to th

e d

is-

cove

ry o

f hu

nd

red

s o

f Ab

ori

gin

al

arti

fact

s w

her

e th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

flo

ws

into

Lak

e Ro

ssig

no

l.

Imp

rove

d k

no

wle

dg

e o

f Ab

ori

gi-

nal

use

of t

he

area

.

1.3

Extr

acti

on

of W

ater

The

Mer

sey

Pap

er C

om

pan

y h

ad

a sa

wm

ill n

ear t

he

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er in

194

0.

No

ne

2 W

ater

Tra

nsp

ort

2.1

Co

mm

erci

al T

ran

spo

rtat

ion

The

Mer

sey

Pap

er C

om

pan

y p

rob

ably

use

d th

e ri

ver f

or t

ran

s-p

ort

atio

n p

urp

ose

s

MTR

I, Pa

rks

Can

ada,

Bo

wat

er

Mer

sey

Pap

er C

om

pan

y, N

SEL,

At-

lan

tic

Cen

ter f

or G

lob

al C

han

ge

and

Eco

syst

ems

Rese

arch

, Aca

dia

U

niv

ersi

ty a

nd

Sch

oo

l fo

r Re-

sou

rce

and

Env

iro

nm

enta

l Stu

d-

ies

(Dal

ho

usi

e U

niv

ersi

ty) w

ork

ed

tog

eth

er to

loca

te d

ams

and

d

am re

mn

ants

(su

ch a

s flu

mes

th

at w

ere

use

d fo

r mov

ing

log

s)

in th

e M

erse

y W

ater

shed

an

d to

d

eter

min

e th

e ef

fect

s o

f dam

s o

n

the

dis

trib

uti

on

of c

erta

in w

et-

lan

d s

pec

ies

at ri

sk.

Imp

rove

d k

no

wle

dg

e o

f dam

an

d d

am re

mn

ant l

oca

tio

ns

wit

h

po

ten

tial

for k

no

wle

dg

e co

n-

cern

ing

thei

r im

pac

t of w

etla

nd

Sp

ecie

s at

Ris

k.


CH

RS

Cu

ltu

ral F

ram

ewo

rk

(20

00

)Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Cu

ltu

ral H

eri-

tag

e V

alu

e(s)

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

Res

earc

h o

r St

ud

ies

Ch

ang

es o

r Th

reat

s to

No

min

a-ti

on

Val

ue(

s)2.

2 Tr

ansp

ort

atio

n S

ervi

ces

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f no

min

a-ti

on

No

t ap

plic

able

No

ne

2.3

Exp

lora

tio

n &

Su

rvey

ing

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f no

min

a-ti

on

Alb

ert B

igel

ow

Pai

ne

trav

elle

d

the

area

in 1

908;

the

trip

is d

e-ta

iled

in h

is b

oo

k “T

he

Ten

t D

wel

lers

;” m

any

hav

e fo

llow

ed

his

rou

te in

the

last

100

yea

rs.

No

ne

3 R

ipar

ian

Set

tlem

ent

3.1

Siti

ng

of D

wel

ling

sPr

e-co

nta

ct n

ativ

es li

kely

had

se

ttle

men

ts o

n th

e ri

ver

Kej

imku

jik N

atio

nal

Par

k (e

xclu

d-

ing

Sea

sid

e A

dju

nct

) des

ign

ated

as

a N

atio

nal

His

tori

c Si

te o

f C

anad

a as

a M

i’km

aw c

ult

ura

l la

nd

scap

e in

200

0

Imp

rove

d c

ult

ura

l her

itag

e ef

-fo

rts

and

inte

rpre

tive

act

ivit

ies

in

the

reg

ion

3.2

Riv

er-b

ased

Co

mm

un

itie

sTh

ere

is a

rch

aeo

log

ical

evi

den

ce

that

su

gg

ests

a v

illag

e si

te a

t th

e ri

ver’s

mo

uth

A d

raw

do

wn

of w

ater

du

rin

g th

e N

ova

Sco

tia

Pow

er D

am R

efu

r-b

ish

men

t Pro

ject

led

to th

e d

is-

cove

ry o

f hu

nd

red

s o

f Ab

ori

gin

al

arti

fact

s w

her

e th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

flo

ws

into

Lak

e Ro

ssig

no

l.

Imp

rove

d k

no

wle

dg

e o

f Ab

ori

gi-

nal

use

of t

he

area

.

Mi’k

maq

Rig

hts

Init

iati

ve R

e-se

arch

into

trad

itio

nal

use

sit

es3.

3 R

iver

-influ

ence

d T

ran

spo

rta-

tio

nN

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of n

om

ina-

tio

n4

Cu

ltu

re &

Rec

reat

ion

4.1

Spir

itu

al A

sso

ciat

ion

sN

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of n

om

ina-

tio

nM

i’km

aq R

igh

ts In

itia

tive

Re-

sear

ch in

to tr

adit

ion

al u

se s

ites

Inve

nto

ry o

f tra

dit

ion

al M

i’km

aq

use

sit

es4.

2 C

ult

ura

l Exp

ress

ion

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f no

min

a-ti

on

4.3

Earl

y Re

crea

tio

nC

ano

ein

g th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

w

as p

op

ula

rize

d in

the

1908

b

oo

k Th

e Te

nt D

wel

lers

by

Alb

ert

Big

elo

w P

ain

e

The

Ten

t Dw

elle

rs c

ano

e ro

ute

is

bei

ng

dev

elo

ped

an

d p

rom

ote

dIm

pro

vem

ents

to th

e h

erit

age

rou

te c

on

cep

t an

d p

rom

oti

on

of

the

rive

r

5 J

uri

sdic

tio

nal

Use

s


CH

RS

Cu

ltu

ral F

ram

ewo

rk

(20

00

)Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Cu

ltu

ral H

eri-

tag

e V

alu

e(s)

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

Res

earc

h o

r St

ud

ies

Ch

ang

es o

r Th

reat

s to

No

min

a-ti

on

Val

ue(

s)5.

1 C

on

flict

& M

ilita

ry A

sso

cia-

tio

ns

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f no

min

a-ti

on

5.2

Bou

nd

arie

sTh

e ri

ver i

s tr

ansb

ou

nd

ary

bet

wee

n Q

uee

ns

and

Dig

by

cou

nti

es. I

t fo

rms

the

bo

un

dar

y b

etw

een

Kej

imku

jik N

atio

nal

Pa

rk &

His

tori

c Si

te a

nd

To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a. T

he

rive

r als

o

serv

es a

s th

e n

ort

her

n b

ou

nd

ary

of T

ob

eati

c W

ildlif

e M

anag

emen

t A

rea.

