Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

algae growth

Study of fish populations in Saint John Harbour shows 'surprising diversity'

Study of fish populations in Saint John Harbour shows 'surprising diversity'

When ACAP Saint John set out on a four-year study of fish life and water quality in the Saint John Harbour, the environmental group wasn't setting out to answer any big questions. The study, which began in 2018, was designed to set a baseline for the general health of fish populations in the harbour. No one had made an effort to see how many species of aquatic life were in the tidal waters of the harbour, and in what numbers. Roxanne MacKinnon, the executive director of ACAP, said they were surprised by what they found.

Green layer of scum on Jones Lake in Moncton not toxic, city says

Green layer of scum on Jones Lake in Moncton not toxic, city says

Much of the surface of Jones Lake in Moncton's west end is covered by a thick, green layer of scum. The city has determined it's "horse hair" algae, also known as "cotton ball" algae. Dan Hicks, the director of parks for the city, says it might not look good, but it isn't toxic to people or pets. "It doesn't cause really human health issues in any great way, but there's certainly an abundance of it in Jones Lake right now," he said.

Young Innovators: New U of S app tracks causes of algae bloom

Young Innovators: New U of S app tracks causes of algae bloom

A new University of Saskatchewan smartphone app will help farmers and communities identify hotspots of nutrient contamination in freshwaters and possibly predict where algae blooms — slimy, plant-like green organisms that hinder water quality — are likely to grow. “Tracking how and where agricultural nutrients, which help crops grow, may be washed away with rainfalls and snowmelt is a major concern for both researchers and the public, and that’s where our app comes in,” said Environment and Climate Change Canada scientist Diogo Costa.

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