A major project to restore Arsenault’s Pond in Egmont Bay is wrapping up this week. Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem and Wilfred Arsenault, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Evangéline-Miscouche, toured the site yesterday with community representatives.
The $140,000 restoration project is the first major project completed under the Province’s new five-year capital budget for management of ponds and impoundments. The total budget is $615,000, with $200,000 to be spent in 2006/07.
“Ponds provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as public access for a broad range of recreational and educational activities from angling and hunting to canoeing and bird watching,” said Minister Ballem. “This investment will restore habitat at several sites and allow us to complete major structural repairs at others.”
Work at Arsenault’s Pond included replacing the fish ladder, and fixing a problem of erosion from the adjacent roadway that posed a safety risk and contributed to sedimentation of the pond. The work will significantly improve fish habitat and fish passage. The fish ladder is a new design that is being used in PEI for the first time. It is more cost effective and allows more species of fish to pass from Jacques River into the pond.
“Arsenault’s Pond is an important landmark in the community but its condition had declined over the years. With the work carried out this year, I’m pleased that residents will be able to enjoy the pond for years to come,” said Mr. Arsenault.
Other work being carried out under this year’s capital budget for impoundment management includes:
• repairing fish ladders at Cass’s Pond, Covehead; Indian River Dam; Gordon’s Pond, Huntley; Blanchard’s Pond, St-Roch; and Murphy’s Pond, Millvale;
• planning and design work for restoration projects at Leard’s Pond in Coleman, and Hunter’s Pond in Baltic; and
• assessing the option of removing the dam at Breadalbane Pond and restoring the site.
There are more than 700 man-made ponds or impoundments in PEI. Of these, the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry is responsible for management of 60, and jointly manages another 26 with Ducks Unlimited Canada. Department staff assessed all Government-owned or -leased ponds over the past year to prioritize work to be carried out under the capital budget.