no

ch

ang

es

The

rive

r lin

ks th

e lo

wer

po

rtio

n

of t

he

An

nap

olis

Val

ley

to th

e So

uth

Sh

ore

of t

he

pro

vin

ce, i

s o

ne

of a

t lea

st tw

o h

isto

ric

links

an

d s

erve

s as

a h

ub

of a

n in

lan

d

pas

sag

e b

etw

een

the

Bay

of

Fun

dy

and

the

Atl

anti

c O

cean

5.3

Envi

ron

men

tal R

egu

lati

on

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f no

min

a-ti

on

The

lake

s co

nta

in re

mn

ants

of

dam

s an

d a

sso

ciat

ed s

tru

ctu

res,

wh

ich

hav

e n

atu

raliz

ed to

thei

r en

viro

nm

ents

MTR

I, Pa

rks

Can

ada,

Bo

wat

er

Mer

sey

Pap

er C

om

pan

y, N

SEL,

At-

lan

tic

Cen

ter f

or G

lob

al C

han

ge

and

Eco

syst

ems

Rese

arch

, Aca

dia

U

niv

ersi

ty a

nd

Sch

oo

l fo

r Re-

sou

rce

and

Env

iro

nm

enta

l Stu

d-

ies

(Dal

ho

usi

e U

niv

ersi

ty)

wo

rked

tog

eth

er to

loca

te d

ams

and

dam

rem

nan

ts(s

uch

as

flum

es th

at w

ere

use

d fo

r mov

-in

g lo

gs)

in th

e M

erse

y W

ater

-sh

ed a

nd

to d

eter

min

e th

e ef

-fe

cts

of d

ams

on

the

dis

trib

uti

on

o

f cer

tain

wet

lan

d s

pec

ies

at ri

sk.

Imp

rove

d k

no

wle

dg

e o

f dam

lo

cati

on

s an

d th

eir e

ffec

ts o

n

wet

lan

d S

pec

ies

at R

isk.


CH

RS

Cu

ltu

ral F

ram

ewo

rk

(20

00

)Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Cu

ltu

ral H

eri-

tag

e V

alu

e(s)

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

Res

earc

h o

r St

ud

ies

Ch

ang

es o

r Th

reat

s to

No

min

a-ti

on

Val

ue(

s)A

po

rtio

n o

f th

e M

erse

y w

ater

-sh

ed h

as b

een

man

aged

as

a sa

nct

uar

y si

nce

192

7, a

Wild

life

Man

agem

ent A

rea

sin

ce 1

968

and

as

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a si

nce

19

98.


7.2 Condition of Cultural Values Since Designation

Kejimkujik National Park was designated a Cana-dian National Historic Site as a Mi’kmaw cultural landscape in 2000, which has led to improved cultural heritage protection and interpretive efforts in the region. For example, a new publication fea-tures the Aboriginal heritage in southwestern Nova Scotia, on-site learning programs are offered by Mi’kmaq interpreters, and sites of significance such as the petroglyphs found within the national park are routinely patrolled.

The Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative conducted research on traditional use sites within southwestern Nova Scotia at the request of Nova Scotia Environment and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. The research led to improved knowledge of pre-contact use of the river and an inventory of Mi’kmaq traditional use sites. This data complements existing information concerning sites near Sand Lake and Lake Rossignol to give a broader perspective of aborig-inal land and water use 3500 to 500 years ago.

Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute research into the effects of dams on wetland Species at Risk has led to improved knowledge of dam and dam remnant locations while offering significant potential for knowl-edge concerning their impact of wetland Species at Risk.

Nova Scotia Environment and its government and community partners are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publish-ing of The Tent Dwellers, by Albert Bigelow Paine . This cel-ebration will focus on the The Tent Dwellers heritage canoe route, and will include interpretation materials and related community events; all of which will increase local and visitor knowledge of the heritage river and its values.

8.0 Recreational Values

8.1 Background & Status

Because there is no national framework for recreational values, the activities listed in the Red River Back-ground Study were adapted for use in this section. • (Canadian Heritage River System: Red River Back-ground Study, 1998)

The values for which the Shelburne River was nominated are summarized in the following table, accord-ing to this recreational values framework. The table also outlines significant actions over the last ten years, and any changes to those values.


Tab

le 3

Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Rec

reat

ion

al V

alu

es

Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

Th

emes

&

Su

b-t

hem

es (a

dap

ted

fro

m

Red

Riv

er C

HR

S B

ackg

rou

nd

St

ud

y)

Ori

gin

al S

hel

bu

rne

Riv

er

Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

R

atin

g

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

R

esea

rch

or

Stu

die

sD

escr

ipti

on

of C

urr

ent

Situ

atio

nC

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to N

om

inat

ion

V

alu

e(s)

1 B

oat

ing

1.1

Wh

itew

ater

can

oe,

kay

ak &

ra

ftW

hit

ewat

er c

ano

ein

g o

p-

po

rtu

nit

ies

exis

tN

on

e

1.2

Exte

nd

ed C

ano

e Tr

ipp

ing

(m

oto

r & n

on

-mo

tor)

No

n-m

oto

rize

d c

ano

ein

g

in th

e m

ain

mea

ns

of r

iver

tr

avel

Into

the

Tobe

atic

gu

ide

pu

blis

hed

by

NSE

L

Pad

dlin

g th

e To

bea

tic

bo

ok

by

An

dre

w S

mit

h

pu

blis

hed

The

Ten

t Dw

elle

rs c

ano

e ro

ute

is b

ein

g d

evel

op

ed

and

pro

mo

ted

Incr

ease

d a

war

enes

s o

f riv

er, w

hic

h m

ay

lead

to in

crea

sed

rec-

reat

ion

al a

nd

inte

r-p

reti

ve u

se

1.3

Day

pad

dlin

g &

row

ing

(fro

m

urb

an c

ente

r)D

ay tr

ips

are

no

t po

ssib

le

du

e to

the

rive

r’s re

mo

te-

nes

s

No

ne

1.4

Hig

h-s

pee

d B

oat

ing

No

t per

mit

ted,

mo

tori

zed

b

oat

s ar

e o

nly

allo

wed

for

rese

arch

/man

agem

ent

pu

rpo

ses

Tob

eati

c M

anag

emen

t p

lan

pro

hib

its

mo

tor

bo

at a

nd

flo

at p

lan

e u

se w

ith

in T

ob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea.

Imp

rove

d p

ub

lic

kno

wle

dg

e an

d c

lear

p

olic

y.

1.5

Mo

tori

zed

ple

asu

re c

ruis

ing

/h

ou

seb

oat

sN

ot a

pp

licab

leN

on

e

1.6

Co

mm

erci

al to

urb

oat

sN

ot a

pp

licab

leN

on

e2

An

glin

g2.

1 D

ay a

ng

ling

(fro

m u

rban

ce

nte

r)Th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

is n

ot

a fis

hin

g d

esti

nat

ion

No

ne

2.2

Wee

ken

d a

ng

ling

(fro

m u

r-b

an c

ente

r)Th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

is n

ot

a fis

hin

g d

esti

nat

ion

No

ne

2.3

Exte

nd

ed a

ng

ling

vac

atio

nTh

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

is n

ot

a fis

hin

g d

esti

nat

ion

No

ne


Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

Th

emes

&

Su

b-t

hem

es (a

dap

ted

fro

m

Red

Riv

er C

HR

S B

ackg

rou

nd

St

ud

y)

Ori

gin

al S

hel

bu

rne

Riv

er

Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

R

atin

g

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

R

esea

rch

or

Stu

die

sD

escr

ipti

on

of C

urr

ent

Situ

atio

nC

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to N

om

inat

ion

V

alu

e(s)

2.4

Fly

fish

ing

The

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er is

no

t a

fish

ing

des

tin

atio

nN

on

e

2.5

Ice

fish

ing

The

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er is

no

t a

fish

ing

des

tin

atio

nN

on

e

2.6

Spec

ific

fish

sp

ecie

sLi

mit

ed p

op

ula

tio

n o

f b

roo

k tr

ou

t3

Wat

er C

on

ten

t3.

