EcoAlert Magazine — Summer/Fall 2015

CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF NEW BRUNSWICK Summer /Fall 2015Page 10Energy Efficient Homes FLY FISHING ON THE DEEP, DARK CAINS P. 8Page 4 Publication Poste- Mail publicationsAuditor General’sforest report 40050411BLUE-GREEN ALGAE • DONALD ARSENEAULT Q&A • RENEWABLE POWER

Yopuowhavee rthe to saveIn New Brunswick we all need electricity.We use it to heat our homes, to heat ourwater when we shower, and to entertainour family. Now that’s a lot of electricity.And that’s why it’s smart to get intoelectricity saving habits, or smart habits.Why pay for electricity you don’t need?

CONSERVATION COUNCIL editorialOF NEW BRUNSWICK BY LIANE THIBODEAUBOARD OF DIRECTORS Renewables on the risePRESIDENT It’s nearly over. The pieces are falling keep getting more and more difficult into place, momentum has never been and expensive to develop and refine.Liane Thibodeau stronger, and a better world grows more Look at what Tesla Motors is doing possible and probable every day. The with their electric cars. Look at Tesla’sDIRECTORS age of fossil fuels is being replaced. Power Wall, which can store enough You, like me, know that this isn’t scary. electricity to power the averageJohn Bird It’s exciting, inspiring and empowering American home for a month, availableStephanie Coburn stuff. It will mean more jobs for our today for the reasonable sum ofJohn Crompton young people, a more resilient, stable $3,500. Look at Solar City’s innovativeSusan Eddy energy supply, and cleaner, healthier business model of supplying solarKathie Goggin communities. panels to homes and businesses, andHannah Grant And we don’t just get to watch it Bullfrog’s creative method of lettingMatthew Hayes happen, we — and people like you — homes and businesses switch to 100Frank Johnston are making it happen. per cent renewable energy. LookScott Kidd Why am I so confident? The signs are at how wind and solar capacity hasDavid MacDonald all around us. doubled every two years over the pastTyler McCready The energy game is changing. For decade alone, while costs plummet inRob Moir more than a century, the development stride.Andrew Secord of energy has been in the hands of These trends are adding up at suchOwen Taylor large corporations intent on maximizing a pace that’s it’s entirely likely all newPaula Tippett their profits. Now these companies have electricity generation will come fromJessica Vihvelin to compete with the likes of the minds renewables well before 2050. and the powerful technology that drove And what has been driving this shift?STAFF the iPhone’s rise to market greatness You have. — the old guard doesn’t even stand a You’ve made this possible by wantingEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR chance. a safer, cleaner, healthier world for I’m talking, of course, about clean your families and friends. You’ve putLois Corbett (on leave) energy innovators — companies like wind in the sails of the energy sector’s Tesla, Solar City, Bullfrog Power and game-changing innovators by caring soPROGRAM STAFF Fundy Solar in N.B. The renewable deeply and by supporting groups like energy systems being developed in us who work on your behalf to bringMatt Abbott, Fundy Baykeeper communities and countries across the about the world you want.Michèle Caron, Translator world live in the fast-paced, highly- We will continue to push for strong,Blair Cox, Marketing competitive, innovator-driven world of smart and safe energy policy here inOlivia DeYoung, Intern technology, not the sluggish, insulated New Brunswick and across Canada.Tracy Glynn, Forest Conservation and isolated world of the corporate And as world governments look to nailNadine Ives, Learning Outside Coordinator marketplace. down meaningful climate action in ParisJon MacNeill, Communications In the technology world, creativity and this December, it’s only a matter of timeKaryn MacPherson, Intern competition serve to ensure that prices before all fossil fuel bets are off.Stephanie Merrill, Freshwater Protection keep falling, quality continues rising, The age of fossil fuels is beingInka Milewski, Science Advisor and rapid change is normal, constant, replaced with the age of renewables.Justine Spits, Translator and embraced.Bernard Wierzchosl, Summer student Remember that today renewables Liane Thibodeau is are almost cost competitive with president of the boardADMINISTRATION fossil fuels, and in many cases of directors of the already are. Within a couple of Conservation Council ofStephanie Phillips decades — maybe even less — oil, New Brunswick gas and coal simply won’t be able toCONSERVATION COUNCIL compete. Renewables and storageOF NEW BRUNSWICK will just keep getting better and cheaper, meanwhile fossil fuels will180 St. John StreetFredericton New Brunswick For advertising inquiries, please contact:Canada E3B 4A9www.conservationcouncil.ca MANAGING EDITORTel: (506) 458-8747 Fax: (506) 458-1047Email: [email protected] Jon MacNeill, [email protected] us: /conservationcouncil GRAPHIC DESIGNER @cc_nb Stacy Howroyd, [email protected] 1

Osprey Adventures’ 12-seater Voyageur Canoe A Day on Beamer’s CreekTake Supporters from Hampton and surrounding Hooper also took participants on a tourthe leap communities enjoyed a paddle along the of Beamer’s Creek in one of his amazing beautiful Beamer’s Creek and slurped up Voyageur Canoes, with capacity to seat upChoose 100% green mouth-watering locally-sourced fish chowder to 12 people! It was a fantastic day on theenergy today as part of our Earth Day celebration in late water exploring and learning about the area’s April. wonderful flora and fauna.