Public Lands

Endangered Spaces

Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes

Cumberland

East Hants

Eigg Mountain - James River

Five Bridge Lakes

Fogarty's Cove

Gully Lake

Herring Cove Backlands

Humes River

Kluscap Mountain

Lake Major - Musquodoboit

Liscomb

Nictaux River

Prospect

Sackville - Beaverbank

Shelburne Barrens

Ship Harbour Long Lake

Tobeatic (additions)

Tusket River

News

Issues

Take Action

The Coalition

Links

Site Map

Proposed Nictaux River Wilderness Area

Action Alert!
Nictaux Watershed on the chopping block!!!
Click here for more details.

Size & Location

The proposed "Nictaux River Wilderness Area" is approximately 10,200 hectares and consists of eight tracts of public land draining into the Nictaux River. Moving upstream they are as follows (sizes approximate):

1. East Branch Brook - 80 hectares
2. Nictaux River - 4,900 hectares
3. Beals Brook - 60 hectares
4. Molly Upsim Lake - Shannon River - 4,000 hectares
5. Trout Lake - 160 hectares
6. McEwan Lake - 800 hectares
7. Squirreltown - 180 hectares
8. Connell Lake - 50 hectares

Natural Description

For centuries, schools of Atlantic Salmon from the Annapolis River have migrated to the North Atlantic off Greenland every year to feed and mature. The river is one of only two runs maintaining the genetically distinct Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon population that participate in this migration.

From early April to late November, the fish return to the river to spawn in its clean cool tributaries. The Nictaux River, which empties into the Annapolis River about 60 km upstream from the Bay of Fundy, has historically sustained 70% of the run. The health of the Nictaux's watershed is critical to the entire Annapolis River salmon run.

Outstanding Natural Features

• Stronghold for the struggling Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon population
• Wild remnant of western Nova Scotia's "Big Pine Country"; lots of hardwoods too
• Wilderness corridors linking Nictaux River system with Cloud Lake Wilderness Area and Big LaHave Lake
• Excellent representation of the "South Mountain Rolling Plain" natural region; partial representation of the "South Mountain Foothills" natural region
• Headwater streams of the Black and LaHave Rivers
• Largest tributary of the Annapolis River

Recreational Opportunities

Today, most of the Nictaux River watershed is in relatively good condition. Large tracts of natural forests keep water clean and flows consistent. These attributes are essential for the survival of the salmon, but also help all those who use the Annapolis River for recreation, irrigation and industry, from the clam digger to the campground owner.

Outstanding Recreational Features

• Access to a dozen backcountry lakes; over 30 km of undeveloped lake shoreline
• Would become the only easily accessible Wilderness Area on the Evangeline Trail; accessible directly from Route 10 and just minutes from Highway 101 and Route 1; accessible from downtown Middleton on abandoned rail corridor
• Nine kilometres of highly scenic and remote wilderness along abandoned railway trail accessible to cyclists, hikers, snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers
• Opportunity for backcountry hiking trails network off of abandoned rail corridor
• Historic cultural features including bridges and whistle stops associated with the Central Nova Scotia Railway built in 1889, now abandoned
• Traditional hunting, fishing, and camping destinations throughout the site
• Over 20 kilometres of outstanding backcountry canoe routes including Molly Upsim Lake, McGill Lake, Shannon River, Shannon Lake, Big LaHave Lake, and Nictaux River, promoted in Canoe Annapolis County.

Threats

Unlike other streams draining into the Annapolis Valley, much of the Nictaux's watershed is Crown (i.e., public) land. Without legal protection the Department of Natural Resources will likely open up many of these lands for clearcutting.

Annapolis County has witnessed an unprecedented level of timber harvesting in recent years, most of it by clearcutting. The woods once taken for granted are disappearing. So where should forests be protected for the future?

Private lands account for over two-thirds of the county's land base, half of which is owned by a single pulp company. So long as a market for wood exists many of these lands will continue to be aggressively harvested. A future for wilderness in Annapolis County depends on protecting public lands from road building and forestry.

In response to this threat the Annapolis Fly Fishing Association and the Municipality of Annapolis County have requested the Premier of Nova Scotia to designate all Crown lands in the watershed under the Wilderness Areas Protection Act.

Associated Member Groups

This initiative is supported by the Annapolis Fly Fishing Association, the Nova Scotia Trails Federation, and the Municipality of Annapolis County. The County has twice written the Premier to ask that a moratorium be placed on the proposed Wilderness Area until it is legally protected.

Take action to help save this important wilderness area!

Public Lands |  Endangered Spaces |  News |  Issues
Take Action |  The Coalition |  Links |  Site Map

© Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition, Ecology Action Centre, 2006