1 Sw

imm

ing

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f n

om

inat

ion

Wat

er q

ual

ity

iis s

uta

ble

fo

r sw

imm

ing.

No

ne

3.2

Wat

er s

kiin

gN

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of

no

min

atio

nn

ot a

pp

licab

leN

on

e

3.3

Sno

rkel

/scu

ba

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f n

om

inat

ion

no

t ap

plic

able

No

ne

4 W

ater

Ass

oci

ated

Act

ivit

ies

4.1

Trai

l use

(hik

ing,

wal

kin

g,

cycl

ing

)N

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of

des

ign

atio

n; s

om

e p

eop

le

use

old

log

gin

g ro

ads

for

thes

e ac

tivi

ties

Hik

ing

po

ten

tial

rec-

og

niz

ed in

To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a M

an-

agem

ent P

lan

Co

mm

itm

ent t

o c

on

du

ct

feas

ibili

ty s

tud

y fo

r a

lon

g-d

ista

nce

hik

ing

trai

l th

rou

gh

the

rive

r co

rrid

or

Imp

rove

d m

anag

e-m

ent d

irec

tio

n.

4.2

Cam

pin

gLo

w c

apab

ility

Reco

gn

ized

in T

ob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

-ag

emen

t Pla

n

Plan

s to

des

ign

ate

ten

t-in

g s

ites

alo

ng

the

low

er

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er a

t San

d,

Litt

le T

up

per

an

d T

ob

e-at

ic L

akes

Imp

rove

d m

anag

e-m

ent d

irec

tio

n.

20 in

form

al te

nti

ng

sit

es

wer

e id

enti

fied

on

map

s in

An

dre

w S

mit

h’s

bo

ok

Pad

dlin

g th

e To

bea

tic

alo

ng

wit

h th

ree

cam

ps

(on

e o

f wh

ich

is P

olla

rds

Falls

Ran

ger

Cam

p)

Imp

rove

d p

ub

lic in

-fo

rmat

ion

to s

up

po

rt

man

agem

ent.

and

ex

isti

ng

use

.


Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

Th

emes

&

Su

b-t

hem

es (a

dap

ted

fro

m

Red

Riv

er C

HR

S B

ackg

rou

nd

St

ud

y)

Ori

gin

al S

hel

bu

rne

Riv

er

Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

R

atin

g

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

R

esea

rch

or

Stu

die

sD

escr

ipti

on

of C

urr

ent

Situ

atio

nC

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to N

om

inat

ion

V

alu

e(s)

4.3

Hu

nti

ng

No

t per

mit

ted

in th

e N

atio

nal

Par

k; li

mit

ed to

6

day

pri

mit

ive

hu

nt i

n W

ild-

life

Man

agem

ent A

rea

Co

mp

leti

on

of T

ob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

-ag

emen

t Pla

n

Veh

icle

use

rest

rict

ed fo

r h

un

tin

g o

r oth

er re

cre-

atio

nal

use

s

Bait

ing

of a

nim

als

for

hu

nti

ng

is p

roh

ibit

ed

wit

hin

To

bea

tic

Wild

er-

nes

s A

rea

Red

uce

d o

pp

ort

un

ity

for h

abit

uat

ion

of

bea

r an

d d

eer.

Red

uce

d im

pac

ts a

s-so

ciat

ed w

ith

veh

icle

u

se.

5 W

inte

r A

ctiv

itie

s5.

1 Sn

ow

mo

bili

ng

/do

g s

led

din

gN

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of

no

min

atio

n; n

ot a

pp

li-ca

ble

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

Se

ctio

n 4

.2.5

)

Veh

icle

use

no

t per

mit

ted

in

Wild

ern

ess

Are

aIm

pro

ved

pu

blic

in-

form

atio

n a

nd

po

licy

clar

ifica

tio

n.

5.2

Cro

ss-c

ou

ntr

y sk

iing

(day

use

u

rban

cen

ter)

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f n

om

inat

ion

Peo

ple

use

the

area

fro

m

Peb

ble

log

git

ch L

ake

(Mas

on’

s ca

bin

) alo

ng

the

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er

No

ne

5.3

Skat

ing

(urb

an c

ente

r)N

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of

no

min

atio

n; n

ot a

pp

li-ca

ble

No

ne


Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

Th

emes

&

Su

b-t

hem

es (a

dap

ted

fro

m

Red

Riv

er C

HR

S B

ackg

rou

nd

St

ud

y)

Ori

gin

al S

hel

bu

rne

Riv

er

Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

R

atin

g

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

R

esea

rch

or

Stu

die

sD

escr

ipti

on

of C

urr

ent

Situ

atio

nC

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to N

om

inat

ion

V

alu

e(s)

6 N

atu

ral H

erit

age

Ap

pre

ciat

ion

6.1

Wild

life

42 k

m (7

9%) o

f th

e ri

ver

corr

ido

r has

ou

tsta

nd

ing

w

ilder

nes

s at

trib

ute

s; it

is

Nov

a Sc

oti

a’s

mo

st re

mo

te

wild

ern

ess

rive

r

Reg

ion

al P

rote

cted

A

reas

Man

agem

ent

pla

nn

ing

Imp

rove

d o

utr

each

, in

terp

reta

tio

n, a

nd

p

ub

lic a

nd

sta

keh

old

-er

ed

uca

tio

n.

Inte

nt t

o d

esig

nat

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Wild

er-

nes

s A

rea

Dev

elo

pm

ent o

f Ten

t D

wel

lers

rou

teN

ew w

ilder

nes

s tr

avel

p

lan

nin

g g

uid

es &

the

imp

lem

enta

tio

n o

f th

e K

eep

It W

ild P

rog

ram

Sou

thw

est N

ova

Bio

-sp

her

e Re

serv

e Pr

oje

ct

and

dev

elo

pm

ent o

f M

TRI

6.2

Veg

etat

ion

Old

gro

wth

hem

lock

an

d

pin

e st

and

s; e

xcel

len

t ex

amp

les

of e

xten

sive

b

arre

ns

and

sem

i-bar

ren

s th

at h

ave

bee

n s

ub

ject

to

rep

eate

d b

urn

s

Acq

uis

itio

n o

f lan

d

fro

m B

ow

ater

sec

ure

s ad

dit

ion

al h

igh

qu

alit

y o

ld g

row

th fo

rest

sit

es

Gre

ater

rep

rese

nta

tio

n o

f o

ld fo

rest

sta

nd

sIm

pro

ved

DN

R st

ud

y in

dic

ates

o

utb

reak

of J

ack

Pin

e Bu

dw

orm

aff

ecti

ng

m

atu

re a

nd

old

gro

wth

p

ine

nea

r Pin

e La

ke

Jack

Pin

e Bu

dw

orm

o

utb

reak

has

imp

act-

ed p

ine

stan

ds


Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

Th

emes

&

Su

b-t

hem

es (a

dap

ted

fro

m

Red

Riv

er C

HR

S B

ackg

rou

nd

St

ud

y)

Ori

gin

al S

hel

bu

rne

Riv

er

Rec

reat

ion

al C

apab

ility

R

atin

g

Sig

nifi

can

t A

ctio

ns,

R

esea

rch

or

Stu

die

sD

escr

ipti

on

of C

urr

ent

Situ

atio

nC

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to N

om

inat

ion

V

alu

e(s)

6.3

Vis

tas/

scen

ic q

ual

ity

Un

dis

turb

ed b

arre

ns,

bo

gs

and

fore

sts.