• Reduce your environmental impact The fundraiser at the Hampton River Centre The paddle wrapped up the way any good was held to promote the importance of excursion on the water should — with a• Help build new green Earth Day and our partnership with Earth delicious fish chowder and soda bread! Chef energy projects across Day Canada to help Canadians lower their Jakob Lutes prepared and served his signature Canada carbon footprint in their daily lives. chowder using local ingredients provided by Kredl’s Market in Hampton. Lutes’ restaurant,• Create a cleaner, We were very lucky to have Rafe Hooper Port City Royal Restaurant in Saint John, healthier world of Osprey Adventures join us for our day on the water. Hooper not only provided specializes in authentic East Coast cuisine withSimple. Affordable. a dedication to locally-grown vegetables andPollution-free. free canoes and produce — the way it was Bullfrogpower your home kayaks to attendees, or business but also offered done for decades around kitchen tables in this $G5e0ttuopwtaord his expertise while province! Fittingly, Dave guiding paddlers your account through Hampton’s Wolpin of Kredl’s Market with promo code provided a presentation stunning marshes! on the benefits of local ECOALERT Hooper spent years exploring the wonders food as everyone sat down to enjoy their fish of the Kennebecasis Exploring the beauty of Beamer’s Creek in chowder. River system and turned his passion into Hampton. Participants left the river a business helping others connect with the centre with their bellies full and their minds outdoors. Osprey Adventures rents a variety flooded with peaceful scenes from the day’s of watercraft and offers guided tours through paddle. The event would not have been the Hampton marshlands, where Hooper possible without the help of Liane Thibodeau, and other expert guides engage visitors with Paula Tippett, Jessica Vihvelin, Stephanie interesting stories about the area’s history Coburn, Matt Abbott, Catriona McLanaghan, and fascinating details of the marshlands’ the Hampton River Center, Dave Wolpin, Chef rich ecosystem. Jakob Lutes and Rafe Hooper. Policy Talk • W e presented to the Independent Panel on our review of the Sisson Mine project CCNB is regularly invited to offer policy EIA advice on issues that matter to you • We continue to participate in the Long • We gave input to the team at the Dept. of Term Wetland Management Stakeholder Agriculture developing a Local Food and working group Beverages Strategy • We applied to intervene in the National • W e met with the Commission tasked with Energy Board review of TransCanada reviewing the moratorium on hydraulic Corp.’s proposed Energy East bitumen fracturing pipeline project • W e met with Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans staff to comment on the Aquaculture Activities Regulations 2 ECOALERT SUMMER/ FALL 2015

ecobriefsGreat ideas and resources to help children learn, explore, and discover in the natural world. www.learningoutside.ca Your Environmental Trust Fund at Work You’d be smiling too if you won a freezer Votre Fonds en ducie pour l’environnement au travail full of delicious, hearty local food! Meet Ann Beers of the Moncton area, the big A project of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick winner of our first-ever Local Food Spring Raffle! Volunteers, board members and Great minds think outside staff at CCNB sold tickets throughout May and June on a fabulous prize of a Our community program No Child Left Inside brand-new vertical freezer stocked full of has been given a new name and a brand new locally-sourced meats, vegetables and website, learningoutside.ca! Now called Learning other wholesome NB products. Sobeys Outside, the purpose of the program is to help sponsored our raffle and we purchased the children in New Brunswick re-connect with nature local food from Real Food Connections in by developing creative ways to integrate outdoor Fredericton. Keep an eye out for our next education into all subjects of learning. Teachers and raffle — the next winner could be you! parents are encouraged to help this program along by developing outdoor classrooms and creating Looking to Buy Local on more natural spaces near school grounds. Lincoln the go? We’re making an Elementary Community School has been working app for that! Stay tunedwith CCNB to do just that! We helped to establish a nature trail and developed to our website and sociallearning stations that include interpretative signage and signs to encourage media to find out whenobservation and discussion. This year our Learning Outside project moves into you can harness all theschools to work with teachers on various activities and to provide materials and power of our awesomesupport to help make learning outside a mainstream initiative in New Brunswick Buy Local NB directoryschools. This summer the front yard of Conserver House was transformed (with on your mobile phone orhelp from the Fredericton Community Foundation) to a pollinator’s paradise, tablet! Coming soon!creating a new learning tool for individuals to explore in downtown Fredericton.NB Power encourages local green energy Help for homeowners! NB Power is encouraging the launch megawatts. Although NB Power has There are many reasons to improve theof locally-owned and small-scale assumed in the IRP that it would buy the energy efficiency of your home, includinggreen energy saving energy and reducing both greenhouseprojects in energy from the groups gases and air pollutants. Furthermore, NBcommunities through Power Purchase Power offers incentive programs to helpacross the Agreements, the major homeowners save money and realize theprovince as obstacle with the current benefits of energy-saving upgrades.the public grid in New Brunswickutility works is that is it designed to The incentives for New Brunswick residentstoward its goal take power from a small include the Energy Smart Commercialof generating number of large sites and Buildings Retrofit Program, Low Income40 per cent send it in one direction. Energy Savings Program, and the Homeof in-province NB Power says it is Insulation Energy Savings Program.sales from working toward creating These initiatives are designed to providerenewable Smart Grid technology, advice on energy efficiency as well asresources by 2020. The 2014 which would make the financial assistance with the implementationIntegrated Resource Plan (IRP is the grid more efficient and allow for the of new energy efficient technologies andutility’s long range planning document) movement of power back and forth materials. Once households and businesseshas assumed the creation of community between small energy sources. The New determine that they are eligible, they are ableenergy projects through co-operatives Brunswick Department of Energy and to apply for these financial incentives bothand with First Nations communities. Mines is currently reviewing this new online and by phone. The programs wereProjects would include building and Community Energy Program; guidelines previously offered under the governmentowning wind farms, solar panels, small about how the program should work agency Efficiency NB but are now under thehydro projects, and biomass and biogas are expected to be released in the fall. control of NB Power. Learn more about thesefacilities, with capacities of up to 75 Renewable energy currently makes up 31 programs at nbpower.com/en/smart- to 32 percent of in-province sales. habits or by calling 1-800-663-6272. 3 www.conservationcouncil.ca

