Below is an update from Briana Cowie with the New Brunswick Alliance of Lake Associations (NBALA). There has been a report on water quality in New Brunswick lakes published by the Department of Environment and Local Government, and the NBALA is working on grant applications for the Environmental Trust Fund (ETF). Follow the link below to read more details!

Briana Cowie

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all doing well! Just a few follow up points regarding the NBALA. Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual General Meeting and the Conference this past Saturday. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear from researchers and government officials on issues and solutions that relate directly to our New Brunswick lakes. In the coming weeks I will continue to add information about the conference to our website so keep an eye out!

Also a few announcements:

  1. The Department of Environment and Local Goverment released their report on Water Quality in New Brunswick Lakes and Rivers (2003-2016) and the New Brunswick Alliance of Lake Associations, Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, was recognized in this endeavour. If you would like to read the report, you can locate it here.

  2. Environmental Trust Fund 2020/2021 was announced and will be due on November 30th. We are currently in the midst of writing a grant application for the NBALA and if you have any ideas or questions about that process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I have attached the ETF funding application for any other interested lake associations. Environmental Trust Fund at GNB.ca.

Some of the ETF ideas we have brainstormed thus far are as follows:

  • 1 Boat Wash Station as a Pilot Project to work alongside other environmental groups to promote the due diligence of the Clean, Drain, Dry Program
  • Potential partnering with the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council on a New Brunswick Wide “Invasive Plant and Animal Summit”
  • Expansion of the Youth Ambassador Program with the Invasive Plant Patrol Coordinator
  • Administrative Supports for the Executive and other lake association (especially to cover travel costs for all members)
  • Sediment traps for the Volunteer Water Monitoring Program
  • Underwater Cameras for the VLMP
  • Aaron Fraser from Willowbrook Services for thermoprobe installation/retrieval
  • … and more

Remember, these are brainstormed ideas at the moment and if you have any ideas of your own, please let me know. The executive and myself will be meeting next Friday November 15th to finalize grant options for ETF. Please try to get your ideas in before then.

Thank you again to everyone for your continued support and commitment to keeping NB lakes healthy! Hope you all stay safe in the possible snow on Friday.

Kind regards,
Briana