On June 16, 2014, scientists came from Maine to visit the Humphreys Brook restoration project lead by Petitcodiac Riverkeeper and also to familiarize themselves with the Petitcodiac River causeway issue.
Photo:
– Denis Haché, Retired engineer, former dam removal specialist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and advisor to Petitcodiac Riverkeeper.
– Slade Moore, Contracting Habitat Restoration Coordinator, Maine Coastal Program, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry | Bureau of Geology, Natural Resources and Coastal Areas.
– Claire L. Enterline, Diadromous Fisheries Scientist, Maine Department of Marine Resources.
ext: Nathalie Landry Editing: Monique Arsenault Photos and video: Georges Brun, Marco Morency Music: Phil Flowers
Most people seem unaware that the murky waters of the Petitcodiac River are teeming with fish and aquatic life. Ever since the opening of the causeway gates, fish stocks are gradually improving thanks to restored fish passage and restoration efforts led by the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance, Petitcodiac Riverkeeper, and Fort Folly First Nation.
Edmund Redfield may be more familiar of the current status the river’s various fish species than almost anyone else. After obtaining his Masters in Restoration Ecology from the University of Alberta, he chose to make Moncton, New Brunswick his home. He soon became involved with Fort Folly First Nation’s Habitat Recovery program. He also started contributing to many Petitcodiac Riverkeeper initiatives, such as the Humphreys Brook Restoration project.
“Lots of people were leaving New Brunswick to go to Alberta and here I was, going in the other direction”, he recalls with a good laugh. “But there are many opportunities here people don’t often realize.”
Edmund is now in his 4th year managing the Petitcodiac Fish Recovery Coalition’s fish trap in its 5th season documenting the presence/absence and counts of individual fish species. The trap is located in the main channel of the Petitcodiac River just upstream of the “Old Train Bridge” in Salisbury. He also helps operate Fort Folly’s smolt wheel, designed to catch a portion of the springtime juvenile salmon migrating out to the sea, to document and study them. Smolts are also collected in order to breed and reintroduce the species and are tagged so that they can be tracked to help monitor their population. Edmund has thus seen first hand how the river’s evolution since the opening of the causeway gates has affected its fish species.
“We monitor the arrival and movement of fish into the upper reaches of the river. Many species are increasing in numbers. For example, in 2010- the year the causeway gates were first opened, we did not catch a single Striped Bass. In 2011, we caught 158 and in 2012, 706. Tomcod is another example. We only caught only one in 2010. The next year, we counted 1,316, and by 2013 we had 3,155. This is a species, which, for many years before the opening of the gates, had completely disappeared from the upper reaches of the river.”
Striped Bass
Tomcod
Perhaps the most abundant fish species is the Gaspereau. Hard to imagine, but Redfield says the fish trap once caught over 40,000 Gaspereau in one singleday during the height of spawning season.
We’re also seeing populations of invasive species diminish. Anglers had introduced Smallmouth Bass back in what used to be the Petitcodiac Lake. Since the opening of the causeway gates in 2010, their numbers have declined yearly, to the point that by 2013, we did not catch a single one. So while it might be premature to say that smallmouth bass are gone, we are able to say that they look like they are on their way out. With the return of free tidal flow, the river is no longer a favorable environment for them, and as competitors with (and in some cases predators of) native species, they won’t be missed.
The most prized species people would like to see in the river is of course the famous Atlantic Salmon, which use to abound in the river. “I’ve heard lots of stories of people fishing Atlantic Salmon in the Petitcodiac River. Unfortunately, they were already on the decline due to overfishing and other factors even before the causeway got constructed. Working together with DFO we’ve been stocking the river with Salmon and hopefully one day, we’ll have a healthy self-perpetuating population again. In addition to fry from the hatchery we’ve released adults during spawning season, and found redds (egg nests) in the riverbed that indicate that they spawned successfully, and we have followed up by monitoring their offspring through electrofishing. Unfortunately, so far the only salmon we see are ones that we’ve put in the river, either as young fry or as adults ready to spawn (and their offspring). It will be a very big deal if we ever catch an adult at the fish trap on its way upstream to spawn in the fall, because that would be an example of a salmon which had entered the river all by itself, rather than with our help. That would be a major sign of recovery.