forestsThe state of our forest Photo: Nick HawkinsNB’s Auditor General unearths outdated guidelines and practices, failings of accountability,and financial losses in management of New Brunswick’s public forestThe province of New Brunswick forest for each of the five years coveredPhoto: Nick Hawkins hasn’t made a profit from its public in the audit. Over that time, the province forest in the last five years and invested more than $122 million on forest successive governments over the management, running a total deficit of $53.7past decade have ignored directives to million, or an average loss of $7-$10-million/move toward a more conservation-minded year.approach to forest management. “This essentially shows there is no direct financial benefit to the province’s finances Those were among the key findings of from year to year (from current forestAuditor General Kim MacPherson’s report management practices),” MacPherson toldon the province’s silviculture program, MLAs while presenting her figures.which she presented to MLAs in the In responding to this, department officialslegislature on Tuesday, June 23. noted there are indirect benefits from the The purpose of the audit — which looked silviculture program, such as job creation,at the Department of Natural Resources’ however MacPherson said they could notfinances between 2009 and 2014 — prove whether the number of jobs it createswas to determine whether taxpayers is worth the average of $29-million spentwere getting sufficient value from the each year on the program.management of our forest resource. Silviculture is the act of planting saplings, MacPherson’s conclusion: we are not. thinning the stand, and harvesting mature Her work showed the government has trees in order to sustain forests for futurerun a deficit in its management of public Red trillium, found in New Brunswick’s Acadian forest. 4 ECOALERT SUMMER/ FALL 2015

forests Just The Factstimber and non-timber uses (the auditor The following are highlights pulled fromgeneral defined non-timber uses as wildlife Volume II of the 2015 Auditor General Reporthabitat preservation, protecting waterways, • D uring our audit period of 2009 to 2014,and preserving a range of plant and animallife in the forest). the Department fell short in fulfilling some of its related management and The two largest contributors to the annual oversight responsibilities. This includes notforest deficit are the silviculture program updating the forest management plans andand the licensing payments the provincial agreements; failing to enforce compliancegovernment gives to industry for doing the with treatment standards and not completingsilviculture work in Crown forests. licensee performance evaluations, in addition to not keeping the public informed MacPherson further concluded that on the state of the Province’s forests andsustainable forestry practices have the impact of the Department’s silvicultureconsistently taken a backseat to the will of activities.(Chapter 3,pg.115)private industry in New Brunswick, stating • T here was a shortage of current summarizedfirmly that “there is an apparent bias to forestry data at the provincial level withsupport industry and economic development which decision makers could evaluatefor both the Crown and private silviculture alternatives and make informed decisions.programs.” (Chapter 3,pg.116) • W e found silviculture processes and She said 80 per cent of all wood cut from Photo: Jon MacNeill decisions were driven by an apparentpublic forests over the past two decades Department objective to support industryhas been harvested by clear cut. Meanwhile, and economic development. (Chapter 3,pg.117)she found selective cuts have declined from • W e found the main standards document,20 per cent to roughly 10 per cent in recent the Forest Management Manual for Newyears. Brunswick Crown Land, to be an interim, out of date document. (Chapter 3,pg.116)MacPherson’s review of department • A survey undertaken in 2007 found “94% ofdocuments also showed that numerous NB residents visit forests during the year”reports and recommendations for A clearcut in central New Brunswick. and “over 95% of respondents participate in forest-related activities.” Clearly Newgovernment to reduce the amount of In New Brunswick, roughly 13,000 hectares Brunswick residents utilize and valueclearcutting allowed in public forest have per-year of Crown forest are sprayed with forests of the Province. The survey foundbeen ignored by ministers and government herbicides in order to kill hardwoods and “environmental aspects remain the two mostofficials for a decade. She also noted that other plants that compete with seedlings. important values.” The two environmentalDNR accepts selective harvesting as the best At a cost of roughly $1,000 per hectare, aspects were: protection of water, air, andmanagement practice. herbicide spraying contributes to the annual soils, and valuing forest as habitat for animal and plant life. Economic wealth and jobsIn her report, the auditor general forest deficit and ranked third. (Chapter 3,pg.112)recommended DNR dropthe amount of clearcuts The Conservation Council prevents natural forests Tree plantation in New Brunswick.in Crown forest. She from regenerating.noted selective andpartial harvesting believes phasing out Quebec phased outalso serve to protect herbicides and replacing herbicides in publicwaterways and wildlife them with thinning crews forests in 2001 andhabitat and preserve a replaced them withhealthy range of plant of men and women