Coastalshed concept on a bay-wide scale

in St. Margaret’s Bay Paul R. Boudreau, Michael J.A. Butler, Claudette

LeBlanc, Geoff Leboutillier, Alexi Westcott

The ChallengeThere have been numerous efforts to develop

and implement management processes for this geographic area: Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management (ICOM) Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

A Plethora of Existing Terminology!

coastal waters, regional seas, and the closed oceans”

“coastal lands... coastal waters... and offshore waters”

“coastal waters and semi-enclosed seas along the world's shore-lines”

“coastal areas” “coastal areas... upstream estuarine

river systems... estuarine habitats... shore-lines”

“coastal and marine” “coastal zone” “ocean and coastal resources”

“... respective terrestrial and aquatic environments of the coastal zone”

“coastal regions” “coastal ecosystem(s)” “coastal and estuarine ecosystems” “coastal regions” “terrestrial coastal zone” “terrain of the coastal watershed” “coastal lands within the United

States and, by extension, for upland ecosystems too”

“the coast”.

Coastal Zone Definitions in 14 Jurisdictions

Generally 500 m landward from natural features including beaches, salt marshes, dyke lands, dunes, inter-tidal areas, designated cultural areas, and environmentally significant areas.

Variable, based on biophysical relationships Inland boundary based on fixed setback or flood

zone as well as township boundaries. The inland line of coastal towns on tidewaters

and all islands 100 feet inland of specified roads, railway

tracks or other visible right of ways which are located within a half mile of coastal waters or salt marshes.

∼1000 feet from the mainland shoreline; 500 feet from the mainland shoreline in urbanized/developed coastal areas or less than 500 feet where a road or rail line runs parallel the shore at a distance of under 500 ft.

Inland boundary: 20 counties adjoining, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and including

coastal sounds. The entire state of Rhode Island. 3 miles inland from baseline All areas to the landward side of coastal waters

in which there are physical features, ecological or natural processes or human activities that affect or potentially affect the coast and coastal resources

3 km inland from the coast Up to 200 m from the inland limit of the shore 2 km inland from line of highest equinoctial

tides Mean high water springs or 1 km upstream from

the mouth of a river or the point 5× the width at the mouth, whichever is lessHinch and Fanning, 200814 Jurisdictions

CoastalshedThe geographic area which is subject to:

drainage of water and/or,the transference of impacts, from the land,

through the estuaries into the inshore waters and beyond into the marine domain, and vice versa.

Components:WatershedEstuaryMarine

National Scale

St. Margaret’s Bay,Nova Scotia

St. Margaret’s Bay / Estuary(ies)

St. Margaret’s Bay Coastalshed, Nova Scotia

Alternative Marine Boundary

The Coastalshed Concept Applied

Example: St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association (http://www.heartofthebay.ca) – Area of interest: the SMB coastalshed.

Community ForestTroop IslandMicou’s IslandChebucto Wilderness Area

MANY CHALLENGESMultiple jurisdictions, law and responsibilities

FederalProvincialMunicipal

Potential AdvantagesLinks land – where most activities are carried out

– with the waterBetter engages people, their homes and their

activities with the receiving watersOne term that covers many terms.From management perspective it makes sense.

Thank Youhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Coastalshed/

162322587130763