Atlantic Salmon
Other than his fascination with aquatic life, Redfield is quite the naturalist and is currently awaiting publication of his first book – a field guide to native and non-native plants in Atlantic Canada. Profiling over 150 species of plants, he hopes to help people learn about the flora around them. “People care more about things they recognize. Only when you know more about something in nature, are you likely to care enough to want to protect it.”
Why is the river so important to him?
“I guess I’ve always had a fascination with water, especially moving water. I live in Pré-d’en-Haut and have a lovely view of the river. I’ve seen the tidal bore become bigger, the river becoming wider; I see signs of the river becoming healthier. My father-in-law used to fish Salmon in the Petitcodiac and one day, I’d like it to have healthy enough populations so that my son can fish them here like his grandfather used to.”
You are cordially invited to attend the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper’s 2014 Annual General Meeting, Tuesday June 10, at 7:00 pm at the Chateau Moncton Hotel.
RSVP by calling 506.388.5337 or by emailing mario.cyr@petitcodiac.org.
We’re always looking for passionate individuals to guide the organization in its mission. If you are interested in participating on our board of directors or in our committees, please contact us at the above coordinates.
Petitcodiac Riverkeeper now has roots on Vaughan Harvey Boulevard. To celebrate Moncton’s 125th anniversary, 35 organizations planted a tree that bears their name during the Arbor Day event, which took place on May 15, 2014 on Vaughan Harvey Boulevard in Moncton. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper also took advantage of the event to highlight and celebrate its 15th anniversary.
Members of the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper team who came out to help plant the tree included Roger Leblanc, Mario Cyr, Daniel Chiasson, Georges Brun, Ronald Babin and Denis Haché. Our tree is number 25. It is an Armstrong Maple, already about 4 meters high. Congratulations to the City of Moncton for this beautiful project, bringing organizations together and symbolizing hope for the future.
These ladies from Taiwan made certain to come to Moncton during their Atlantic Canada trip, because they had heard about the Tidal Bore and wanted to see it for themselves. They ran into Petitcodiac Riverwatcher Georges Brun, who stopped by to chat with them and find out more about their travels. They had flown into Halifax and had Moncton’s Tidal Bore on their New Brunswick itinerary, along with Fundy National Park. Next stops for this group would be Prince Edward Island and seeing the icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador. Seems our Petitcodiac River is gaining momentum as a world-class tourist attraction all the way in Asia!
Text: Nathalie Landry Editing: Monique Arsenault Photos and video: Georges Brun Music: Mario LeBreton
“There is nothing like being in the marshes along the Petitcodiac River in the morning, with the mist rising and the sun’s rays starting to slowly heat the air. You can hear the birds singing… It’s good for the soul.”
It was his love of ornithology that brought Roger Leblanc to become involved in the protection and restoration of the Petitcodiac River. He is a member of the Petitcodiac Riverkeepers and has taken part over several years in the Christmas Bird Count, an annual census of birds by thousands of volunteer and professional birders all over North America as well as in South America. Leblanc leads the count in Moncton, trying to identify and track as many species and individuals as possible over an area that covers 24 km in diameter from the city’s centre and includes the marshes surrounding the Petitcodiac River.
“I remember that before we opened the tidal control structure gates, I use to go to Bell Marsh in Salisbury,” he recalls. “I would observe the marshes around the artificial lake. It was a dead lake – there was almost no animal life. But since the opening of the locks, I see lots of animal life coming back to this marsh. It’s really amazing how quickly nature reclaims her territory when she is left to her own devices.”
Leblanc hails from Campbellton and has always been an outdoor enthusiast. He studied at the Université de Moncton, and then settled in our region. He has worked in television production for many years. He’s made some nature documentaries, and developed a passion for wildlife and flora in the process, resulting in his favorite hobby: bird watching.
“I especially love bird watching this time of the year, in the spring. I try to go out at least 2 or 3 times a week to the marshes along the banks of the river. Nature changes so quickly, it’s this incredible theatrical performance that I feel privileged to attend. Spring sees the return of the Red-winged Blackbird, swallows and duck species. There’s the Nelson’s Sparrow, one of my very favorite species, very unique to our region. If we ever want to give Greater Moncton an official bird, I would recommend the Nelson’s Sparrow.”
