Working with local residents, communities and partners for the St. John River

WWF

There are a number of catalysts for WWF to focus on the St. John River, not least of which is the future of the Mactaquac Dam.  Recent media coverage has honed in on the growing discussion amongst local residents about the future of the dam, and more importantly the future of the St. John River.

© Robert Rangeley / WWF-Canada

There has been an on-going effort to restore the river over the last number of decades, mainly centered on municipal and industrial waste water treatment.   Significant progress has been made, and at the same time, public awareness of environmental conditions has improved drastically, leaving further room for improvement on the St. John River.  Non-point source pollution from agriculture and forestry practices continues to be significant contributors to degraded water quality within the St. John River system.  This specific issue is further exasperated by the increasing incidence of extreme weather events, predominantly heavy rain events, occurring in the region.
Although we are only in initial stages of project design for this five-year effort, it is clear that the status quo is no longer acceptable and that the future is exciting for the river and its people.  Working towards robust solutions with residents, communities and partners for safe and abundant water for people and nature is an exciting opportunity.  Initial buzz around the river is a good indication that our timing is bang on as we work to protect the most valuable resource for future generations.

© Robert Rangeley / WWF-Canada

I was drawn to this work after many years in the forest and water conservation fields in the region and am looking forward to continuing the restoration of the St. John River and its communities.  I’m excited to be part of a national team working on river health and to bring the challenges facing this river to the forefront.  The path forward is not an easy one, but with the right mix of people, ideas, enthusiasm and knowledge, we have the opportunity to develop robust solutions that will not only benefit this river and its people, but also others across our river nation.