Estuary

Spaniard's Bay and Bay Roberts in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, signed a Municipal Wetlands Stewardship Agreement on June 6. 1997 for the protection of the Shearstown Estuary. In November 2005, both Towns set up a Joint Management Committee with a specific mandate to oversee the protection of these wetlands. Working with the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, this committee manages the specified wetland habitats located within the stewardship zone.

The Joint Management Committee 's actual accomplishments

For the Shearstown Estuary!


2008 Projects

• After giving some thought to a new logo design for the estuary the committee deemed it was appropriate, that the ‘American Black Duck’, which frequents the wetlands year round, is the focus. Local artist Beverley Rodgers originally from Coley’s Point designed the new logo.It was unveiled at the SAM Wetlands Conference in June.

• Committee members working with Baccalieu Consulting, Margaret Ayad designed six 'Birds of the Estuary' storyboard signs and working on four more. 

• Working in partnership with the Gaia Environmental Youth Group held on May 31 - clean-up at the Estuary.

1. Public Awareness Forum that was held on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at Ascension Collegiate was a success with guest speakers Ms. Barbara Campbell, Biologist & Mr. Jason Foster, Biologist both with the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, Wildlife Division.
The Gaia Youth Group gave an overview on what it is they do to help preserve the wetlands, each year they cleanup the garbage. The Green Team summer students gave a slide presentation on the project that they are working on at Arnie's Pond, walkways, arbors & flower boxes.
Guests mingled at the Snack & Chat afterwards and the main topic discussed was - how can we best preserve the "Estuary."

2. Reprinted in colour & added species to the booklet "Where the River Meets the Sea."

3. Held a major Estuary Cleanup, followed by a BBQ for volunteers hosted by the Spaniard's Bay Fire Dept.

4. Installed two new 4X8 signs "Wetlands Signs" from EHJV.

5. Designed a "Brochure" on the Estuary.

6. Osprey nest built & installed by the Town of Bay Roberts staff.

7. A small video on the Estuary by Baccalieu Consulting, linked to both Town's web sites.

8. Presented a five year business plan to both town Councils.

Sponsors: Ecoaction Funding, Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, Gaia Youth Group, Joint Management Committee, Spaniard's Bay Environment Committee, & the Towns of Bay Roberts & Spaniard's Bay.




History
The Shearstown Estuary is a shallow bay where fresh water from Shearstown River meets and mixes with saltwater from Spaniard’s Bay.

Late fall to early spring, congregations of waterfowl come to feed including American Black Duck, Canada Goose, Mallards, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup. Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail are occasional summer visitors to the delight of the bird watchers.

There is also an abundance of shorebirds that use the estuary as a stopping point during long migratory flights including the Greater Yellowlegs, Black-Bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Spotted Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone to name a few.

Many seabirds such as Herring Gull,Greater Black Gull, Ring-Billed Gull, Iceland Gull, Ivory Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern and Arctic Tern utilize the estuary all year round.

Songbirds and raptors actively utilize the forested edges of the estuary for feeding and nesting like the Blue Jay, Black-Capped Chickadee, American Robin and Northern Junco.

Others species are the European Starling, Common Crow, Ruffed Grouse, Common Loon, Osprey, the Bald Eagle and the Hawk. No matter what the season, there is always an opportunity to observe an array of wildlife species.

Aquatic life found at the estuary; Invertebrates such as the Barnacle, Blue Mussel, Amphipod, Soft-shell Clam and Periwinkle. Vertebrates such as the Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Three-spine Stickleback, American Eel and Capelin.

Plant Species at the estuary; Aquatic such as Eelsgrass and Widgeongrass. At the beach you will find Sea-rocket, Oysterleaf, Yarrow, Butter and Eggs, Climbing False, Black Knapweed, Stinking Groundsel, Curled Dock, Scotch Lovage, Seaside Plantain, Glasswort and Buckwheat. Salt marsh/Shoreline species are Silverweed, White Spruce, Saltmarsh Sedge, Black Grass, Field-Sow-Thistle, Vetching, Orache, Spikerush, Scotch Lovage, Seaside Plantain, Glasswort and Pasture Rose.

Estuaries are found throughout the world, are nutrient rich ecosystems, considered to be among the most biologically productive ecosystems on earth. Though we are much smaller we are still critical to many species of plants and animals in our region or travelling through our region.

The focus of this committee will be education and awareness of the Estuary site and to find sources of funding to promote same. projects will include, but not be limited to, display boards to identify the various species of birds, plants etc. at the site and reproduce the booklet "Where the River Meets the Sea."

The Committee consists of two Council and citizen representatives from each Town. Councillor Bill Seymour, Liaison and Patricia George, Secretary from Bay Roberts , Councillor Mose Anthony, Liaison and Cathy Kleinwort, Chairperson from Spaniard's Bay. We work hand in hand with the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture for advice and input for the Habitat Conservation Plan for the wetlands with Stewardship Biologists Barbara Campbell and Jason Foster.


If you would like to join us and take an active part please call

Pat @ 709-786-1292 or Cathy @ 709-786-9829.

- Enormous amounts of garbage indiscriminately thrown into and around the estuary. This has comprised the integrity of wildlife habit and decreased the aesthetic value of the area for humans.

-Many shoreline trees and shrubs have been replaced by fields and manicured lawns. Infilling of the estuary for commercial, residential and road development has destroyed or irrevocably altered much of the shoreline habitat around the estuary and contributed to siltation of the water column.

Many people are unaware of their impact on the environment and do not see it as their responsibility towards conserving this ecosystem. This unique estuarine habitat has historically been the site of much ecological disturbance. yet, with commitment from residents, community leaders, municipal governments and conservation organizations the Shearstown estuary is capable of retaining its integrity as a critical type of ecosystem. Please join us in the quest?
(Click here for the Bay Robert's Estuary page)