Leblanc says that for him, the tidal bore gaining momentum since the opening of the gates in 2010 is only the icing on the cake when it comes to all the positive changes that he’s been noticing in regards to the health of the Petitcodiac River.
“The river and its wildlife are always evolving. For example, I see a lot more species of ducks along the riverbanks as well as other birds for which the river is a natural habitat. Some other species, such as seagulls, are less present. We used to have a big problem with seagulls, there were too many – it was too easy for them as they simply could feed on the fish that were getting stuck trying to go through the gates. Now that the fish are able to pass through the opened gates, there are fewer gulls near the causeway. Also, as the river’s mud banks gradually erode, shorebirds like sandpipers that use to live on the banks are now migrating upstream – making their nests in places that are a more natural habitat for them. This is normal, a sign that the river is returning to its natural state and that the wildlife is adapting.”
Leblanc says it’s a shame more people are not aware of the richness and diversity of our region’s flora and fauna. “We are very fortunate to live in a city where, within a few minutes, you can be in a salt marsh observing the wildlife. For bird lovers, there are several species in our region that cannot be found anywhere else. People come from all over the world to see species like my friend, the Nelson’s Sparrow which has a very distinctive song.”
“When you start learning about birds and know more about their stories, the great migrations they undertake and what makes each species unique, you start to appreciate nature a lot more and you want to protect it.”
His vision for the future of the Petitcodiac River?
“We must give the river – and nature – the chance to reclaim their rights. I hope someday we will remove the tidal control structure and the causeway and replace them with a bridge. The area where the artificial lake used to be has great potential – it could become a much more interesting place if we gave the river a chance to regain its natural width. I envision a beautiful marsh, with boardwalks for people to be able to walk around and watch the birds.”
By Petitcodiac Riverwatcher Georges Brun Editing: Monique Arsenault
On one of my recent patrols this past month, I discovered a pile of snow near the traffic circle on Moncton’s West Main Street (at the entrance of the old city dump), which could cause serious problems for the ecosystem of the marshes surrounding this area.
Known as the Causeway Snow Storage facility, the site is used by the municipality for snow removal operations in the downtown area. It is located immediately southeast of the West Main Street traffic circle. The Petitcodiac River is located approximately 600 metres south of the causeway site. The area between the disposal site and the river is occupied by marsh. This marsh is mapped as a Provincially Significant Wetland by the New Brunswick Department of the Environment. As such, to protect water quality, the Province has recommended that the City of Moncton maintain a buffer between the snow pile and the marsh.
The Causeway snow storage facility currently has a colossal mound of snow, the result of this past winter, which is filled with waste and gravel. Given the amount of snow that is here, the buffer has not been respected. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper was worried that this huge mound of snow, which is melting slowly, would have negative repercussions on the surrounding wetland.
You can see the snow dump’s vastness here thanks to Google Maps. The snow pile (shown in brown) is located near a pond (shown in green), which is part of the marshes and wetlands surrounding the Petitcodiac River.
Snow pile, seen from afar.
RiverWatcher Georges Brun on top of the mound of snow. Also visible are the large pond and surrounding wetland nearby.
The snow pile is huge and will therefore take a long time to melt. As you can see in the photos below, it is filled with waste and gravel. The winds often carry the trash to neighbouring areas, polluting and harming the fragile wetland habitat nearby.
Snowmelt runoff can contain significant amounts of contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, chloride and heavy sediments. The gravel and the contaminants could make their way into the adjacent pond and marsh where many birds such as Canada Geese, Green-winged Teals and Song Sparrows live and nest.
Petitcodiac Riverkeeper thus alerted the City and made the following recommendations:
1- We recommend that the City of Moncton send a team to pick up litter found on snow dump before the wind starts making trash fall in the surrounding marshes. We also recommend putting a fence around the dump to prevent the trash from being blown away.
2 – We recommend the City of Moncton send a bulldozer to push the gravel back so it does not fall into the marsh as well as to break up the ice so that the snow melts faster.
3 – We recommend placing signs on the site in order to properly define the wetland protection zone, which should be respected at all times.
