MONCTON, NB – Thursday, September 24, 2015 – Petitcodiac Riverkeeper invites all Greater Moncton residents to take a moment to enjoy the scenery and fresh air on the Riverfront Trail by the Petitcodiac River on this upcoming World Rivers Day (Sunday, September 27) and admire just how far the Petitcodiac River has come since the opening of the causeway gates.
World Rivers Day, launched by the United Nations, is annually celebrated on the last Sunday of every September. Last year, several million people across more than 60 countries celebrated the many values of the world’s waterways. More information is available on http://worldriversday.com.
“On this World Rivers Day, we’re reflecting on the progress that has been made with our beloved Petitcodiac River,” says Petitcodiac Riverkeeper President Paul N. Belliveau. “We also want to take this opportunity to reaffirm that Riverkeepers are committed and will continue to work towards the complete restoration of the Petitcodiac River. I’m very proud of the work our organization has achieved over the last decade. I invite residents to go outside on Sunday and take a moment to reflect and connect with the river on their own, to truly appreciate its beauty.”
Petitcodiac Riverkeeper says Greater Moncton residents have lots to take stock and appreciate on this World Rivers Days. This year, 2015, marked the five-year anniversary since the opening of the causeway gates. Residents can notice that the river is wider than before and that the tidal bore is bigger and stronger. Results from fish monitoring this past spring indicated an increase in populations of several species of native fish. It seems the ecosystem has gotten much healthier.
“I’m proud not only of all the work that led to the opening of the causeway gates in 2010, but also of our tireless efforts ever since to monitor the river’s health and help its ecosystem recover,” adds Belliveau. “There have been many recent successes, like the Humphreys Brook restoration project and our continued involvement with the Petitcodiac Fish Recovery Coalition’s work to monitor and restore native fish populations. Since its beginning, our organization has been the Petitcodiac River’s watchdog, patrolling and monitoring the watershed and undertaking actions to promote compliance with environmental laws.”
Petitcodiac Riverkeeper hopes citizen will take a moment this Sunday to enjoy the Riverfront Trail with their friends and families and renew their commitment towards ensuring that the Petitcodiac River be protected and allowed to reclaim its former glory. “With elections coming up, citizens can demand candidates take a stand on our goal to see the causeway replaced by a bridge so that the river can flow completely free and natural once again,” suggests Belliveau. “They can volunteer to help us patrol the river and report polluters. They can let their voices be heard at the city council level to demand that plans for upcoming riverfront developments be maximized to ensure more healthy and environmentally friendly green spaces. We’re always looking for more volunteers, so I invite people who are inspired by World Rivers Day to contact us by email at info@petitcodiac.org.”
Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization. Its main objective is to restore the ecological health of the Petitcodiac and Memramcook River watersheds, including the Shepody Bay estuary, located in southeastern New Brunswick. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is part investigator, scientist, educator, and advocate. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper acts as a public voice for our waterways, protecting our right to clean water and a healthy watershed.
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Media Contact:
Paul N. Belliveau
President – Petitcodiac RiverkeeperEmail: paul.n.belliveau@hotmail.com
Phone: 506-855-2637Cell: 506-866-2637