Pan

ora

mic

sc

enes

are

ass

oci

ated

wit

h

the

rive

r’s e

sker

s

Acq

uis

itio

n o

f lan

d

fro

m B

ow

ater

sec

ure

s ad

dit

ion

al v

ista

s an

d

scen

ic la

nd

scap

es

Scen

ic v

ista

s al

so a

sso

ci-

ated

wit

h is

lan

ds

in S

and

an

d Ir

vin

g L

akes

, wh

ich

ar

e C

row

n la

nd

Imp

rove

d

6.4

Geo

log

ical

feat

ure

s/w

ater

fe

atu

res

Ou

tsta

nd

ing

exa

mp

les

of

un

dis

turb

ed e

sker

s an

d

sig

nifi

can

t err

atic

s an

d

ou

twas

h p

lain

s

No

ne

7 H

um

an H

erit

age

Ap

pre

ciat

ion

7.1

His

tori

c Si

tes

Pre-

con

tact

arc

hae

olo

gic

al

site

s ex

ist a

t th

e m

ou

th o

f th

e ri

ver

Imp

rove

d in

form

a-ti

on

bas

e fo

r fu

ture

w

ork

.7.

2 C

ult

ura

l Lan

dsc

apes

No

t dis

cuss

ed a

t tim

e o

f n

om

inat

ion

Kej

imku

jik N

atio

nal

Pa

rk h

as b

een

des

ig-

nat

ed a

s a

Nat

ion

al

His

tori

c Si

te o

f Can

ada

as a

Mi’k

maw

cu

ltu

ral

lan

dsc

ape

Imp

rove

d

7.3

Spo

rtin

g E

ven

ts/A

ctiv

itie

sN

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of

no

min

atio

n; n

ot a

pp

li-ca

ble

An

nu

al R

iver

s D

ay e

ven

ts

will

take

pla

ce o

n S

hel

-b

urn

e R

iver

Imp

rove

d

7.4

Cu

ltu

ral e

ven

ts/a

ctiv

itie

sN

ot d

iscu

ssed

at t

ime

of

no

min

atio

nA

ctiv

itie

s ar

e b

ein

g

dev

elo

ped

aro

un

d th

e p

rom

oti

on

of T

he

Ten

t D

wel

lers

can

oe

rou

te

Imp

rove

d


8.2 Condition of Recreation Values Since Designation

There has been increased awareness of the river due to the development and promotion of the Tent Dwellers route. Paddling the Tobeatic: Canoe Routes of Southwestern Nova Scotia describes various ways to travel along the Shelburne River and may make the routes better known. This increased awareness will probably mean greater recreational use of the river and increased interpretive opportunities. There are plans to develop tenting sites along the lower Shelburne and Sand, Tupper and Tobeatic Lakes. Annual Rivers Day events are planned for the Shel-burne River.

Natural heritage appreciation values have been improved since designated through: regional pro-

tected areas management planning; the designation of the river as a candidate wilderness area; the de-velopment and promotion of the Tent Dwellers canoe route, popularized in 1908; new wilderness travel planning guides; implementation of the Keep It Wild program and the emergence of the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute and the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve project.

A number of the recreational capability themes and sub-themes have been supported through priority actions in the management framework of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area Management Plan.

Natural heritage appreciation opportunities have been improved through the acquisition of land from AbitibiBowater, which secured additional high quality old growth forest sites, vistas and scenic land-scapes. The acquisition means greater representation of old forest stands and additional scenic vistas associated with islands in Sand and Irving Lakes, which are Crown land.

9.0 Integrity Guidelines

Natural, Cultural and Recreational integrity guidelines were all considered when the Shelburne River was nominated to the CHRS. However, only natural and recreational guidelines apply as the river was not nominated for its human heritage value.

Table 4 summarizes the condition of the Shelburne River’s integrity since designation. The integrity guidelines in this table are based on the Canadian Heritage Rivers System Principles, Procedures and Op-erational Guidelines from 2001. The table also discusses improvements, threats and changes to integrity.


Tab

le 4

Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Inte

gri

ty

CH

RS

Pri

nci

ple

s, P

roce

du

res

& O

per

atio

nal

G

uid

elin

es (2

00

1)

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er In

teg

rity

Gu

idel

ine(

s)C

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to R

iver

Inte

gri

ty

3.3

.1 N

atu

ral I

nte

gri

ty G

uid

elin

esTh

e n

om

inat

ed s

ecti

on

is o

f su

ffici

ent s

ize

to

incl

ud

e si

gn

ifica

nt r

epre

sen

tati

on

s o

f all

of

the

nat

ura

l pro

cess

es, f

eatu

res,

or o

ther

ph

e-n

om

ena

wh

ich

giv

e th

e ri

ver i

ts o

uts

tan

din

g

nat

ura

l val

ue

The

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

ers

is 5

3km

in le

ng

th a

nd

is

free

flo

win

g w

ith

a d

rain

age

area

of 2

7739

h

ecta

res.

It is

Nov

a Sc

oti

a’s

larg

est w

ilder

nes

s ri

ver.

The

rive

r’s n

atu

ral v

alu

es h

ave

gre

ater

pro

-te

ctio

n s

ince

the

des

ign

atio

n o

f To

bea

tic

Wil-

der

nes

s A

rea.

Th

is w

ill b

e fu

rth

er im

pro

ved

w

ith

the

des

ign

atio

n o

f Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

W

ilder

nes

s A

rea.

Th

ese

area

s en

com

pas

s o

ld

gro

wth

fore

sts,

un

dis

turb

ed g

laci

al la

nd

-fo

rms

and

ext

ensi

ve b

arre

ns.

The

no

min

ated

sec

tio

n in

clu

des

tho

se

eco

syst

em c

om

po

nen

ts w

hic

h c

on

trib

ute

si

gn

ifica

ntl

y to

the

pro

visi

on

of h

abit

at fo

r sp

ecie

s in

nee

d o

f pro

tect

ion

Ap

pro

xim

atel

y 95

% o

f th

e ri

ver c

orr

ido

r is

in

pro

vin

cial

cro

wn

ow

ner

ship

an

d is

ess

enti

al-

ly in

wild

ern

ess

con

dit

ion

. Th

e re

mai

nin

g 5

%

is o

wn

ed b

y th

e N

ova

Sco

tia

Pow

er C

orp

ora

-ti

on

.

Mai

nla

nd

mo

ose

, a S

pec

ies

at R

isk,

inh

abit

th

e ri

ver c

orr

ido

r as

wel

l as

wet

lan

d S

pec

ies

at R

isk.

Bo

wat

er s

po

nso

red

Atl

anti

c C

anad

a C

on

serv

atio

n D

ata

Cen

ter r

esea

rch

on

rare

sp

ecie

s in

200

0-01

.