Representatives from the City of Moncton assured us that they would take action immediately and have started to implement some of our recommendations. They have installed geotextile near the snow pile to help capture garbage and prevent it from being blown off site towards the walking trail, wetland, and the Petitcodiac River. Additionally, municipal staff were instructed to pick up the garbage in the snow. For security reasons, sending a bulldozer or excavator is just not feasible for now.
The City monitors surface water quality each spring at each of its snow storage facilities. It assures us that in past years, contaminants that can be found in street snow have historically been below the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Freshwater Aquatic Life.
We have also been assured that next year (winter of 2014-15), the buffer will be staked to ensure that snow is not deposited beyond the buffer area. Municipal staff will be educated to respect this buffer area and it will be clearly identified.
We thank the City of Moncton for its prompt reply. We would like to especially thank Melissa Lee who came to inspect the site with us and implemented our recommendations.
Melissa Lee also invited us to visit the new Berry Mills mega site, which will be used as a snow dump in the future by the City of Moncton. It is a unique, one-of-a-kind project in Atlantic Canada.
This modern snow storage facility will reduce the negative effects of snowmelt on the surrounding environment thanks to a buffer zone and conduit. The City of Moncton, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, plans to build four basins, which will filter the water melting off the snow pile, thereby minimizing its impact on the fauna and flora of the adjacent wetlands.
We will keep our members and the community informed of developments on this project.
Finally, warmer weather is here! Spring’s arrival can be spotted a variety of ways along the banks of our dear Petitcodiac River. Warming temperatures not only melt the ice on the river, but also the hearts of all residents of the Petitcodiac River watershed who go outside to enjoy the sun and warmth by taking a stroll along the river’s banks.
In the spring, we get to see nature come back to life. It’s an ideal time to see firsthand how our river sustains a variety of plants and animals. Here are a few telltale signs of spring you may have noticed.
Flooding in the Wetlands
Severe flooding has been a problem this year. When winter begins earlier than usual and there is a warming in January (as was the case this year), there is often flooding on Acadie Avenue in Dieppe. The flooding is due in large part to Babineau Creek, which has been affected by the tidal control structure since its construction in 1968. Several small streams feed the creek and water thus overflows unto the marshes around Dieppe and Chartersville. In the past, Babineau Creek use to cross Acadie Avenue. The control structure changed the geomorphology of the Petitcodiac River, eventually clogging the mouth of Babineau Creek. During spring thaw, waters often fills the marshes and floods the road.
When the snow melts, it’s often necessary to take drastic measures to ensure that the drainage of Babineau Creek is successful. These pictures shows the City of Dieppe digging a bypass channel.
Halls Marsh, north of the Petitcodiac River, is also often flooded in the spring. Halls Creek has two branches named West Branch Halls Creek and North Branch Halls Creek. In the past, the Halls basin was left virgin, but economic development favored the construction of dams, roads and buildings. During heavy rains, there is often flooding thanks to all this development, since the earth is no longer able to function like a natural sponge as it should.
Crowley Farm Road has thus become a target for flooding when there are heavy rains and melting snow. The road was built in the early 1980s. Previously, there was no backfilling along Connaught Avenue and the baseball field was part of the marsh. The bridge over Halls Creek required entrance and exit ramps. Excess landfill was placed on the marsh. There is always a price to pay when you fill a wetland.
Flooded marsh near Halls Creek. There is always a price to pay when you fill a wetland.
Fish Swim Upstream and Birds Make their Nests.
A more positive sign of spring’s arrival is the presence of fish swimming in the 5 major rivers upstream from the Petitcodiac River’s tidal control structure. Double-crested Cormorants are an indicator that there are fish in the river and that the river is providing a healthy habitat. Downstream from the control structure, there are always birds taking advantage of the excellent fishing conditions, feeding on smelt or shad or even eels and lampreys. Upstream, bald eagles gather to feed on the fish that get pushed back by the river’s tides.
Cormorants feed on fish – a sign that fish stocks are slowly returning to normal in the river.
Bald eagle. This large bird feeds on other birds (gulls, ducks) and small animals (muskrats). It is also an excellent fisherman.
Canada Geese were introduced in our region in the late 90s and are now part of the Petitcodiac River’s sustainable ecosystem. In the spring, we can witness the migration of over 125 Canada Geese that come to build nests.
