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Willcocks-Musselman, R. 2003. Minas Basin Watershed Profile. Bay
of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership Table of Contents Acknowledgements v List of Tables vi List of Charts vii 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Location 1 3.0 Government Structure 2 4.0 Socio-economic Profile 4 4.1 Population Characteristics 4 4.1.1 Population 4 4.1.2 Population Change 6 4.1.3 Urban and Rural Population 7 4.1.4 Population Density 9 4.1.5 Age of Population 10 4.1.6 Aboriginal Population 12 4.1.7 Immigration 12 4.2 Labour Force Characteristics 13 4.2.1 Labour Force Activity 13 4.2.2 Occupation 14 4.2.3 Industry 15 4.2.4 Education 18 4.2.5 Income Distribution 19 4.2.6 Average Income 19 5.0 Resources 20 5.1 Climate 22 5.2 Culture and Heritage 22 5.2.1 Native History 22 5.2.2 Acadian Settlers 23 5.2.3 Timber Harvesting 23 5.2.4 Shipbuilding and Shipping 23 5.2.5 Fossils and Rock hounding 24 5.3 Forests 24 5.4 Freshwater 25 5.5 Minerals 26 5.6 Significant Areas 26 5.7 Soils 27 5.8 Wildlife 27 5.8.1 Birds 27 5.8.2 Fish 28 5.8.3 Terrestrial Animals 30 5.8.4 Plants 30 5.8.5 Species at Risk 30 6.0 Land and Water Use 31 6.1 Land Ownership 31 6.2 Land-Use Planning 31 6.2.1 Municipality of the County of Colchester 32 6.2.2 Town of Truro 32 6.2.3 Cumberland Joint Services Management Authority 32 6.2.4 Municipality of the County of Kings 32 6.2.5 Town of Wolfville 32 6.2.6 Town of Windsor and the Municipality of the District of West Hants 33 7.0 Traditional Resource Activities 34 7.1 Commercial Fishery 34 7.1.1 History 34 7.1.2 Fishing Regions 35 7.1.3 Number of Fishermen and Vessels 36 7.1.4 Landings in Minas Basin and Minas Channel 37 7.1.5 Quantity and Value of Landings in the Minas Basin and Minas Channel 38 7.2 Recreational Fishery 39 7.2.1 Fishing Seasons 40 7.2.2 Participation 41 7.2.3 Harvest 42 7.2.4 Expenditures and Investments 42 7.2.5 Stocking 43 7.3 Aquaculture 44 7.4 Agriculture 45 7.4.1 Number of Farms 47 7.4.2 Total Farmland 47 7.4.3 Farm Ownership 49 7.4.4 Farm Size 49 7.4.5 Farm Land Use 50 7.4.6 Major Crops 51 7.4.7 Livestock 52 7.4.8 Farm Land Management 53 7.4.9 Farm Capital, Receipts and Expenses 54 7.5 Forestry 55 7.5.1 Ownership of Forested Land 56 7.5.2 Industry 57 7.6 Mining 59 7.6.1 Current Mining Activity 60 7.6.2 Past Mining Activity 62 7.6.3 Exploration 62 7.6.4 Seabed Mining 63 7.7 Hunting and Trapping 63 8.0 Other Activities in the Minas Basin watershed 66 8.1 Manufacturing and Industry 66 8.2 Recreation and Tourism 70 8.3 Protection of Significant Areas 71 8.4 Infrastructure 73 8.4.1 Transportation 73 8.4.2 Electricity 74 8.4.3 Solid Waste, Water and Waste water Facilities 75 8.4.4 Tidal and River Barriers 81 8.4.5 Urban Development 82 9.0 Summary 82 References 85 Maps 91 Map 1 Location of Minas Basin watershed Map 2 Minas Basin watershed Map 3 Composition of Minas Basin Map 4 Minas Basin Shoreline Map 5 Municipalities, Towns and Villages of Minas Basin watershed Map 6 1996 Statistics Canada Enumerations Areas included in Minas Basin watershed Map 7 Population Density Map of Nova Scotia Map 8 Ecodistricts of Nova Scotia Map 9 Climatic Regions of Nova Scotia Map 10 Forested, Non-forested, Agricultural and Crown Lands in the Minas Basin watershed Map 11 Rivers Draining into the Minas Basin watershed Map 12 Generalized Soil Map of Nova Scotia Map 13 Property Ownership in Nova Scotia Map 14 Baitworm Harvesting Seasons in Southern Bight, Minas Basin Map 15 Nova Scotia Fishing Zones Map 16 Aquaculture Sites in the Minas Basin Area Map 17 Active Mines in Nova Scotia Map 18 Eastern Habitat Joint Venture Project Sites Map 19 Area of Nova Forest Alliance Model Forest Map 20 Infrastructure in Minas Basin watershed Appendices 113 APPENDIX A Some of the Major Employers in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX B Nova Scotia Nature Trust Protected Areas in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX C Environmental Health Expenditures for Towns and Municipalities in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX D - Development Expenditures for Towns and Municipalities in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX E Primary Fishery Organizations in Minas Basin APPENDIX F Weight of Fish Landed in the Minas Basin and Minas Channel Landing Ports APPENDIX G Value of Fish Landed in the Minas Basin and Minas Channel Landing Ports APPENDIX H Total Quantity and Value of Fish Landed in the Minas Basin and Minas Channel Landing Ports APPENDIX I - Contact Information for Aquaculture Sites in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX J Forest and Non Forest Land Categories by Ownership for Counties in the Minas Basin watershed (2000) APPENDIX K Forest Harvest for Counties in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX L - Resource Industries in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX M - Cultural and Natural Significant areas in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX N - Water Supply and Treatment Systems in the Minas Basin watershed APPENDIX O - Wastewater Facilities in the Minas Basin watershed Executive