Ther

e ar

e n

o h

um

an-m

ade

imp

ou

nd

men

ts

wit

hin

the

no

min

ated

sec

tio

nN

o im

po

un

dm

ents

exi

st o

n ri

ver

A h

isto

ric

dam

was

rem

oved

fro

m Ir

vin

g

Lake

acc

ord

ing

to re

sear

ch b

y K

aren

McK

-en

dry

on

the

effe

cts

of d

ams

on

wet

lan

d

Spec

ies

at R

isk.

All

key

elem

ents

an

d e

cosy

stem

co

mp

o-

nen

ts a

re u

naf

fect

ed b

y im

po

un

dm

ents

lo

cate

d o

uts

ide

the

no

min

ated

sec

tio

n

Dam

rem

nan

ts e

xist

in th

e w

ater

shed

; th

ey

are

no

t act

ive

and

the

syst

em h

as n

atu

ral-

ized

to th

eir p

rese

nce

. An

act

ive

hyd

roel

ec-

tric

dam

exi

sts

on

Lak

e Ro

ssig

no

l an

d e

ffec

ts

flow

age

on

ass

oci

ated

wit

h th

e lo

wer

Sh

el-

bu

rne

Riv

er.

No

ne

The

wat

er in

the

no

min

ated

sec

tio

n is

un

-co

nta

min

ated

to th

e ex

ten

t th

at it

s n

atu

ral

aqu

atic

eco

syst

em is

inta

ct

The

nat

ura

l aq

uat

ic e

cosy

stem

is in

tact

The

aqu

atic

eco

syst

em is

vu

lner

able

to a

cid

p

reci

pit

atio

n


CH

RS

Pri

nci

ple

s, P

roce

du

res

& O

per

atio

nal

G

uid

elin

es (2

00

1)

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er In

teg

rity

Gu

idel

ine(

s)C

han

ges

or T

hre

ats

to R

iver

Inte

gri

ty

The

nat

ura

l aes

thet

ic c

har

acte

r of t

he

no

mi-

nat

ed s

ecti

on

is fr

ee o

f, o

r no

t ad

vers

ely

affe

cted

by,

hu

man

dev

elo

pm

ents

Aes

thet

ics

hav

e n

ot b

een

ad

vers

ely

affe

cted

b

y h

um

an d

evel

op

men

tsN

on

e

3.3

.3 R

ecre

atio

nal

Inte

gri

ty V

alu

esTh

e ri

ver p

oss

esse

s w

ater

of a

qu

alit

y su

it-

able

for c

on

tact

recr

eati

on

al a

ctiv

itie

s, in

-cl

ud

ing

tho

se re

crea

tio

nal

op

po

rtu

nit

ies

for

wh

ich

it is

no

min

ated

Wat

er q

ual

ity

is s

uit

able

for c

ano

ein

g a

nd

o

ther

recr

eati

on

al c

on

tact

act

ivit

ies.

Du

e to

th

e lo

w p

H a

sso

ciat

ed w

ith

loca

l co

nd

itio

ns

and

aci

d p

reci

pit

atio

n,

the

rive

r wat

er m

ay

irri

tate

so

me

swim

mer

’s ey

es.

No

ne

The

rive

r’s v

isu

al a

pp

eara

nce

is c

apab

le o

f p

rovi

din

g ri

ver t

rave

llers

wit

h a

co

nti

nu

ou

s n

atu

ral e

xper

ien

ce, o

r a c

om

bin

ed n

atu

ral

and

cu

ltu

ral e

xper

ien

ce, w

ith

ou

t sig

nifi

can

t in

terr

up

tio

n b

y m

od

ern

hu

man

intr

usi

on

s

The

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er is

Nov

a Sc

oti

a’s

mo

st re

-m

ote

wild

ern

ess

rive

rs k

no

wn

for e

xten

sive

b

arre

ns,

con

spic

uo

us

eske

rs a

nd

old

gro

wth

fo

rest

s

A S

pec

ial M

anag

emen

t Co

rrid

or e

nsu

res

lon

g te

rm in

teg

rity

of t

he

rive

r is

mai

nta

ined

; ac

qu

isit

ion

an

d d

esig

nat

ion

of 9

5% o

f co

r-ri

do

r as

leg

ally

pro

tect

ed a

rea.

The

rive

r is

cap

able

of s

up

po

rtin

g re

crea

tio

n-

al u

ses

wit

ho

ut s

ign

ifica

nt l

oss

of,

or i

mp

act

on

, its

nat

ura

l an

d c

ult

ura

l val

ues

or i

ts v

isu

al

char

acte

r

The

rive

r has

bee

n u

sed

recr

eati

on

ally

sin

ce

the

1800

s, b

ut m

ain

tain

s it

s o

rig

inal

ap

pea

r-an

ce

The

Ten

t Dw

elle

rs c

ano

e ro

ute

is b

ein

g d

e-ve

lop

ed to

pro

mo

te th

e h

erit

age

valu

es a

nd

ae

sth

etic

s o

f th

e ri

ver


10.0 Review of Management Plan Objectives Management goals and objectives for the Shelburne River were outlined in 1996, as a part of the CHRS nomination process, in The Shelburne Canadian Heritage River Management Plan. The creation of the management plan allowed the Shelburne River to be designated in 1997. Table 5 lists the management plan recommendations and reports on the degree of achievement by government and other groups.

Note: Many references to Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (NSDNR) in the management plan now apply to Nova Scotia Environment (NSE), as provincial responsibility for the CHRS was transferred to Environment in 1998.


Tab

le 5

Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n O

bje

ctiv

es

The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

Red

esig

n a

nd

imp

lem

ent a

per

mit

sys

tem

(in

co

op

erat

ion

wit

h K

ejim

kujik

Nat

ion

al P

ark)

th

at w

ill m

eet w

ilder

nes

s tr

avel

man

age-

men

t req

uir

emen

ts

Part

ial -

A s

pec

ific

per

mit

sys

tem

for t

he

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er w

ill n

ot b

e im

ple

men

ted

at

this

tim

e. In

stea

d, o

ther

too

ls w

ill b

e u

sed,

su

ch a

s th

ose

act

ion

s d

efin

ed in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

.

Act

ion

reit

erat

ed in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

as

pri

ori

ty a

ctio

ns

:4.

2.3a

- es

tab

lish

a v

olu

nta

ry u

ser r

egis

tra-

tio

n s

yste

m4.

2.3b

- In

vest

igat

e th

e fe

asib

ility

of e

stab

-lis

hin

g a

man

dat

ory

use

r reg

istr

atio

n s

ys-

tem

, to

pro

vid

e in

form

atio

n a

nd

en

cou

rag

e p

erso

nal

resp

on

sib

ility

for s

afet

yN

SDN

R, in

co

op

erat

ion

wit

h B

ow

ater

an

d N

S Po

wer

, to

est

ablis

h a

nd

mai

nta

in w

ilder

nes

s ca

mp

site

s w

ith

min

imal

bas

ic fa

cilit

ies

Init

iate

d. T

his

act

ion

is s

up

po

rted

for s

ites

w

ith

in th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a an

d th

e ca

nd

idat

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a..