Canada Geese nesting. Here, a male keeps a watchful eye to protect his female.
Several other birds make their appearance in early spring. Some of the most common species we get to see are the Common Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Great Blue Heron, robins, buntings, the Red-winged Blackbird, etc. It’s a delight to hear their songs at the beginning of spring.
The American Goldfinch’s appearance in the region is a telltale sign that spring has arrived.
Animals Come Out of Hibernation
In addition to birds, there are also muskrats, red foxes, deer and even sometimes moose that can be seen along the river’s banks.
A beaver hut built near the Humphreys Brook restoration project. Beavers have an important role to play in the forest’s regeneration.
Even with a large territory and an abundance of small mammals, weather conditions affect the fox’s hunt. When you spot a red fox out hunting in late February, you can rest assured that spring is around the corner.
The Marshes Become Vibrant with Color.
Spring is the time when trees and plants regenerate. Flowers make their appearance and attract insects and small birds. Tree buds and plants bring color to the marshes: yellow, orange, red and green.
Alder catkins. One of the first indicators that spring is here.
Perennial plant often known as the “Mayflower”.
Cycling and Hiking Season Begins
Finally, the sun and the warm weather encourages young and old alike to get out their bicycles and enjoy the trail along the Chocolate River, an ideal place for cycling. For residents of the Petitcodiac River watershed, a walk or bike ride along the trail can be a great opportunity to see many of the signs of spring mentioned in this blog. They might even be lucky enough to see the tidal bore surge with all its glory, its waters now free of winter’s ice.
Happy spring!
Maurice Leblanc and Jean-Guy Duguay (Petitcodiac Riverkeeper members) out for a bike ride along the Riverfront Trail.
Text: Nathalie Landry Editing: Monique Arsenault Photos and video: Georges Brun et Cindy Roy with contributions from Rachel Richard-Léger Music: Monique Poirier Special thanks to: Catherine, Rachelle and Éliane Desjardins.
“Reading is surrendering to our imagination… In my opinion, this is one of life’s greatest pleasures.”
It is this passion that Cindy Roy loves to share with children. The Dieppe-based author has published a series of mini-novels (i-Fée and Fée Planchette – Éditions Boomerang), which is very popular among young francophone readers. The main character and inspiration behind the series, which Cindy enjoys impersonating, is Féeli Tout, a storytelling fairy who enchants young and old alike.
Who would have thought that the Petitcodiac River would inspire Féeli Tout and all of Cindy’s stories? Sure enough, Féeli Tout is a fairy that lives among the marshes of the chocolate river.
“When they opened the causeway gates, I saw the tidal bore come back to life”, recalls Cindy. “Strangely enough, this was around the same time as I was coming back to life as well, by discovering myself as writer and storyteller. The river was becoming itself again. It is as if the river was giving me the courage to just be ME and follow my heart.”
“For the past three years, I’ve gone out by the river quite often. This is where I discovered myself as a writer and storyteller.”
She says she experienced several self-awareness and revelatory moments by the banks of the river.
“Whenever I walk along the river, I find inspiration. I really wanted to write something that takes place right here, next to the Peticodiac River.”
Cindy hails from the small village of Charlo in the Chaleur region in New Brunswick. She has lived in Dieppe for 20 years. A former teacher, she is the mother of 3 children and lives in a house about two feet away from an access to the riverfront trail. At first, she did not know that the river’s presence, and its tidal bore, would have a huge impact on her life.
“For a long time, I’ve had my work station set up overlooking the marsh. To think of it, I’ve always been very attracted to the river. When I came to Moncton to study at the university, the Chocolate River’s banks became my refuge. This is where I would go to read or think. I would feel calm and at peace when I was near to the river. “
“A few years ago, I started a fundraiser for a friend of mine who has Multiple Sclerosis. I gave myself the goal to bike 20 km per day for each $20 donation. In the evening, I wrote a blog about my adventures and what I saw along the river’s banks. I biked for 40 days. I saw spring come and transform the landscape. I saw how alive this area is. This experience – and the river – made me realize how much I love writing and that I wanted to dedicate my life to it.”
Cindy took a sabbatical to concentrate on her writing. In 2012, she started taking part in book fairs and shows for children, dressed as her fictional character, Féeli Tout.