thinning crews. Novaand animal life in the working in the woods Scotia is currentlywoods. would create significantly looking at a new She also recommended more jobs than current management standardthe department make that would not allowchanges to its forest the use of herbicides.management standardsif warranted by new taxpayer-funded In the past, thescientific knowledge spray programs. Conservation Councilor analysis of past and has called on thecurrent approaches. provincial government to replace the outdated Crown Lands and Forest Act with legislation that protects water and wildlife and createsTo correct the annual deficit, MacPherson a wider range of forest-based jobs.recommended the department use aneconomic payback model to ensure it’s With the government currently reviewinggetting a positive return when spending the forest management plan establishedtaxpayer dollars on silviculture. by the previous government in 2014, the extensive and detailed findings of theThe Conservation Council believes phasing auditor general’s forestry report can serveout herbicides and replacing them with as a guide for creating a stronger, healthierthinning crews of men and women working public forest that meets the needs of all Newin the woods would create significantly more Brunswickers.jobs than current taxpayer-funded sprayprograms. –Jon MacNeill 5 www.conservationcouncil.ca

water Photo: Stacy HowroydHelp our lakes stay healthyWhen you hear about “blue green algae blooms” you may Photo: Stacy Howroyd • S eptic systems: septic systems conjure up images of Lake that store and treat sewage and Winnipeg, which in 2013 won and warm – lakes in the summertime household wastewater on individualthe dubious distinction of the World’s Most often are ripe with these conditions. Some rural and shoreline properties can leachThreatened Lake. So full of blue green experts also say that climate change phosphorus and other contaminants intoalgae, you can see the blooms from space. (warming waters, heavier rainfalls) has also nearby water bodies when not properlyYikes. contributed to the bacteria’s growth. installed, maintained or monitored. While naturally occurring, a bloom can Soaps and detergents down the drain We’ve got a bit of our own blue green also be triggered by pollution into a water are often a large source of phosphorusalgal bloom problem in NB - not as big and body, mostly phosphorus – a nutrient that from households.widespread as Lake Winnepeg mind you, is very common in our lives. Some of thebut this summer the little cells are pausing common sources of phosphorus to our • R unoff: rain and snowmelt can carry aNew Brunswickers from taking a dip in waters include: combination of phosphorus and othersome of our most widely used recreational contaminants directly into our waterwayslakes in the province. and also our storm sewers systems. The Just this week Washademoak Lake was phosphorus in runoff can come fromadded to the growing list of lakes with a bit lawn and garden fertilizers, agriculturalof a fever. Before that it was Grand Lake lands, pet waste, and decomposingand Harvey Lake. A few others have been organic forest and yard waste.on the algae watch list for a few years nowincluding Lake Utopia, Chamcook Lake, • A tmospheric deposition: phosphorusLac Baker and Lac Unique. can also make its way into water bodies from the air by wind, rain and snowfallWhat is Blue Green Algae? from such activities as exposed landfillWell, not an algae at all. and compost heaps, coal combustion, and dust from quarries, agricultural fields Blue green algae is actually a photo- and unpaved roads.synthetic cyanobacteria. It is naturallyoccurring in waters and has been around • Internal loading: when the soil andfor millions of years - one of the oldest sediments are stirred up during dredgingforms of life. When the conditions are right, activities (the process of clearing orits individual microscopic cells collectively deepening navigational routes) or naturalform a colourful blue-y, green-ish, brown- processes that cause the lake watersesque “bloom”. The bacteria blooms often to mix from changes in temperatures orform in water that is shallow, slow moving high winds, phosphorus can make its way back into the water column. 6 ECOALERT SUMMER/ FALL 2015

waterWhy is an algal bloom concerning? Photo: Stacy Howroyd WHAT’S GOING ON? An algal bloom tends to mean that the healthy A number of lake groups and associations have been working for a fewbalance of water quality parameters are a bit out of years now trying to understand the condition of their lakes. They’ve beenwhack. As a bloom dies and decomposes, it eats collecting regular water samples and making observations about oxygen andup a lot of oxygen which is a critical component temperature levels, and send their samples to the Department of Environmentof a healthy water body. Low levels of oxygen for analysis.can be especially harmful to fish which need cool But now groups are concerned they aren’t getting the analyses back fromoxygenated waters to thrive. the department, and they say the delay is hampering their ability to make While we don’t want to scare anyone, certain predictions based on the data — such as being able to predict the onset of anstrains of cyanobacteria (blue green algae) can algal bloom.contain toxins which are poisonous. The toxins This all rings very familiar. Remember the Water Classification Program?are usually released when the cells of the bacteriabreak open or die, which can be caused by In the early 2000s, the Department of Environment started to help increasecooler weather, rainfall and windy conditions. the capacity and monitoring programs of a number of river and watershedThe New Brunswick Department of Health has groups in the province. Groups spent years collecting data that was supposedissued public health advisories (http://www2. to be used by the department to classify the water quality of rivers acrossgnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/ocmoh/ the province. After collecting and submitting data for a few years, though,health_advisories.html) for the seven lakes in NB the groups realized the department had not been enforcing the Watercurrently experiencing blooms and indicates