No

on

-sit

e w

ork

has

bee

n d

on

,.

Act

ion

is s

up

po

rted

in th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

er-

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

:4.

2.3h

- To

pro

tect

nat

ura

l val

ues

an

d m

ini-

miz

e ad

vers

e re

crea

tio

n im

pac

ts, d

irec

t use

rs

to u

se d

esig

nat

ed a

nd

iden

tifie

d e

xist

ing

te

nti

ng

sit

es a

lon

g th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

at

San

d B

each

Lak

e, B

ever

ley

Lake

, Gra

nit

e Fa

lls

Irvi

ng

Lak

e, S

and

Lak

e, a

nd

Lak

e Ro

ssig

no

l w

ith

Sh

elb

urn

e C

anad

ian

Her

itag

e R

iver

p

artn

ers

Enco

ura

ge

the

use

of b

ackp

acki

ng

sto

ves

and

mo

nit

or t

he

imp

act o

f cam

pfir

es a

nd

d

eman

d fo

r fire

wo

od

- if

neg

ativ

e im

pac

ts

are

fou

nd,

co

nsi

der

elim

inat

ing

cam

pfir

es

Co

mp

lete

Dev

elo

pm

ent o

f th

e In

to th

e To

beat

ic e

du

ca-

tio

nal

cam

pai

gn

Dev

elo

pm

ent o

f th

e Ke

ep It

Wild

gu

ide

for

low

-imp

act r

ecre

atio

n, w

hic

h fo

llow

s th

e le

ave

no

trac

e p

rin

cip

les


The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

Cle

ar a

nd

dev

elo

p p

ort

ages

to a

min

imal

st

and

ard

req

uir

ed fo

r saf

e p

assa

ge

and

min

i-m

ized

sit

e im

pac

ts

Part

ial

Dis

cuss

ion

s ar

e u

nd

erw

ay w

ith

Can

oe

Kay

ak

Nov

a Sc

oti

a an

d lo

cal c

lub

s to

dev

elo

p a

po

r-ta

ge

mai

nte

nan

ce a

gre

emen

t.A

dd

ress

ed in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

:4.

2.3f

- W

ork

wit

h p

artn

ers

to c

lear

ly m

ark

and

mai

nta

in c

arri

es (p

ort

ages

) on

maj

or c

a-n

oe

rou

tes

on

the

Siss

ibo

o, S

hel

bu

rne,

Ro

se-

way

, an

d W

est B

ran

ch J

ord

an R

iver

s. A

ll o

ther

ca

no

e ro

ute

car

ries

will

rem

ain

un

mar

ked,

u

nle

ss fu

ture

use

leve

ls d

eman

d g

reat

er

man

agem

ent o

f th

ese

rou

tes.

Pro

hib

it m

oto

rize

d b

oat

s, ex

cep

t fo

r wild

life

man

agem

ent p

urp

ose

sC

om

ple

te fo

r up

per

wat

ersh

ed w

ith

in T

WA

, th

is p

roh

ibit

ion

do

es n

ot a

pp

ly to

the

low

er

reac

h o

f th

e ri

ver,

no

r fo

r San

d a

nd

Irvi

ng

la

kes

at th

is ti

me.

The

use

of m

oto

rize

d b

oat

s is

pro

hib

ited

in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

as p

er M

anag

e-m

ent F

ram

ewo

rk 4

.2.5

- N

SEL

will

no

t per

mit

ve

hic

le u

se in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

exce

pt i

n s

pec

ific

limit

ed c

ircu

mst

ance

s, re

c-o

gn

izin

g th

at v

ehic

le u

se is

per

mit

ted

on

the

Cro

wn

road

fro

m In

dia

n F

ield

s to

Silv

ery

and

D

eMo

liter

Lak

es.

The

use

of m

oto

rbo

ats

on

San

d L

ake

will

be

revi

ewed

th

rou

gh

the

des

ign

atio

n o

d S

hel

-b

urn

e R

iver

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a.N

SDN

R w

ill b

uild

an

d m

ain

tain

war

den

s’ ca

bin

sO

n-g

oin

gEx

isti

ng

cab

ins

(Co

fan

, Mas

on’

s, an

d P

olla

rd’s

Falls

) are

bei

ng

mai

nta

ined

thro

ug

h a

par

t-n

ersh

ip b

etw

een

NSE

, DN

R an

d K

ejim

kujik

N

atio

nal

Par

k.


The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

NSD

NR

will

mai

nta

in th

e C

ofa

n a

nd

Bu

ck-

sho

t cam

ps

as c

ult

ura

l fea

ture

sIn

itia

ted

- p

relim

inar

y re

view

of c

abin

sit

es is

co

mp

lete

.A

dd

ress

ed in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

:4.

2.1b

- Ev

alu

ate

her

itag

e si

tes

and

co

nsi

der

re

sto

rati

on

mea

sure

s to

pro

tect

or c

om

-m

emo

rate

iden

tifie

d v

alu

es. I

n p

arti

cula

r, co

nsi

der

co

mm

emo

rati

on

or r

esto

rati

on

of

the

ran

ger

cab

in a

t Bu

cksh

ot L

ake,

an

d th

e m

ain

ten

ance

of t

he

ran

ger

cab

ins

at S

and

Be

ach

Lak

e an

d a

t To

bea

tic

Lake

.N

SDN

R w

ill p

rod

uce

a b

ack

cou

ntr

y g

uid

e m

ap fo

r th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

wit

h tr

ip p

lan

-n

ing

info

rmat

ion

, saf

ety

gu

idel

ines

, wild

er-

nes

s et

hic

s an

d in

terp

reti

ve in

form

atio

n

Co

mp

lete

for T

ob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea.

The

map

on

the

Into

the

Tob

eati

c b

roch

ure

sh

ow

s p

ort

age

len

gth

s an

d g

ives

so

me

trav

el in

form

atio

n.

NSE

pro

vid

ed re

sou

rce

info

rmat

ion

to A

n-

dre

w L

. Sm

ith

for h

is b

oo

k, P

addl

ing

the

Tobe

atic

: Can

oe R

oute

s of

Sou

thw

este

rn N

ova

Scot

ia

NSD

NR

and

Kej

imku

jik w

ill a

ct in

par

tner

ship

to

co

op

erat

e in

the

recr

eati

on

al u

se m

an-

agem

ent r

equ

irem

ents

of t

he

rive

r

On

-go

ing

Kej

imku

jik N

atio

nal

Par

k an

d T

ob

eati

c W

il-d

ern

ess

Are

a M

anag

emen

t Pla

ns

are

com

-p

lem

enta

ry to

eac

h o

ther

. Mem

ber

s o

f eac

h

advi

sory

co

mm

itte

e sa

t on

the

oth

er g

rou

p’s

com

mit

tee.

Kej

imku

jik’s

Plan

has

no

t bee

n

rele

ased

to th

e p

ub

lic a

t th

is ti

me.

Bow

ater

will

co

nti

nu

e to

rest

rict

pu

blic

ac-

cess

to fo

rest

road

s o

n c

om

pan

y la

nd

s to

en

sure

qu

alit

y w

ilder

nes

s ex

per

ien

ces

On

-go

ing

Bow

ater

is c

om

ply

ing

wit

h th

is a

ctio

n v

ia

pu

blic

acc

ess

con

tro

l at M

erse

y R

iver

bri

dg

e.


