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Preserving The Bras d'Or

by Susanna Fuller

Increased real-estate development, boating traffic and watershed activities are having an impact on Bras d'Or Lake. The problem, however, is that it is not clear who is in charge. More than 20 government agencies have some responsibility for various activities within the watershed area.

Back in 1994, a Cape Breton newsletter carried a summary of the paper "Taking care of the Bras d'Or: A proposed management structure for stewardship of the Bras d'Or Lake watershed." It is now 1998, with 1999 quickly approaching, but there is still no management plan.

COTTAGE COUNTRY

Around Bras d'Or Lake, lots on several peninsulas are being sold to non-residents for vacation homes and temporary residences. Although such development offers an economic boom in construction and will undoubtedly contribute to the seasonal economy, there have been few investigations into long-term effects on the lake's environment.

Rural areas are rarely equipped with sewage treatment other than a septic tank, and in many areas, the soil does not adequately filter drainage from these tanks. If houses or cottages are near the shoreline, the run-off enters the lake directly. The carrying capacity of the lake is not high; water in the Bras d'Or is fully replaced only about once every 40 years. The low rate of flushing (lake, not toilet) has already led to beach closures and the contamination of shellfish areas. As of summer 1998, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has closed over 30 shellfish areas. Once closed, these areas are not reopened. In this case, pollution is directly affecting the economy, as those who depend on the shellfish beds for a living are forced out of a job that was otherwise sustainable. Each summer, recreational beach areas face temporary closures due to faecal coliform contributed by boat and house sewage.

Fragmentation of the land as a result of development will have an effect on wildlife that uses the shoreline and riparian zone. If conservation measures are taken, the houses are built with relatively little destruction of the surrounding environment, the effects can be minimized. One of the problems is that there has been very little land-use planning, and zoning is practically non-existent in the watershed area. The depressed local economy and subsequent emigration from Cape Breton over the last few decades kept lakeshore development to a minimum; there had been little incentive for municipal action towards sustainable land-use planning.

As more waterfront houses are built, people also want their own access to the shore and lake. There seems to be little enforcement of environmental standards in roadbuilding, which adds silt to the lake and erodes the shoreline, eliminating wildlife habitat and contributing to shoreline fragmentation.

BOATING

The lake is becoming increasingly popular as a recreational and cruising destination for boaters. Pollution of the water and of the environment is on the rise and there is no legislation that prohibits the dumping of sewage from boats directly into the lake. Pumping of bilge water also contributes to the pollution. Recent dredging of Great Bras d'Or Channel to allow larger boats to enter the lake to carry gypsum caused concern. The emptying of ballast water can have devastating effects, as seen in the Great Lakes with the introduction of the zebra mussel.

Small motor boats with two-stroke engines leave oil residue that can affect fish populations and reduce water quality. The use of jet skis or seadoos is also contributing to noise pollution. Speed limits are enforced in harbour areas, but there has been no attempt to address the issue of noise pollution or to designate areas where these vehicles can and cannot go.

The recent construction of the Bell Bay Golf Course has contributed significantly to siltation in the Baddeck Bay area, though the effect is expected to be short-term. Siltation ceased when sods were lain and run-off decreased, but now run-off brings with it the pesticides and herbicides used to maintain the golf course. This issue has yet to be addressed; the effects on water quality and the fauna and flora are unknown.

On an individual basis, none of these threats is severe enough to harm the lake permanently, but when combined and increased, the future state of the lake will be far from pristine.

CITIZEN ACTION

In response to the lack of government action, several citizen groups are attempting to address the continual degradation of the lake and its watershed. Their efforts have varied in initial objectives and concerns.

• The Bras d'Or Stewardship Society was officially formed in 1997 to serve as a non-governmental organization (NGO) that would promote and encourage responsible management and care of the lake and its watershed. The society is attempting to raise awareness through public education and advocacy and produces a newsletter which welcomes input from residents and users of the lake and its watershed.

This spring, on the invitation of the Bras d'Or Stewardship Society, students from the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University spent several weeks studying the problems of water quality in the lake. The students have produced a report on their research and a pamphlet about water quality that shows how simple changes can help control pollution.

• The Bras d'Or Preservation Society and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust both facilitate conservation easements on property around the lake and accept land donations.

• The Fiddlehead Association is made up of the (mostly seasonal) residents of a peninsula between Orangedale and Marble Mountain who have agreed to live in the area with respect for the natural environment and to minimize the effects of development on the lake.• Native groups, the original (human) stewards of the lake, have produced valuable products. The Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission, with the cooperation of DFO, has produced community maps of the lake's resources, both past and present. As well, they are attempting to restore oyster habitat and are working closely with DFO to collect data on the lake's environment and fish populations.

• The Bras d'Or Watch phone and fax line allows reporting of events or actions that contribute to the degradation of the lake.

All groups have ultimately the same goal - to ensure that Bras d'Or Lake is not irreplaceably damaged by development and that traditional uses can continue without jeopardizing the quality of the lake's environment.

GOVERNMENT INACTION

In terms of government legislation and enforcement, preservation of Bras d'Or Lake has not yet begun. With the exception of a few parcels of lane placed under conservation easements by individual landowners, there have been no concrete moves towards pollution prevention, development bylaws or a m a n a g e m e n t plan. This is not for lack of concern or discussion of the matter. The state of the lake has not yet reached a crisis situation, but this does not mean that it will not in the foreseeable future. The Provider, published in 1994 as a summary of a proposed management plan, has a front cover feature entitled "Scientists declare the Bras d'Or Lakes Dead: Possibility or Probability". The date on the article is 2065. Conservation efforts in the Bras d'Or, if begun now, will maintain ecosystem integrity and ensure that the area will remain for others to enjoy.

As in all conservation endeavours, the catalysts tend to be public education and action from the local population. The concerns of local residents as well as those who come to the Bras d'Or and appreciate its apparently pristine quality are the beginning of tangible conservation efforts. Conservation does not mean putting people out of work. On the contrary, it will stabilize the future of the residents of the area and instill a sense of resource responsibility and environmental stewardship. The efforts of NGO's are commendable and are leading the way to dealing with the threats to Bras d'Or Lake and its watershed.

The author works as a freelance biology consultant and grew up on Bras d'Or Lake.

Reprint permission from the Ecology Action Center.