that Classification Program put in place to help protect rivers from water pollution.contact with skin may cause irritation and result This August marked the one-year anniversary of the provincial ombudsman’sin hives, rashes, or skin blisters and if inhaled by public report on the department’s management of the provincial Waterway of recreational activities such as water skiing, Classification Program. In his report, ombudsman Charles Murray noted theboating, watering lawns, etc. could cause illness in department’s mishandling of the file — effectively letting it go into limbo for apeople and animals. decade — drove a wedge between watershed groups and the department. The same thing could happen as lake groups wait on the department forWhat we can do data on the health of their waters. As with our many rivers, New Brunswickers have a deep connection to these It’s August, the height of our summer, and the last bodies of water and there are a lot of people working to keep them healthy.thing we all want is to stay away from the water! The Department of Environment has an important role to play in this — groupsWhile the seven lakes currently experiencing algal need them to wade in with us.blooms will continue to be monitored, there area few things we can do at home or at the cottage • M ake sure your septic system is and other contaminants.to reduce the amount of nutrients getting into our checked and cleaned every five years For more information on publicwaters and prevent blooms from happening in the or so. health implications of a blue greenfuture: algal bloom visit the Department • What you put down the drain can end up in our • L eave your shoreline natural and if of Health : http://www2.gnb.ca/ necessary restore the shoreline with content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/ waters. Switch to phosphorus-free cleaning fast growing vegetation to prevent pdf/en/HealthyEnvironments/water/ products like dishwasher detergents. erosion and help absorb nutrients BlueGreenAlgaeQA.pdf • What you put on your lawn or garden can end before they enter the water. Wetland up in our waters. Avoid over using fertilizers areas are especially important in – By Stephanie Merrill and only apply when necessary and try non- filtering out nutrients like phosphorus toxic alternatives when possible.7 www.conservationcouncil.ca

water When you venture out on one of New Brunswick’s beautiful rivers, expect to catch a lot more than the mighty Atlantic salmonHooked by a River Photo: Jon MacNeill By Jon MacNeill The deep, dark waters of the Cains River, central New Brunswick.My first ever salmon fishing trip His first exposure to salmon fishing was in came with a warning: 2005, and from that point on, he’s spent the “You know, we probably won’t majority of weekends in the spring, summer catch anything today,” says and fall scheming ways to get on the mightyHowie Gould, my guide, while loading fly Miramichi and its tributaries. His father fellrods and tackle into his canoe. “It’s early, we in love with the activity during that samemight get a trout, and there’s a chance we first trip, setting the pair off on an eight-yearmight hook a black salmon. But even still, it’s quest to find a plot of land along the water.just the experience — getting out to these In the spring of 2013, they built a pine cabinplaces, seeing this stuff — that really takes a along the main Southwest Miramichi asbig hold.” home base for their excursions. How right he was. Five hours casting “Really, I’m just a weekend warrior at it,”flies over the Cains River in central New Howie says. “I love it passionately, it’s all-Brunswick and I was making plans to get consuming, but I’m definitely making up forback on the water as soon as possible. As lost time.”Howie figured, I hadn’t caught anything.Managed to torment a few trout, but just the babble of water parted by canoe and In 10 years, Howie has developed acouldn’t land one. And yet, stepping out paddle. Shorebirds skirting over the surface. resident expertise about the salmon andof the canoe near Howie’s camp outside The call of geese echoing down the bend. its impressive life cycle. It’s a commonBlackville, I knew I had started something. occurrence among those who get into the More than chasing the feeling of landing The fishing grows on you. The appreciation sport, and often goes hand in hand with athat big fish, though, more than the thrill of the river and all the life it supports is near desire to protect the rivers and habitat theof the fight, it was the calm of the wild that instant and everlasting. fish need to thrive.was calling me back to the river. It was wide That’s certainly how it was for Howie, too. “They’re a very incredible, powerful fish,”open spaces. Smooth running water. The The 41-year-old purchaser from Saint John he says. “You’ll hook one on one side of thesound of wind whooshing through the trees grew up hunting in the woods with his father river, and five seconds later it’ll be on theinstead of traffic whizzing by windows. It was and grandfather, but he is the family’s self- described “first-generation salmon guy.” Continued on page 9... 8 ECOALERT SUMMER/ FALL 2015

Photo: Jon MacNeill We come upon a little brook streaming into the Cains and Howie steers us ashore to tryAvid fly fisherman Howie Gould tries to hook a mighty Atlantic salmon on the Cains River in New our luck. Stepping out of the canoe, I takeBrunswick. a few moments to admire a gleaming white piece of driftwood stripped smooth andother side of the river jumping in the air — it’s river habitat, especially where it will cross clean by a beaver.just amazing, the power. Their latin name is components of the world-famous Miramichi “This looks like a good spot — anywhere‘Salar,’ which is ‘the leaper.’” watershed several times, including the dark, fast water meets slow, that’s where you want to be,” Howie advises.