Used all over Europe, in New Zealand and in most parts of the United States, this system of protecting watersheds has led to sustainable water management plans and restoration projects that connect the upstream and downstream communities. New Brunswick started work on this science-based system over 15 years ago with the passing of the Water Classification Regulation of our Clean Water Act with the intent to “eventually classify all waters in the Province, watershed by watershed.”
Nineteen watershed groups conducted extensive data collection to submit their river systems for classification, yet none of the proposals have been approved. The delay prompted watershed and environmental groups, including the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, to file a complaint with the New Brunswick Ombudsman in 2013.
The Ombudsman’s report was released in 2014 and found that the classification system provides no protection because the Water Classification Regulation has never been enforced. The Ombudsman stated that the government has all of the information available to approve the Nashwaak Watershed Association but have been dragging their feet.
In March 2016 the Department of Environment and Local Government announced that they would begin work on developing a new comprehensive water protection strategy. This opportunity gives First Nations, scientists, business and local watershed groups and the environmental community hope that the neglected Water Classification Regulation will be enacted as the strategy’s key component.
More details on the regulation are below. The following are our latest posts related to the file.
2017
It’s time to protect our watersheds
Getting to know your NB watersheds!
2016
Lois Corbett on building a provincial water protection strategy on CBC InfoAm
EcoAlert Spring 2016 — See page 4, Talking about the importance of water
Statement on Provincial Water Protection Strategy report released today
Time for water classification is now
2015
It’s time to write the final chapter on the water classification regulation
Stephanie Merrill on anniversary of Ombudsman’s Water Classification report
2014
Without a paddle — CCNB article on water classification saga published in Water Canada Magazine.
Media responses to Ombudsman Report on failure of Province’s water protection regulation
NB Ombudsman: government intentionally obstructing water protection regulation
Background information
The regulation, which is still in effect, allows for community-based organizations, financially supported by the Department of Environment, to collect water samples, analyze the quality of the water as A, B, and C (based on standards for drinking water, protection of aquatic life, further degradation of the water) and set goals for the maintenance or enhancement of that water quality. The goals are set by the watershed organizations with input from the wider watershed community and the Department of Environment. The classifications and goals were to be set in legal protection under the Clean Water Act and any development activity that would impact that water quality was to seek consultation with the community to downgrade the water quality. Otherwise, development projects would be required by law to respect the classification of the river system.
In its 2002 guide to the regulation the Department said the Water Classification Regulation establishes a “bottom line” management goal for the water quality of all classified waters in the Province.
When passed in 2002, the Department of Environment said the intent of the regulation was to “eventually classify all waters in the Province, watershed by watershed.”
Nineteen organizations representing 19 watersheds/river systems are directly impacted by the failure of this program and regulation, including:
- Cap-Pelé area watersheds
- Westerly watersheds of Caraquet Bay
- Chaleur Bay Watersheds (Jacquet, Belledune, Nigadoo, Elmstree, Little Elmtree, and Millstream rivers, Armstrong, Duncan, Guitard, Fournier and Henry Brooks)
- Bay of Fundy watersheds composite
- Hammond River
- Kennebecasis River
- Kent County Watersheds (Chockpish, Bouctouche & Cocagne Rivers)
- Kouchibouguac River and Black River Composite, Kouchibouguacis River
- Madawaska River
- Meduxnekeag River
- Miramichi River
- Nashwaak River
- Petitcodiac River and Memramcook River
- Pokemouche River
- Richibucto River
- Shediac and Scoudouc Rivers
- St. Croix River
- Tabusintac River
- Big and Little Tracadie Rivers