The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

NSD

NR

will

init

iate

a d

etai

led

inte

rpre

tive

p

lan

Part

ial

Som

e ad

ho

c in

terp

reta

tio

n h

as b

een

co

m-

ple

ted,

an

d th

ere

is a

n in

ten

tio

n d

o m

ore

as

soci

ated

wit

h th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

aTh

e Te

nt D

wel

lers

Cen

ten

nia

l fes

tiva

l is

pla

nn

ed fo

r 200

8.A

dd

ress

ed in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

:4.

4.2c

- Su

pp

ort

the

dev

elo

pm

ent o

f in

ter-

pre

tati

on

mat

eria

ls fo

r bo

th o

n-s

ite

and

off

-si

te p

rog

ram

min

gFo

rmal

leg

isla

tive

pro

tect

ion

of t

he

Tob

eati

c C

and

idat

e Pr

ote

cted

Are

aC

om

ple

teTh

e To

bea

tic

Can

did

ate

Pro

tect

ed A

rea

be-

cam

e a

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a in

199

8Th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a is

in th

e p

lan

nin

g s

tag

esTh

e es

tab

lish

men

t of a

sp

ecia

l man

agem

ent

corr

ido

r (SM

C) b

y Bo

wat

er w

her

e th

e ri

ver

flow

s th

rou

gh

co

mp

any

lan

ds

Co

mp

lete

Bow

ater

has

ad

her

ed to

the

adm

inis

trat

ive

dir

ecti

on

ou

tlin

ed in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

:4.

3.1a

- W

ork

wit

h C

row

n la

nd

man

ager

s an

d

ind

ust

ry p

artn

ers

in fo

rest

ry, t

ou

rism

, hyd

ro

po

wer

, min

ing

an

d re

al e

stat

e to

dev

elo

p

com

ple

men

tary

man

agem

ent m

easu

res

for

adja

cen

t lan

ds

Ther

e w

ill b

e n

o h

arve

stin

g in

the

30m

co

r-ri

do

r im

med

iate

ly a

dja

cen

t to

the

rive

rO

n-g

oin

gBo

wat

er h

as a

dh

ered

to th

e ad

min

istr

ativ

e d

irec

tio

n o

utl

ined

in th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a M

anag

emen

t Pla

n:

4.3.

1a -

Wo

rk w

ith

Cro

wn

lan

d m

anag

ers

and

in

du

stry

par

tner

s in

fore

stry

, to

uri

sm, h

ydro

p

ow

er, m

inin

g a

nd

real

est

ate

to d

evel

op

co

mp

lem

enta

ry m

anag

emen

t mea

sure

s fo

r ad

jace

nt l

and

sTh

ere

will

be

no

har

vest

ing

in fe

ns,

bo

gs

and

sw

amp

s ad

jace

nt t

o th

e ri

ver t

hat

ext

end

b

eyo

nd

the

30m

co

rrid

or

On

-go

ing


The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

The

rem

ain

ing

are

a in

the

Spec

ial M

anag

e-m

ent C

orr

ido

r will

be

man

aged

to m

ain

tain

th

e va

lues

for w

hic

h th

e ri

ver w

as n

om

inat

ed

to th

e C

HRS

wh

ile a

llow

ing

for fi

ber

pro

du

c-ti

on

On

-go

ing

Des

ign

atio

n o

f Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a w

ill re

sult

in p

rote

ctio

n o

f mo

st o

f th

is

corr

ido

r

Wh

ere

man

agem

ent a

ctiv

itie

s o

uts

ide

the

150m

SM

C w

ill im

pac

t on

the

view

s se

en

wh

ile tr

avel

ling

the

rive

r, ca

re w

ill b

e ta

ken

to

red

uce

thei

r im

pac

t

On

-go

ing

This

ob

ject

ive

has

bee

n m

et b

y Bo

wat

er

Op

erat

ion

s w

ill b

e sc

hed

ule

d, w

her

e p

os-

sib

le, o

uts

ide

of p

eak

per

iod

s o

f riv

er tr

avel

On

-go

ing

The

esta

blis

hm

ent o

f an

ag

reem

ent w

ith

NS

Pow

er to

pro

tect

feat

ure

s an

d v

alu

es a

s-so

ciat

ed w

ith

the

low

er p

ort

ion

of t

he

rive

r o

wn

ed b

y th

e p

ow

er c

orp

ora

tio

n

Init

iate

dPr

elim

inar

y d

iscu

ssio

ns

hav

e b

een

init

iate

d

on

this

ob

ject

ive.


The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

Reso

urc

e in

ven

tori

es o

f nat

ura

l, cu

ltu

ral a

nd

in

teg

rity

val

ues

Ad

dre

ssed

/ O

n-g

oin

g

A ra

ng

e o

f pro

ject

s h

ave

bee

n c

om

ple

ted

or

init

iate

d th

rou

gh

the

Mer

sey

Tob

eati

c Re

-se

arch

Inst

itu

te, a

nd

oth

er p

artn

ers.

Ad

dre

ssed

in th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a M

anag

emen

t Pla

n:

4.1.

1a -

Co

nti

nu

e w

ork

tow

ard

s a

com

pre

-h

ensi

ve b

iod

iver

sity

inve

nto

ry to

iden

tify

th

e sp

ecie

s, g

enet

ic v

aria

bili

ty, h

abit

ats

and

ec

osy

stem

s o

f th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a.4.

1.2a

- In

co

llab

ora

tio

n w

ith

aca

dem

ic,

agen

cy, a

nd

co

mm

un

ity

par

tner

s, im

pro

ve

rese

arch

cap

acit

y b

y b

uild

ing

on

exi

stin

g

pro

gra

ms

and

en

cou

rag

ing

new

rese

arch

p

roje

cts.

4.1.

2b -

Eval

uat

e in

form

atio

n g

aps

and

set

cl

ear r

esea

rch

pri

ori

ties

for t

he

wild

ern

ess

area

4.1.

2c -

Shar

e in

form

atio

n w

ith

par

tner

s to

m

axim

ize

the

use

of r

esea

rch

fin

din

gs.

Wh

ere

po

ssib

le, u

se fi

nd

ing

s o

f rel

evan

t res

earc

h in

th

e re

gio

n to

aid

man

agem

ent.

4.1.

2d -

Dev

elo

p a

co

mp

reh

ensi

ve m

on

ito

r-in

g p

rog

ram

fram

ewo

rk to

iden

tify

key

eco

-sy

stem

fun

ctio

ns,

stru

ctu

res,

and

str

esso

rs.

Dev

elo

p m

on

ito

rin

g a

nd

rep

ort

ing

act

ivit

ies

wit

h re

gio

nal

ag

enci

es, a

nd

co

rpo

rate

an

d

com

mu

nit

y p

artn

ers.

4.2.

1c -

Iden

tify

cu

ltu

ral h

erit

age

rese

arch

n

eed

s, an

d e

nco

ura

ge

new

rese

arch

pro

ject

s, se

ekin

g fu

nd

ing

to s

up

po

rt p

rio

riti

es.