“And the more you get into it, then you deep waters of the Cains. He gives me a quick tutorial and then I try a few casts.realize what these fish go through to be here. For Howie, one of the best things people or Standing in the water, there is somethingThey run to the ocean, beyond Newfoundland, governments could do for salmon numbers inherently therapeutic about watching theand, you know, a trout doesn’t have to do is actually pretty simple: just get more line stretch out over your shoulder, rollthat, a striped bass doesn’t have to do that. bodies on the water, casting lines. That’s the across the river, kiss its surface, and hearingIt’s an amazing journey they make and we’re strategy behind the successful and well- the satisfying whiz of the line whirringprivileged to be able to be out here doing through the air as you pull it back. And thenthis.” funded salmon fishing scene in the U.S., out again. And then back. he says: encourage people to get into the Howie must sense what I’m feeling. activity, they’ll fall in love, and they’ll spend “It’s one of those things — if you have a bad As we paddle down the Cains, a dry wooly money to protect their sport and, in turn, the day at work, you come out to the river andfly trolling from the back of our canoe, Howie natural habitat of the fish they chase. cast for a bit, you can almost feel the bloodshares what he hopes can be done to improve pressure dropping and all the stupid thingsthe salmon population. Like most avid salmon “When they closed the St. John River and that really don’t matter, just melt away,” hefishers, Howie knows the prized fish is in all the tributaries to salmon angling, that was says.trouble. Last year, returns on the Nashwaak the worst thing they could have ever done. “It has changed who I am, without question.River were the lowest since record-keeping You take people away from the sport and I was always into hunting and fishing, butbegan in the 70s. The low returns are I think getting into salmon fishing, and the they lose interest in it, they stop joining river love of the river, it just puts you in touchreflected in the Department of Fisheries and groups, they stop fundraising,” Howie says. with the planet and the environment. Not toOceans’ strictly catch-and-release policy for sound corny, but it truly does.salmon fishing on New Brunswick waters this “People are really hoping this isn’t a “If more people got into it, and got into theseason. collapse, but the numbers from 2014 really rivers — even just paddling down one — it look like it,” he adds. “This year could prove would make a really big difference, becauseWith one eye always scoping out a good spot it all wrong, though, so we’ll see. But even when you see what we have here, when youto toss a line or pick fiddleheads, Howie after the last salmon is gone — if it experience what we have here, you fall intalks about the work being done by comes to that — we should still be love and you want to protect it.”groups within the New Brunswick out here chasing its ghost. That’sSalmon Council (which he serves CCNB’s Jon MacNeillon the board) to prevent erosion, the way I really feel about it. We casting fly for the first should not be off the water — time.restore habitat, tag and track you’ve got to keep going foryoung salmon and work on it, you’ve got to keep pushing,breeding programs at rivers and you’ve got to keep fighting.”waterways across the province. Making our way through the He says he’s optimistic the slow-moving Cains, watching theprovincial government will move to water disappear around bends, fillsenforce its Water Classification Program, me with a sense of freedom and wide opensomething that could be a powerful tool for possibility that I hadn’t felt in years — ifmonitoring and ensuring the quality of waters ever, in my adult life. I see a slide beaverstraversed by salmon, but which has been in and muskrat formed by slipping down thebureaucratic limbo for more than a decade. riverbank into the water. Howie spots aHe’s also leery of TransCanada’s proposed massive pine towering above the bank.Energy East bitumen pipeline, which is slated “Isn’t that awesome?” he says. “I think itto intersect provincial waterways more than would take probably three of us, maybe even280 times. Howie is worried about the impact four of us joining hands to get around it. Justthe pipeline’s construction and a potential spill awesome.”would have on the salmon population and 9 www.conservationcouncil.ca

climate & energy After three years of living in the nearly 2,000-square-foot home, the Nauglers’ averageheating costs have worked out to roughly $10/month, year-round.Quality, Comfort and Warm Mugs:Life in a Passive HomeWhat’s it like to live in a super energy efficient house? Sheer The trick is that everything in the Nauglers’ the big picture,” Win says. “So often when comfort. house is super-insulated: thick, full walls we talk about energy efficiency, we focus Consider the example of Win instead of thin hollow ones; a nine-inch on things like LED lightbulbs - which areand Janice Naugler’s certified Passive Solar buffer between the ground and the cement great, but which consume such a small partHome on the edge of Fredericton. One slab of the foundation; special windows and of a home’s energy.afternoon this past March, as thermometers doors that are heavy but seal and lock with “What we really need to be doing if weplunged toward near-record lows for the ease and feature glass designed to let more want to conserve the resources of ourmonth, a guest entered the Naugler’s cozy heat waves in and fewer out. In summary: province is focus on air tightness and heatabode to find the living room windows wide lots of finely-tuned details. efficiency. That’s tackling the big picture.”open. The Nauglers have held several open houses - welcoming some 500 people “We haven’t had any heat on in March, through their doors - and operate a blog toeven with all those cold days and during the encourage others to look into the benefitsstorms, there was no heat on in this house,” of energy efficiency and the passive homeJanice Naugler says proudly. model. “There’s been enough sun, so we just pull The home, which sits on a prime south- Win says one of the best parts of living inthe heat in and keep it in. And days like facing slope, is framed by untreated local a home like theirs is the pleasant surprisestoday, where it could almost be a little too cedar siding and features shingles made you encounter along the way.warm,” she adds, starting to laugh, “we have from recycled tires and plastic from a Like, for