Partners: St. Mary's River Association, Nova Scotia Salmon Association, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2023 - current)

The transitional area between water and land is known as the riparian zone, an important habitat component for aquatic species. Forested riparian areas protect rivers by buffering effects from land disturbance and providing shade in the summer months. Salmonid fish that naturally evolved in Mi'kma'ki, such as Atlantic salmon and brook trout, are cold water specialists threatened by warming rivers. However, the degree to which riparian zone disturbance alters river temperature is unknown in the Wabanaki (Acadian) forest region.

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This project uses remote sensing and field data to understand how riparian forest management influences temperature dynamics in fish-bearing headwater streams.