Our Work

RED = Site shows restricted tidal flow 

YELLOW = Site shows suspected restricted tidal flow, but more data is needed 

GREEN = Site does not show restricted tidal flow 

 

COINAtlantic collaborated with Clean Foundation to produce the the Northumberland Strait Saltmarsh Atlas. The online atlas houses a collection of information on tidal road crossings and salt marshes that have potentially been restricted from tidal flow.

 

• Restrictions are due to undersized water crossing such as bridges, culverts, aboiteaux etc. that act as barriers.
   

• Barriers result in tides unable to fully flow in and out of a system, or allow storm water to drain.

 

Tidal restrictions can limit saltwater influence, flushing, sediment transport and many other processes salt marshes need to function and grow properly. When these processes are interfered with, it may result in the degradation of a salt marsh.

 

To identify these restrictions, Clean used a combination of computer research with field research in the atlas:

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Areas Outlined in Purple = Desktop Analysis

 

The areas highlighted in purple outline potentially degraded sites, impacted by tidal crossings. These were identified through desktop investigation using Google Earth, Arc GIS and Google Maps. The research included the gathering of publicly available geospatial data sets obtained through the Nova Scotia Geo Data Collection. This data was then combined with Clean’s independent analyses done through ARC GIS and Google Earth to identify and characterize unhealthy salt marsh habitat. 

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Water Drops & Areas Highlighted in Red, Yellow and Green = On-the-Ground Field Research

 

These areas outline sites where more detailed on-the-ground assessments took place to classify tidal crossings as restrictive, not restrictive and potentially restrictive (further data needed). The assessments characterized the state of the crossings, the movement of the tides, as well as the habitat features of the surrounding salt marsh.