example, the small joy of reachingto have the windows open.” company in Minto. into the cupboard on a cold winter day The Nauglers have found themselves All of this combines to make the home — and pulling out a mug that’s warm to touchchuckling with satisfaction quite a bit since built by Southern Exposure Construction, thanks to the extra insulation in the exteriorbuilding their two-storey Passive Solar a company launched by their son, Tim walls.Home – but certainly no more than when Naugler — one of the most airtight and Or the wonder of watching a group ofthey go to pay a power bill. energy-efficient units in Canada, achieving deer less than 100 feet from their home, After three years of living in the nearly a 95 per cent greater energy efficiency completely undisturbed by, and, in fact,2,000-square-foot home, the Nauglers’ rating than basic building code standards completely unaware of the bustling familyaverage heating costs have worked out to and 65 per cent better than R2000. gathering just inside, where kids ran amok,roughly $10/month, year-round. “It’s about getting ourselves thinking about music blared, and someone stroked a guitar That’s because their entire home is one while sitting in the windowsill that overlooksbig solar envelope built using the most the backyard.energy efficient standard in the world. “It’s even quieter than we thought it was The passive house standard, developed going to be,” Win says. “You can be insidein Germany, is an 11-pronged building and clap your hands and the deer don’tcode that produces homes which are know. They don’t hear anything. It’s reallycomfortable, healthier, and much less amazing.”expensive to operate than traditional code-built homes. Continued on page 11... 10 ECOALERT SUMMER/ FALL 2015

22 Solar Rooftop PanelsContinued from page 10... “And another thing that has pleasantly Solar cells over the second holesurprised us — we knew that air tightnessmeant no drafts, but we didn’t realize the Young family finds dream home in green homecomfort, the full extent of the comfort thathaving no drafts achieves,” Win adds. “You Brittany Smearer’s six-year-old doesn’t How does a Geothermal System work?can go over and sit next to a window and have any trouble pointing out where hesettle on a window ledge, no drafts. I was in lives to new friends in the neighbourhood.a new home over Christmas, a brand new It’s the one with all the new shiny things onhome, and I was sitting near a big window the roof.and I could feel the draft coming in and Ithought, ‘Yeah, we live in a passive house.’ “My son is very proud that his house is theAnd I totally appreciated it.” one with all the solar panels on it,” Brittany As for a common criticism the couple Smearer says. “We talk about it a lot andencounters: ‘if your home is too airtight, he’s pretty amazed and thinks it’s prettywon’t you get mold?’ Janice says it’s just cool that we get our power from the sun.”the opposite. A ventilation and air exchangesystem keeps the air cycling constantly, The Smearers live in a comfortable Liquid runs through pipes sunk into themeanwhile the superior sealing around bungalow along Squire Green Drive in earth and draws warmth from the constantdoors and windows doesn’t allow for Bathurst. If you’ve played a round at the temperature there. The heat is piped intomoisture or condensation to build up and local golf course in the last few years, an indoor unit and circulates throughout theturn into mold. you may have spotted their solar panels house. During warmer months, the same And don’t worry about things getting gleaming at you from just beyond the system helps to cool the house.too cozy in the summer, either. During second hole.summer months, the higher angle of the To their knowledge, the Smearers’ is the umbrella of NB Power), the home wassun, in addition to exterior window shading, the only home in the area outfitted with designed for superior energy efficiency,prevents the inside from getting too hot. solar panels and a geothermal system. using top quality construction materials and The Nauglers’ was the first home their When the young family of four decided it methods. It achieved a rating of 93 out ofson, Tim, built following the passive house was time to build their first home in 2011, 100 from EnerGuide Canada, compared tostandard. He’s since built another in the Brittany and her husband, Rodney, opted the national average of 66.Hanwell area, which was completed in to take advantage of the renewable energy “We’re very proud of our home and what it2014, and this summer is working on his resources available to them. can do,” Brittany says, adding students andthird project, a new home near Penniac. “Originally, we had designed a whole instructors from the community college in “It’s more than just the energy efficiency different house plan. We were going Bathurst have toured the home to examinetarget, to me,” says Tim. “It’s about the to do the whole traditional, two-storey its renewable features.bigger things, building a better home that’s dreamhome thing — you know?” Brittany For anyone thinking about building a newgoing to last longer, be healthier to live in, recalls. “But when we heard about home, Brittany says it only makes sense toand provide more comfort.” what Efficiency NB was doing, it piqued harness the benefits of energy efficiency And it’s proven to be 100 per cent our interest to try to live green and and renewable power.cost effective. In both houses Tim has environmentally responsible. So it became “It was a bit of an investment up front, butcompleted, and in the computer modelling more about leading by example, to get the we felt like the investment would be anhe’s performed for seven others, the word out and show that these things are asset in the future,” the 28-year-old says.energy savings homeowners experience happening, that they are important, and why “And when you’re looking at a 10-yeareach month is greater than the additional they are important. payback, I think that’s pretty great. So I’mmortgage cost of adding the energy “Not to mention, it’s much cheaper to run hoping that more couples, especially youngefficiency features. your home when you’re using the sun, the families, when they build a house, that As far