NCC pulls together data in Eastern Canada to create open-access conservation planning tools

Written by Lindsay Day

October 22, 2019

A key element of freshwater conservation is knowing where to prioritize ecosystem restoration and preservation efforts. With the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC)  Freshwater Conservation Blueprint  this just got easier in eastern Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. 

Interconnected waterways, disconnected data

The Freshwater Conservation Blueprint is a collection of geo-spatial tools designed to support freshwater conservation planning in the Northern Appalachian-Acadian Region of Canada, an area spanning the Maritimes and Eastern Quebec. 

Three years in the making, it required locating, accessing and synthesizing vast amounts data – of different types, and from different sources – across the region. 

Fish don’t stop at provincial borders, but datasets often do.

It’s here where open data hubs like  DataStream  can take a lot of the legwork out of the equation by bringing multiple sources of water quality data together in one place, in one standardized format.

“We put a lot of work into collecting different datasets to get the information we needed on water quality, so having DataStream available to us will make that process much simpler going forward,” says Noseworthy.

Not yet built when NCC was putting the Blueprint together, Atlantic DataStream launched in 2018 through a collaboration between  The Gordon Foundation  and the  Atlantic Water Network. Today it hosts data collected by more than  30 different monitoring groups  at over 2600 sites across Atlantic Canada. 

Mobilizing open data for freshwater stewardship

Already the NCC Freshwater Conservation Blueprint tools are being used by others to inform stewardship action in Eastern Canada – from a protected areas network, to the development of a river water monitoring program.  

When environmental data is open and accessible it means we can make informed choices about where and how best to protect freshwater ecosystems. It also helps drive the development of new tools that help us to do so effectively. 

“The Blueprint project isn’t something we want to just sit on a shelf, so we’ll be looking to tap into DataStream to keep the information current,” says Noseworthy. “Ultimately, the more that people share data on DataStream the stronger the tool will become.” 

About the NCC’s Freshwater Conservation Planning Blueprint tools

Three geo-spatial tools make up the NCC’s Freshwater Conservation Planning Blueprint for the Northern Appalachian-Acadian Region in Canada, an area spanning the maritime provinces and Eastern Quebec. These tools are freely available to use and download from the   Northern Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion Conservation Atlas  : 

Screenshot of NCC stream and river classification layer over the Northern Appalachian – Acadian Region of Canada

Stream and river classification

This tool maps all rivers and streams across the eco-region and classifies them based on size, gradient (slope), alkalinity, temperature and tidal influence. 

https://2c1forest.databasin.org/datasets/3fa5eb769b99496fad0c05c838c8823d

Screenshot of NCC aquatic connectivity layer over the Northern Appalachian–Acadian Region of Canada and cross-border watersheds of the United States

Aquatic connectivity

This tool maps every dam, culvert and tidal barrier in the region. Users can drill down to information specific to their interests, such as Atlantic Salmon habitat.  https://2c1forest.databasin.org/datasets/a2097617294f49529f87c3630149d63c

Screenshot of NCC watershed health assessment layer over the Northern Appalachian–Acadian Region of Canada

Watershed health assessment

Using a watershed stress index that assesses data on 17 different stressors, this tool helps evaluate watershed health to identify priority areas for restoration and protection.

https://2c1forest.databasin.org/datasets/339f63ca00bf4e86aa1563d25de1185d

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