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Taylor Brook, CFB Gagetown, Geomorphic Assessment and Restoration Alternatives

Location: CFB Gagetown
Date: 2007-2008

Parish Geomorphic Ltd. recently completed a geomorphic assessment and restoration designs for the Taylor Brook Watershed in central New Brunswick. Taylor Brook is located on Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, a military base that was created in 1958 through the expropriation of 30 acres of farmland and wooded areas. Much of the base has been cleared of vegetation in the past and is subject to constant and heavy tank traffic and artillery testing creating a unique set of problems on its watercourses. Taylor Brook is in a relatively undisturbed area of the base and has good vegetative cover and high quality fish habitat. As such, Taylor Brook has been set aside as a Special Management Zone (SMZ) negotiated between DND and DFO and is an integral component in fish habitat management on the base. Part of the SMZ concept includes provision for restoration and enhancement of fish habitat where it may increase the production of juvenile fish to re-populate other watersheds where improvements are occurring. The intent of this project was not only to assess the Taylor Brook watershed but to develop habitat improvement and restoration alternatives that meet both the unique training and management needs of the military and geomorphic characteristics of the brook. Rapid assessments (RGA/RSAT) were conducted for the total length of the brook, which when combined with geomorphic, hydrologic and hydrologic analysis helped to identify priority areas for restoration. Three sites were identified as being priority sites for restoration; a perched culvert that was a barrier to fish passage, two culverts at a decommissioned road crossing and an avulsion that diverted stream flows from 200 meters of high quality fish habitat and potently acted as a barrier to fish passage. This project is scheduled to be built in the August and September of 2008.

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