In 2014, Coastal Action worked with the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg to engage residents on the topic of developing a Coastal Policy for the area. Throughout the spring and summer months, Coastal Action hosted a total of five public meetings in the communities of Petite Riviere, Riverport, Mahone Bay, Blue Rocks, and Big Tancook Island in order to solicit public opinion on the need for a local coastal policy and what that policy should entail. In total, approximately 215 people attended these community meetings. A final report on recommendations for the Municipality was developed and submitted to Council for consideration.
See Coastal Action's Development of a Coastal Policy in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg 2014 Report.
For more on this project, contact our Executive Director, Brooke Nodding, at [email protected].
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Shoreline Erosion
Coastal erosion is a natural process that consists of the breakdown or weathering of rock and sediments at the shoreline, both above and below the water surface.
Coastal erosion, or shoreline erosion, is a growing concern within Atlantic Canada. Many coastal communities have experienced a dramatic loss of land and are concerned at the prospects of sea level rise and increased storm surges as a result of climate change. Coastal Action began addressing this issue in 2012, through a partnership with Acadia University, the Mahone Islands Conservation Association (MICA), and the Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy (KCC). Two separate Acadia student Honours projects were developed to look at coastal erosion within Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, and its resulting impacts on the islands and adjacent coastal communities.
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Living Shorelines
A "Softer" Approach to Managing Coastal Erosion in Nova Scotia
Coastal Action initiated a “Living Shorelines” project in 2014 within the Town of Bridgewater along the banks of the LaHave River behind the Cineplex Theatres. We partnered with the Town of Bridgewater and the Bridgewater Development Association’s River Front Renaissance Action Team to deliver a bankside stabilization and restoration project using a more natural approach to combat erosion at the site. Living Shorelines are alternative or “softer” approaches to bankside stabilization that mimic aspects of natural shorelines, such as slope and vegetation, to improve the overall health of the ecosystem. These types of approaches have been shown to slow down rates of erosion and create more resilient shorelines that are able to withstand waves and storms. These living shoreline projects also promote natural shoreline processes such as improving water quality, allowing for natural sediment transport, and enhancing coastal and aquatic habitats. This project culminated in the creation of the Michelin Nature Discovery Park at the site which celebrated its grand opening in September 2017.
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