“When I dress up as Féeli Tout and tell stories to children, I always start by telling them: My name is Féeli Tout and I live in among the marshes of the Chocolate River. I’ve done presentations to children everywhere, so they’ve heard about the Petitcodiac River in Quebec and Ontario…. Our river is much better known than we think! A young girl even once told me: I wanna see the Chocolate River … and your magical marsh full of books! Can you take me away with you on your wings?“
What makes the Petitcodiac River so inspirational for this artist?
“It is a peaceful place and at the same time full of life and energy. The tidal bore always surprises me, like some sort of sign… Almost every time I go out, even without paying attention to the tide schedule, the tidal bore is there. The wave gives me energy. When I walk or bike near the river, the ideas just flow.”
Like many people who enjoy this beautiful place, Cindy firmly believes in the importance of protecting its environment. “We must take care of our river and let it evolve.”
“This is my river. It is part of me, just like my characters who live among its banks.”
By Petitcodiac RiverWatcher Georges Brun Editing: Monique Arsenault
Do you know that the tidal bore ends at Turtle Creek?
If you visit the area where the Petitcodiac River reaches Turtle Creek during the winter months, you might be able to spot the distance between 4 or 5 successive tides, indicated by breaks in the ice. These breaks show where the Petitcodiac River’s tidal bore ends its journey. Once it has made its way under the causeway and through the tidal control structure, the bore reaches different stretches upstream depending on the strength of daily tides. The breaks in the ice are the result of water pressure that pushes upwards on the ice. You can see one of these breaks in the image below, which clearly shows where a bore ended.
One question I would like to run by my readers is the following: if the tidal control structure and the causeway between Moncton and Riverview was replaced by a bridge, would the bore go further?
The Gates Are Too Low
The tidal control structure beneath the causeway linking Moncton and Riverview was built between 1966 and 1968.
This control structure is part of the land and not the river itself. It was in operation until April 2010 when the Provincial Court decided that the province should open the floodgates to help the migration of many species of fish and facilitate a more natural flow.
Although the river is doing increasingly well since the opening of gates, expanding and regaining its natural flow downstream, it is shrinking more and more upstream. The tidal control structure is contributing to this problem. Here is why.
The water level at high tide can be quite elevated in winter, even more so when water is covered with a sheet of ice. Melting ice and snow, heavy rains, as well as local and regional temperature variations all influence the river’s flow.
The tidal control structure’s gates are only partially open. The opening could be made much larger. You can see the height of the gates in the photo below, taken at a low tide.
The gates could be raised by at least one meter.
Currently, the gates are not high enough to allow the river to flow naturally during very high tides in the winter and spring. The ice sheet on the river has a hard time passing through, often hitting the gates, which impedes its passage and slows down the river’s flow.
The Control Structure Acts Like a Funnel
The control structure hardly exceeds 50 meters in width while the river downstream is about 400 meters wide. Imagine all that volume of water trying to make its way through such a tight space! The control structure acts like a funnel, reducing the river’s strength and preventing it from flowing as naturally as possible.
Without the Passage of Ice and an Adequate Volume of Water, the River Will Continue to Narrow Upstream
The passage of ice is important to support the natural drainage and erosion process that needs to take place in the river. Without this process, the river will continue to narrow upstream. In the image below, we can see that the river is becoming narrower in Riverview, where the artificial lake once was. In winter, sediments accumulate and freeze, requiring lots of heat and a greater volume of water to be eroded.
Gravel Deposits Upstream
Finally, note the accumulation of gravel near the control structure, left by melted ice. Gravel accumulates when the ice is unable to pass through to the other side of the control structure under the causeway and is thus pushed back, dropping sediments along the banks of the river.
The Solution: Remove the Control Structure
Opening the causeway gates in 2010 has certainly helped the river regain its natural flow. However, I believe that the control structure’s gates could be lifted even higher to allow a greater volume of water to pass through. I also hope that we can one day completely remove the causeway and control structure and replace them both with a bridge of adequate height. The tidal bore could thus continue its journey much further than Turtle Creek. Over time, the river’s natural erosion process would help widen the river where the artificial lake once was. We would thus enjoy the beauty and health of our river, now longer, wider and more majestic, having regained its former glory.
