Project - Riparian Health Assessments for PEI: Capacity Building - Phase I

From June 2008 to March 2009 the PEI Soil & Crop Improvement Association initiated and administered a unique project that focused on riparian health assessments for PEI. The project was unique in that it provided training to members of watershed groups across the Island so that they could develop the technological capacity to conduct riparian health assessments in their watersheds and apply the information collected to 5-year management planning.

The survey method employed was based on the Alberta Cows & Fish Riparian Health Assessment protocols with adaptations for GPS technology obtained from the Nova Scotia Riparian Health Project. After receiving training from the Nova Scotia program the two staff people hired for the project proceeded to carry out training with 13 of the 30 odd watershed groups on the Island. A 50 page Field Guide Book was also designed and adapted for PEI conditions and given to the watershed groups as a reference manual to be used while doing their assessments. Even though only 260 KMs of riparian zones were assessed in 2008 some valuable information about the health of PEI`s riparian zones has already been collected.