October and November SAM Community Updates

Indian Bay Brook Management Unit is in our newest SAM member community, Indian Bay.

Indian Bay Becomes Newest SAM Member

It's official: we have a new member community! The Town of Indian Bay is the most recent municipality to sign a wetland stewardship agreement with the provincial government, and to publicly commit to conserving habitat for wildlife and people. After a collaborative process between the Town, the NL Wildlife Division, the Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation (IBEC) and SAM, a 2,857 acre area was set aside as the Indian Bay Brook Management Unit. This area has a rich and diverse ecosystem and includes habitat for several species, including Brook trout and the vulnerable Banded killifish, and several species of birds and mammals. IBEC is a local non-profit community organization that provided invaluable insight and support in the establishment of this agreement, and continues to enhance communities in the Indian Bay watershed by delivering restoration projects and stewardship opportunities.
For more information about this stewardship agreement, visit the Indian Bay member profile on our website.

SAM Network News & Updates

• The SAM staff have moved to St. John's. We will be in a new office in the new year, and will update our contact information at that time. In the meantime, you can always reach us by email: samstewardship@gmail.com (Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator, Emma Bocking) or samconservation@gmail.com (Conservation Biologist, Laura King).
• Our website is always being updated with new resources and information. Some new updates include: Staff biographies, recent funding opportunities and information about all 37 of our member municipalities.
• If you are driving down the TCH towards Port aux Basques, keep an eye out for our new road sign near the turn off to Doyles, announcing the importance of the nearby Grand Codroy Estuary.

Wetland Restoration: Bonavista

SAM has received funding from the National Wetland Conservation Fund for the restoration of O'Dea's Pond in Bonavista. Over the years, the pond has filled with grassy vegetation, which is impeding flow through of water. The Bonavista Environment Committee started work on this project in late September. The first step: dredge out selected areas of vegetation to increase flow (pictured here, in October). Eventually, the Committee hopes to create nesting islands for waterfowl that would be safe from the local population of domestic cats. In the spring, students from Matthew Elementary School will be involved with planting native species of willow, site clean-ups and educational activities relating to this restoration project. Check out this news story for more information.

Ongoing Restoration Project: Shearstown Estuary

Work continues on an ongoing project to improve water quality and flow through the Shearstown Estuary by installing several culverts through a pre-existing railway berm. On November 18, the ribbon was cut on new interpretive signage for the project, which highlights the importance of the culverts for allowing free passage of fish, including Atlantic salmon. SAM staff continue to monitor water quality variables throughout the Estuary. 

Project Webfoot: St. Anthony
Ducks Unlimited Canada NL staff visited St. Anthony in mid-October to deliver a Project Webfoot field trip. The grade 4 students from White Hills Academy critter dipped for tiny macro-invertebrates, learned about wetland values, and practiced calls and songs from common wetland birds.