by Taylor Mason, Research & Education Officer, MCG

As farming activities increase and industrial developments grow within local communities, there runs a risk of contaminants and pesticides entering surrounding watersheds. These activities can impact water quality, fish and eel habitat, and can even contaminate species that are of great significance to communities. Unfortunately, these impacts are said to worsen with climate change as there becomes an increase in heavy rainfall events, allowing for contaminants and pesticides to enter nearby rivers faster and more often.

In areas with a lot of farming activity, such as Annapolis Valley and around the Petitcodiac Watershed in New Brunswick, there is a higher risk of contaminants entering aquatic ecosystems such as streams and rivers. This has created concern in surrounding communities regarding the health and quali ...