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Mushamush River Restoration
Anyone wishing to volunteer with the Mushamush restoration projects is encouraged to contact the BCAF office at 902-624-9888, or by email.
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The Mushamush River has been extensively utilized over the past two centuries by the residents of Mahone Bay for industrial and recreational benefit. Since the late 1800’s, the Mushamush River has been the site for numerous sawmills, gristmills, log drive operations, as well as dams to harness electrical power. This river’s prosperous contributions to the local economy have come at the high cost of extensive degradation.
The dams blocked access to vital spawning areas for native salmon and trout, while log drives effectively choked the river by inputting high loads of debris and silt. A consequent decrease in spawning pools and an increase in water temperature resulted. Collectively, the impact of these past activities on the Mushamush River has resulted in a substantial decline in fish populations.
The Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation strives to regain the natural beauty of the Mushamush River by restoring a section of the river each year. The Mushamush River Restoration Project was set in motion in the summer of 1998 and continues today. The objective of this project is to restore aquatic habitat along the river and encourage the return of fish populations. In addition to monitoring existing structures, the Project Coordinator, a Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps summer crew, and community volunteers install new digger logs, deflectors, and rock sills, where appropriate, each year. Three decommissioned power dams have also been removed to improve fish passage. Degraded fish cover and habitat have been further repaired by bank stabilization efforts. All river restoration projects are approved and designed in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Habitat Management Division,
Stewardship Branch.
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