The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

The

ado

pti

on

an

d im

ple

men

tati

on

of a

Wil-

der

nes

s Re

crea

tio

n M

anag

emen

t Str

ateg

yIn

itia

ted

NSE

inte

nd

s to

des

ign

ate

a n

ew w

ilder

nes

s ar

ea, w

hic

h w

ill b

e kn

ow

n a

s th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

Wild

ern

ess

Are

aA

dd

ress

ed in

the

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent P

lan

:4.

2.3j

- D

evel

op

a re

crea

tio

n ri

sk-m

anag

e-m

ent s

trat

egy

wit

h e

stab

lish

ed p

roto

cols

for

sear

ch a

nd

resc

ue

and

em

erg

ency

eva

cua-

tio

n, i

n c

on

jun

ctio

n w

ith

oth

er a

gen

cies

an

d

com

mu

nit

y p

artn

ers.

The

pre

par

atio

n a

nd

imp

lem

enta

tio

n o

f an

in

terp

reti

ve p

lan

Part

ial /

Init

iate

dTh

e Te

nt D

wel

lers

Fes

tiva

l is

pla

nn

ed fo

r 20

08.

Ad

dre

ssed

in th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a M

anag

emen

t Pla

n:

4.4.

2c -

Sup

po

rt th

e d

evel

op

men

t of i

nte

r-p

reta

tio

n m

ater

ials

for b

oth

on

-sit

e an

d o

ff-

site

pro

gra

mm

ing.

The

esta

blis

hm

ent a

nd

imp

lem

enta

tio

n o

f a

mo

nit

ori

ng

sys

tem

to m

eet C

HRS

req

uir

e-m

ents

Co

mp

lete

A h

ydro

met

ric

sam

plin

g s

tati

on

has

bee

n

inst

alle

d o

n th

e Sh

elb

urn

e R

iver

; it i

s p

art

of N

ova

Sco

tia’

s A

uto

mat

ed S

urf

ace

Wat

er

Qu

alit

y M

on

ito

rin

g N

etw

ork

To e

nsu

re th

e m

ain

ten

ance

of t

he

inte

gri

ty

of t

he

nat

ura

l wild

ern

ess

and

arc

hae

olo

gic

al

valu

es w

ith

in th

e flo

wag

e ar

ea, l

and

s o

wn

ed

by

NS

Pow

er w

ill b

e m

anag

ed in

a m

ann

er

con

sist

ent w

ith

CH

RS o

bje

ctiv

es

On

-go

ing

This

ob

ject

ive

is c

urr

entl

y u

nd

er d

iscu

ssio

n.

NSD

NR

will

giv

e p

rio

rity

, as

reso

urc

es p

erm

it,

to th

e in

ven

tory

of r

are

and

un

iqu

e sp

ecie

s, th

e in

ven

tory

of a

rch

aeo

log

ical

sit

es a

sso

-ci

ated

wit

h th

e ri

ver,

and

the

colle

ctio

n o

f w

ater

qu

alit

y b

ench

mar

k d

ata

On

-go

ing

Ad

dre

ssed

thro

ug

h:

MTR

I an

d M

i’km

aq R

igh

ts In

itia

tive

rese

arch

Wat

er q

ual

ity

mo

nit

ori

ng

thro

ug

h in

stal

la-

tio

n o

f a n

ew h

ydro

met

ric

sam

plin

g s

tati

on


The

Shel

bu

rne

Can

adia

n H

erit

age

Riv

er

Man

agem

ent

Pla

n (1

99

6)

Deg

ree

of A

chie

vem

ent

(In

itia

ted

, On

-go

-in

g, A

dd

ress

ed, P

arti

al, C

om

ple

te)

Act

ion

(s)

The

Tob

eati

c W

ilder

nes

s A

rea

Man

agem

ent

Plan

: 4.

1.1a

Co

nti

nu

e w

ork

tow

ard

s a

com

pre

-h

ensi

ve b

iod

iver

sity

inve

nto

ry to

iden

tify

th

e sp

ecie

s, g

enet

ic v

aria

bili

ty, h

abit

ats,

and

ec

osy

stem

s o

f th

e To

bea

tic

Wild

ern

ess

Are

a.N

SDN

R w

ill e

nco

ura

ge

oth

er g

over

nm

ent

agen

cies

an

d u

niv

ersi

ties

to c

on

du

ct re

-se

arch

on

the

Shel

bu

rne

Riv

er, e

spec

ially

in

asso

ciat

ion

wit

h K

ejim

kujik

Nat

ion

al P

ark

On

-go

ing

Co

llab

ora

tive

rese

arch

is b

ein

g c

on

du

cted

th

rou

gh

the

Mer

sey

Tob

eati

c Re

sear

ch In

sti-

tute


11.0 Summary and Conclusions

The Shelburne River remains as Nova Scotia’s largest pristine wilderness river. Many of the significant events that followed its recognition as a Heritage River strengthen or improve the protection afforded to its values. These include: designation of Tobeatic Wilderness Area; recognition of Kejimkujik as a Mi’kmaw Cultural Landscape; the designation of the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve; and the Crown’s acquisition of the lower river corridor from AbitibiBowater to be designated as Shelburne River Wilder-ness Area. Similarly, the community-led projects of the SNBRA and MTRI have improved understanding and appreciation of the river and the region’s natural heritage.

Due to its remoteness, much of the activity that has taken place along the river has been research ori-ented. Although the river is well-known by wilderness canoeists and environmental researchers, river use remains relatively low.

Impacts from human use or development have been minimal since designation. Annual community events, and The Tent Dwellers 2008 centennial festival, will continue to draw experienced wilderness travellers to the river.

Due to collaborative efforts and management planning, there have been no negative effects on the river since its designation in 1997 - although acid precipitation may have negative effects on already acidic lakes. This report has determined that the heritage and recreational values of the Shelburne River remain intact, or have improved since designation. Based on this report, the Shelburne River is deemed worthy of continued designation as a river of national significance within the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.


12.0 References

Canadian Heritage Rivers System. A Cultural Framework for Canadian Heritage Rivers, 2nd Edition. 2000

A Framework for the Natural Values of Canadian Heritage Rivers, 2nd Edition. 2001

Principles, Procedures and Operational Guidelines. 2001

Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram. Canadian Heritage River System Red River Background Study. 1998

Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute and Parks Canada. Annual Report of Research and Monitoring in the Greater Kejimkujik Ecosystem 2006. Kempt: 2007.

Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour. Into the Tobeatic: A Guide for Planning Wilderness Travel in Tobeatic Wilderness Area. 2005

Tobeatic Wilderness Area Management Plan. 2006

Keep It Wild: A Guide for Low Impact Recreation in Nova Scotia’s Wilderness Areas. 2006 Update.

Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. Canadian Heritage Rivers System Nomination Document - Shelburne River. 1993

The Shelburne Canadian Heritage River Management Plan. 1996

Rutherford, L.A and associates. Nova Scotia CHRS Background Study - Shelburne River - Study River Reports/Maps. 1988

Smith, Andrew L. Paddling the Tobeatic: Canoes Routes of Southwestern Nova Scotia. Nimbus Publishing, Halifax: 2004.

Shelburne Canadian Heritage River 10-year Monitoring Report

Documents

Transcript of Shelburne Canadian Heritage River 10-year Monitoring Report