as Win and Janice are concerned, ground — things that are free.” they’ll really consider this avenue. Becausethere isn’t even a payback period. You start The prefabricated home was designed in 20 or 30 years when you want to sellreaping the benefits the second you move from the outset to incorporate renewable that house, nobody is going to want to buyinto the home. energy. It’s fixed with 22 rooftop solar it without this stuff. I think everybody is “This house costs less to live in — the panels for electricity and hot water, and a going to be building houses this way soonfirst month, and every month after — than geothermal system for heating and cooling enough.”a regular code built house. In a code built both levels of the 3,000-square-foot home.home, you might have a smaller mortgage, The cost was incorporated into theirbut you’ve got to pay for your heat. For us, mortgage and the couple anticipates aour energy savings on a monthly basis pay payback period of 10 years.for the extra mortgage cost, and we actually Having gone through the new homeshave about $25 a month left over. So then, program at Efficiency NB (the formerit’s $25 a month cheaper to live in this government agency which is now underhouse than it is to live in a code built house. “This home does it all. The passive house –Jon MacNeillstandard is the full meal deal.” For more information visit: www.nauglerhouse.com –Jon MacNeill 11 www.conservationcouncil.ca

In conversation with Donald Arseneault Q. What is your favourite outdoor destination in New Brunswick? Help make Spring Peeper Photo: Nick Hawkins Growing up, I used to love going to the a difference. Moncton area. As I grew up, especially getting into politics, for me, Fredericton isI want to become a member and supporter: a tremendous place. I see it as very clean, very open to the outdoors with the parks$15 Low income, senior, student $30 Individual and green spaces, and the trail along the river is beautiful. I also have family in the$40 Family $55 Association Acadian Peninsula so it’s a great place to go and visit as well. Q. Why do you think New Brunswickers have such a strong connection to nature and the environment?Are you a new member? Y N Well, it’s all around us. The trees, theI would like automatic membership renewal * Y * N rivers. I live in the Restigouche side so there is no doubt the Bay de Chaleur, when you look at the beauty of the Bay de Chaleur,I want to make a single gift of: and you see the Gaspe coast, you just love$30 $50 $100 it. The Restigouche River is world renown for salmon fishing, the mighty Miramichi$120 Other River, great salmon fishing there and in Nepisiguit as well. So, I think we’re attached cabinet ministers and the caucus and the to it because it’s all around us and you can public in general, but I think we all have to Mailing address: go anywhere around the province and there be conscious of that and we all have a role is that component of nature all around us. to play. Just in the last couple of months IName Q. We hear a lot about energy brought forward the small-scale renewableAddress project legislation to permit NB Power to efficiency these days – do you want enter in these smaller-scale projects andTel. to be known as the minister who long-term PPAs to allow more wind powerEmail got behind energy efficiency and and biogas community-owned projects, helped reduce peoples’energy bills? and there’s a component for First Nations as well. So we’re going to see some prettyDonation method: If we can put forward some programs and neat, innovative and creative projects all with incentives to try to find ways to reduce the renewable energy. That’s part of my role as VISA MasterCard consumption we use, that can go a long Minister of Energy and Mines in this wholeName ways. Over the years, government has climate change fight in New Brunswick.Card # been trying to educate people that thereExp. are ways to reduce your power bill, and it’s Q. Who do you most admire?Signature about making sure you make the proper I love politics so there is no doubt political investments in your home that can reduce figures are important to me. I read a lot of that consumption, and I’m very proud of biographies and I like American politics as the incentive program we brought back, in much as Canadian politics, and I’m a huge fan terms of the home renovation. These are of Barack Obama. For me, he’s an individual the things that really are going to make a whose come from a long way in terms of Cheque (payable to Conservation Council of NB ) difference in people’s power bill, and at the his upbringing, to become the first blackThe Conservation Council of New Brunswick is a registered same time, the less we use energy, then American president. I was on a cruise onecharity which carries on education and awareness projects we can reduce these gas emissions type time back in 2008 when he was first goingto solve environmental problems. Donors to the work of the of plants, and prevent building a new plant, through the primaries and my wife at theConservation Council will be provided with a charitable tax which will go a long way to fight climate time wanted to do all these activities on thereceipt. Please send your donation to:180 Saint John St., cruiseship, I was in front of the TV watchingFredericton, New Brunswick E3B 4A9 Thank you! change. his Iowa speech. Just everything he’s done, I Q. You mention climate change think he’s remarkable. And I look at Premier As a member, you’ll receive: Gallant, not just because he’s my boss, but – are you worried about climate because a lot of people don’t take time to¡ A subscription to ecoalert magazine change? Are energy ministers really appreciate everything he puts in, and talking about it?¡ EcoNews, our electronic newsletter his upbringing as well. He didn’t look at all the¡ Great member-only discounts challenges in front of him, he looked at the opportunity that could come out of it, and I We all have to (be worried about it). We admire somebody like that. have to be conscious of the bigger picture, that’s what cabinet and government is all about. No doubt, Minister Kenny has to Interviewed by Jon MacNeill, contact Jon at lead that charge and keep educating the [email protected] us: