NEWSLETTER
ST LAWRENCE VISION 2000
VOLUME 12 – ISSUE 6 – DECEMBER 2001
Preceding issues

The Chaleur Bay ZIP Committee

Biophysical characterization of the coastal wetlands along the southern Gaspé peninsula

The success of any ecosystem protection, restoration or enhancement project depends in large part on whether there is sufficient knowledge of the characteristics of the natural site. This ensures that participating partners are convinced of the importance of the project and allows the judicious planning of activities. Consequently, during the summers of 2000 and 2001, the Chaleur Bay ZIP Committee (ZIP is short for Zone d’intervention prioritaire or Area of Prime Concern) carried out a project to characterize the wetlands along the southern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula. This will result in a reference tool that can be used by both the ZIP committee and its regional partners.

The coastal wetlands along the south shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, which include barachois (baymouth bars), saltmarshes and salt meadows, are exceptionally rich and productive ecosystems. They provide crucial habitat for a wealth of animal and plant species, many of which are rare, including the hooded arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis subsp. spongiosa), Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, striped bass and Maritime ringlet butterfly. Although the location and characteristics of the larger wetlands tend to be fairly well known, this is less true for the smaller wetlands, even though they are of equal ecological value.

Wetlands and the species inhabiting them cannot be protected without a knowledge of their distribution and distinctive characteristics. Consequently, the Chaleur Bay ZIP Committee has been working since the summer of 2000 to characterize the coastal wetlands between the municipality of Matapédia and Cap Gaspé, in Forillon National Park. This project fits in with one of the priorities that emerged from consultations with local communities, as expressed in the Environmental Remedial Action Plan for the region (Plan de d’action et de réhabilitation écologique du secteur Baie des Chaleurs /Gaspé-sud).

Wetlands of the South Shore of the Gaspé Peninsula
Large circular salt pan and marsh with salt-meadow cord-grass (Spartina patens) and saltwater cord-grass (S. alterniflora) and mudflat. Barachois at Hopetown.	General view of barachois. Salt meadow with great bulrushes (Shoenoplectus tabernaemontanii), salt-marsh flat sedge (Blysmus rufus), Baltic rushes (Juncus arcticus var. balticus) and scaly sedge (Carex paleacea). Barachois at Grand Pabos.
View of sandbar at Carleton, strip of salt marsh with seablite, jointed glasswort (Salicornia depressa/maritima) and sea lavender (Limonium carolinianum) along its inner edge, mudflat and Larocque sandbar. Tidal lagoon at Carleton.	Vegetation dominated by beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata). Note the trails made by ATVs and motorbikes disturbing this part of the spit. Barachois on the Bonaventure River.
Salt meadow of Baltic rushes (Juncus arcticus var. balticus). Brackish marsh in the Escuminac River estuary.	Brackish marsh in the Dartmouth River estuary.
Mudflat, upper mudflat with saltwater cord-grass (Spartina alterniflora) and salt meadow. Barachois on the Nouvelle River.	Salt marsh with black-grass (Juncus gerardii), red fescue (Festuca rubra), salt-meadow cord-grass (Spartina patens), saltwater cord-grass (S. alterniflora) and Gaspé arrow-grass (Triglochin gaspense). Barachois on the Port Daniel River.
View of the sandy mudflat (left) and marsh with saltwater cord-grass (Spartina alterniflora), sea lavender (Limonium carolinianum), blunt-leaved sea-milkwort (Glaux maritima subsp. obtusifolia) and seaside plantain (Plantago maritima subsp. juncoides). Southeast part of barachois on the St. Jean River.	General view of eastern part of tidal pond at flood tide. Coastal spits can be seen as well as the southeastern part of the salt marsh. Barachois on the St. Jean River.
Photographs courtesy of Benoît Tremblay of the Chaleur Bay ZIP committee.

Study based on photointerpretation and surveys in the field

The Chaleur Bay ZIP Committee began by interpreting topographic maps and aerial photos of the southern coast of the Gaspé to locate wetlands in the study area. The extent of knowledge on these wetlands was also determined.

Next, the committee undertook to characterize habitats by their biophysical characteristics. Several surveys were carried out at each site to describe its distinctive characteristics in terms of geomorphology, flora and fauna. Since a knowledge of plant communities in a habitat allows a number of other characteristics such as wildlife potential to be inferred, particular attention was paid to vegetation inventories.

The various types of human disturbances threatening the integrity of the wetlands were also described, as well as the characteristics of the areas bordering the sites. Lastly, a cadastral search was carried out to determine the ownership of each site.

In all, 43 wetlands were surveyed. The ZIP committee is currently synthesizing the data obtained to draft descriptions of each site, which will be an integral part of the reference document to be published in the spring of 2002.

A management and educational tool

The directory of coastal wetlands on the southern Gaspé coast will have many different uses. The Chaleur Bay ZIP Committee will use it to carry out comparative analyses and define conservation priorities for wetlands in cases where action is required. As Michel Chouinard, ZIP committee co-ordinator, explains, "the survey enabled us to identify wetlands under significant pressure from human activities that require protection efforts in the short term or restoration work. It also allowed us to target exceptional habitats, as well as sites supporting rare or endangered species. Protection measures must also be implemented for these habitats so that their biodiversity value is preserved." For example, concerted efforts must be made to implement special protection measures for the 15 barachois surveyed, due to their crucial role in maintaining the dynamics of coastal habitats.

Administrators of municipalities and regional county municipalities will also benefit from this new reference tool. By using the legal and regulatory tools at their disposal, these ZIP committee partners can help to ensure the long-term protection of wetlands. To provide concrete support for land-use planning, the various options for conserving natural habitats are also described in the directory.

The project may also have other positive spinoffs. Benoît Tremblay, the wildlife technician in charge of the study, used his expertise in botany to draw up a list of coastal plant species and developed methodology for characterizing coastal wetlands which can be used for future work on a regional scale. Lastly, according to Chouinard, the Chaleur Bay ZIP Committee increased its capacity for action by acquiring a number of documents, maps and photographs, particularly aerial photos, that in turn can be made available to its regional partners.

"As is true everywhere else in Quebec, we have to deal with deep-rooted prejudices about the value of wetlands. This project is an additional effort to convince elected officials and citizens alike of the importance of protecting these habitats," Chouinard concludes. The ZIP committee co-ordinator firmly believes that the soon to be published reference work will encourage the committees’ partners to be even more vigilant in preserving the wetlands on the south coast of the Gaspé Peninsula.

For more information:

Michel Chouinard, Co-ordinator
Chaleur Bay ZIP Committee
Telephone: (418) 759-5880
E-mail: zonebdc@globetrotter.qc.ca