CRI study paints picture of NB rivers’ environmental health

November 28, 2017

A two-year study of water conditions in two southern New Brunswick rivers systems, led by the Canadian Rivers Institute, was recently featured in the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal newspaper.

CRI Science Director Michelle Gray told the newspaper in an article published Nov. 27 that the study — published the NB Energy Institute in collaboration with CRI, the University of New Brunswick, and scientists from Université de Moncton — gives scientists the data they need to create accurate before-and-after water condition comparisons that can be used to predict and monitor the impact of oil and gas development should it take place.

"You really need to know what you have in the first place in order to predict what changes could happen, and then when change does happen you need your starting point to know if conditions have improved or degraded," said Gray.  "It is then up to the managers or decision makers to then decide if those changes require mitigation or action or fix any issues. The cycle needs to continue so we monitor for change as long as there is development present."

The study was launched in August 2014 with the goal of understanding the chemical, physical and biological conditions in surface water around the upper Kennebecasis River and Pollett River.

Read the NB Energy Institute News Release.

Read the NB Energy Institute’s final report on water conditions in areas overlying shale gas
resources in southwest New Brunswick