Summary Due to time and financial limitations it was difficult to complete a comprehensive profile for the Minas Bain watershed. Furthermore, it is difficult to complete a watershed study when political boundaries, by which most data is compiled, do not follow watershed boundaries. Often the profile does therefore not accurately reflect the activities occurring in the watershed. What the profile is able to illustrate, however, is that the Minas Basin watershed is a key area of Nova Scotia. Centrally located in the province, it is comprised of approximately 16.5% of the land area of Nova Scotia and carries close to the same percent of population: 17.8% of Nova Scotias population or 161,950 people. There are 7 counties, 8 incorporated towns, 4 villages and 4 first nations reserves in the watershed. It is primarily of a rural landscape dotted with denser populations in small to medium sized urban centres and has a high ratio of private land ownership. The population of the watershed has shown little change over the last decade except for some specific areas such as Kings County, which has experienced continued growth. Although there tends to be a high recognition of its uniqueness and importance to wildlife, very little land and marine environment is protected. The economy of the watershed has traditionally relied on primary resource activities such as agriculture, forestry, mining and fishing. Agriculture areas in Kings County and near Truro lead the province in livestock (chicken, pigs, cattle, bees), tree fruits, and vegetable production. Much of the watershed is covered in forests and a high percentage is privately owned in smallholdings. Harvest is primarily for softwood since the forests in the region are dominated by softwood species. Colchester County, which lies almost entirely in the watershed, leads the province in total forest production. Mining activity in the watershed is primarily for industrial minerals such as aggregates, gypsum and peat. The Minas Basin itself is a dynamic environment due to its extreme tidal environment and high siltation. Until recently, these factors have worked to provide a natural control of marine harvesting. Higher-powered fishing vessels and a continual input of pollution from the surrounding landscape has greatly affected the fishery in the Minas Basin. Fewer local fishermen and vessels are operating in the Basin. There has been increased focus on the harvesting of molluscs and crustaceans such as clams, lobsters and most recently baitworms. The recreational fishery has also suffered from the polluted rivers in the Minas Basin watershed. In particular, the inner Bay of Fundy salmon have declined substantially in recent years. Manufacturing is becoming increasingly important to the economy of the watershed. It is one of the top employers along with Industry and the Retail Trade in the watershed. Many manufacturers support traditional resource industries (agriculture and forestry) such as food processing companies and saw mills. Along with increased manufacturing, tourism is becoming increasingly important in the watershed. Both the Minas Basin and the Bay of Fundy are becoming sought after nature and ecotourism destinations. With this emphasis will come an increased importance in protecting and preserving its natural features. There are many signs of increased care of the impacts of humans on the natural environment including the improvement and upgrading of wastewater facilities and the provincial initiative to close of landfills within the watershed. This profile was able to paint a general picture of the resources, activities and land uses in the Minas Basin watershed as well as some general trends. There are many more topics that could be investigated but perhaps the next step should be a more thorough investigation of the state of the resources and the effects the activities are having in the watershed.
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