Blog
Every summer, our staff sit down to write weekly updates about all things going on in the watershed. Find out what keeps us busy during field work months right here! Click the link below to view last years blog!
Underwater Critters
Through this heat wave of a week we mostly did macroinvertebrate surveys around our watershed. When we do these surveys use a kick net. A kick net has a very thin mesh netting so the macroinvertebrates can’t escape. We stir up the ground so the invertebrates flow into the net and filter the water from the sediment. From there we simply transport the sediment with the macroinvertebrates into glass jars to then study them later. The reason we do this is because it tells us what kind of state our streams are in depending on what kind of invertebrates we find. Next week we hope to study the invertebrates and tell you guys how our streams are doing.
We had fun doing the surveys as we would get about 3 sites done in a day. We did these surveys from Monday to Wednesday and only get to do them once a year. Lucky for this week we had a volunteer to help us, he wanted to see what a watershed is about and how we operate. He got great experience working around our crew as we made sure we explained everything we were doing. We showed him how the fish ladder works and why we are doing it. He got to experience the macroinvertebrate surveys, and on Friday he went out with Nick and Ryan to do water quality.
For Thursday and Friday we checked the amphibian boards and uploaded some pictures to our SSWA group on the inaturalists app. We then planted some trees around our parks trying to beat the rain, and others went to go get supplies for duck nesting boxes. For the next day we did our usual park maintenance through the beaming heat. While some of us are maintaining the parks, Romy and Fletcher went to do terrestrial vegetation surveys. Their job was to assess what kind of plants are around the marsh to determine its biodiversity.
Our week might have ended there, but our registration for the swim just started, so we’d suggest you register as soon as possible so we can give you the best swim experience!
https://raceroster.com/events/2024/91974/swim-for-the-south-shore-2024
-Love SSWA
Estuary Paddle Excursion
Hello friends,
Starting off the week on Monday, we focused on stream restoration, getting our hands dirty to improve local waterways.Tuesday started with an eelgrass survey led by Fletcher in Westmoreland, followed by more stream restoration and an estuary vegetation survey in Tryon, a busy but rewarding day!
On Wednesday we continued with stream restoration and ongoing eelgrass and vegetation surveys, taking the canoe and paddle boards out on the water to gather more data on our local ecosystems. Despite the rain on Thursday, Nout and Keiran went out seeking landowner permissions for future restoration efforts while the rest of us handled various office tasks and analyzed trail cam footage.
Friday was more stream restoration work along with preparing for next week’s macro surveys and our regularly scheduled cleaning and maintenance.
On Saturday (July 13) SSWA will have a booth set up at the Summerside ice pond from 10am-5pm so if you are in the area stop by and say hello!
We are also VERY excited to announce that the registration for our 4th annual Swim for the South Shore is now open!! The swim will take place on August 24 12 noon in Victoria by the Sea. You can register online at https://raceroster.com/events/2024/91974/swim-for-the-south-shore-2024. We hope to see you there!
Wear your lifejackets!
-Love SSWA
Wedding Bells and Bug Spray
This week began with an exciting wedding celebration and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Matt as he enjoys some time off and returns next week as a married man. Nick held down the fort while Matt was away and the crew enjoyed some extra sleep on Canada day; they were ready to hit the streams on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Thursday the crew was back to the streams while Romy and Fletcher tested their paddling skills and completed vegetation surveys in the Westmoreland and Tryon estuaries. We are happy to report that Tryon is teeming with eelgrass!
Some of our pollinator gardens and the outdoor classroom in Crapaud needed extra attention this week in order to keep the weeds at bay. It was a good thing that it happened to be park maintenance week! Although we were down a few members on friday due to first-aid training, the remaining crew set out to get stuff done! Armed with a mower, a whipper snipper, gardening gloves and a healthy supply of bug spray the crew straightened up Noonan’s, Webster’s and Westmoreland nature park.
It was a pretty short and quiet week here at SSWA but big things are coming. Stay tuned next week for a very important announcement on our annual Swim for the South Shore event! We are SO excited to share the news with you!!
Make sure to double check your spelling!
– Love SSWA
Smiles and Rainshowers
This week was both busy and fulfilling as we embarked on various crucial activities to protect and restore our local water ecosystems. We started the week by enjoying the company of a friendly american toad at our fish ladder project and then set out for some vegetation surveys and salt marsh mapping in the beautiful Tryon estuary. Our team meticulously documented the diverse plant species and their distribution, which is vital for understanding the health and dynamics of these critical coastal habitats. These surveys help us track changes over time, helping us adapt our conservation strategies.
On Wednesday and Friday, we shifted our focus back onto stream restorations, and headed to sections of some local streams and gave Ryan the opportunity to showcase his newly learned chainsaw skills. We carefully cut trees that had fallen into the water and cleared debris to facilitate better fish passage. This approach ensures that natural habitats are preserved while enhancing the stream’s function. These hands-on projects are crucial for mitigating erosion, enhancing water quality, and providing safe fish passage, and each restored stream section is another step towards a healthier watershed. Not to mention it’s nice to cool down in the water on hot days!
Despite the busyness of the week we found the time to plant some trees and native shrubs. It may have been soggy work but it is a good thing our crew likes to play in the mud!
We also said goodbye to a majority of our tree swallow families this week. The chicks are all grown up and the time came for them to leave their nests. Although we will miss them dearly, we are so thankful we got to watch them grow and we hope that they will come back to us next year.
Go talk to some birds and dry your raincoat out.
-Love SSWA
Heating Up!
It’s the middle of June and the field season is now in full swing! Our newest member Ryan expanded his skillset and spent a majority of the week learning the ins and outs of operating a chainsaw while the remainder of the crew enjoyed the cool stream water during their restoration efforts. Our band new chainsaw was introduced to the streams on Monday and we couldn’t have been more excited.
While the crew was busy planting trees Matt and Nicole spent some time getting to know the lovely landowners around Westmoreland. This year SSWA is focusing our restoration efforts on the Westmoreland river system. We have been busy sending letters and knocking on doors; if you live in the area and haven’t heard from us yet please reach out, we would love to hear from you!
Thursday brought some record heat and water quality day. It’s a good thing our truck has air conditioning! We also took a quick peek at our resident tree swallows and we are happy to report that they are doing well. Friday our crew split into two groups, one half spent the day in the canoe surveying the Desable estuary and the other half tackled park maintenance.
Drink some water and don’t forget your sunscreen!
-Love SSWA
To The Streams!
This week kicked off our stream restoration efforts, with the bulk of our daily work being occupied in South Melville from Monday to Thursday. When stream restoration wasn’t our primary focus this was the week for odd jobs, such as checking the trail cams, tree swallow surveys (There are finally babies! Yay!), various maintenance, and of course our morning fish ladder project.
Stream restoration has been quite an effort to be starting back into as we find our groove again, but a change in our tactics has been interesting and a valuable learning experience. Due to last week’s course hosted by Jud Kratzer of Vermont Fish & Wildlife, our mission has been adjusted to allow for more fish cover to aid in a healthier and more sustainable stream habitat for the future.
All of us at SSWA were extremely excited to see the egg hatching within some of the tree swallow nests, with the introduction of new babies to the world. These featherless little dumplings will soon grow up and take their first flight, then hopefully make nests of their own.
Going strong!
-Love SSWA
Time To Learn
This week, we were all about the fish! On Monday, we got going with our project—a rubber-coated screen setup at the Lord’s Pond fish ladder. This helps us catch fish safely when they reach the top. We’re doing this every morning throughout June, maybe even into July. It’s crucial for us to see how many fish can make it up to the screen. That tells us how well the fish ladder is working and if we need to make any changes in the future.
Besides our fish checks, we spent Monday, Wednesday, and Friday checking on our bird boxes. Great news—they’re all doing egg-cellent!
On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, Matt went to a Wood and Fish Habitat course hosted by Jud Kratzer from Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Learning about optimizing our stream habitats will be super handy later in the season.
While Matt was at his course, Ryan, Keiran, and Ashton were busy with park maintenance, pulling out watercress and invasive bittersweet nightshade at Westmoreland River Nature Park. These invasive plants cause all sorts of problems for the fish and the environment. It wasn’t easy, but it was well worth it once we finished.
Thursday was all about checking on the amphibians populations in the area and dealing with more pesky invasive plants at Daryl Guignion Memorial Park in Crapaud. To cap off the week, Friday brought with it two cool experiences. One with Matt Ginn from Forest, Fish & Wildlife who took Matt, Mel, and Keiran bank swallow banding in the morning. In the afternoon, retired wildlife biologist Rosemary Curley took us all on a mushroom walk to gather data as citizen scientists.
Get out and watch some birds!
-Love SSWA
Good To See Ya!
This week, our focus was heavily based on the vital avian community within our watersheds.Monday, Wednesday, and Friday were dedicated to tree swallow surveys. We checked our bird boxes, ensuring the tree swallows were settling in well, building nests, and feeling at home. Wednesday also brought a valuable opportunity. Ron Arvidson led a session for SSWA members and community locals, teaching us how to use Merlin and eBird to observe, identify, and record bird sightings and populations.
Thursday morning was a mix of carpentry and conservation work. Matt, Ashton, Keiran, and our newest team member Ryan put their carpentry skills to use for an upcoming project while also joining Romy and Mel for Bank Swallow surveys. We were quite excited to spot a large population along the Victoria coastline, an excitement that was enhanced considering their endangered status. In addition to these activities, SSWA undertook tree planting at Linden Park, various headwater and stream assessments, milkweed planting, and invasives removal in Westmoreland River Nature Park. It’s still early in the season for us, but we’re already proud of the progress we’ve made and the work we do.
Welcome back!
-Love SSWA
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