Latest news with #Melanson
CBC
10-03-2025
- Science
- CBC
Discovery of zebra mussel near Mactaquac raises alarm over spread of invasive species
Social Sharing The recent discovery of a live zebra mussel near Mactaquac, west of Fredericton, is raising concerns the invasive species is spreading in New Brunswick, with potentially damaging impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, boats and even beaches. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans found an adult zebra mussel on a dock in the St. John River just north of the Mactaquac Dam in December, said Terry Melanson, team lead for the department's aquatic invasive species program. The single mussel doesn't necessarily mean the species has taken hold in that part of the river, but it does suggest the mollusc has spread from the Edmundston region, where it was first discovered in the province in 2023, Melanson said. "Now, will it get bad? That we don't know," Melanson said in an interview. "We could see localized impacts and we could see very little [impact]. That's kind of the mystery behind this ... that though we're employing several methods to detect the zebra mussels, there's no way to know to what extent they're going to establish in the St. John River." A creeping threat Zebra mussels are native to eastern European waters but entered the Great Lakes in the late 1980s through ballast water discharged from ships, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. They've since spread through much of eastern Canada and the United States. The threat to New Brunswick first came in 2022, when zebra mussels were detected in Quebec's Lake Temiscouata, which drains into the Madawaska River, a tributary of the St. John River. WATCH | Why spreading zebra mussels could hurt infrastructure: What the spread of zebra mussels in N.B. could look like 23 minutes ago Duration 1:27 What could happen when zebra mussels, an invasive species that is spreading in New Brunswick, pile up. Terry Melanson of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans explains. As feared, the mussels were discovered the following year in the Madawaska River, including on infrastructure connected to Edmundston's Madawaska Dam, said Melanson. Last summer, samples by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans found zebra mussel larvae in several locations in the St. John River as far south as the Mactaquac Dam, Melanson said.. Danger to native species Melanson said once zebra mussels take hold in an environment, they can propagate in clusters numbering into the thousands. If that happens in New Brunswick, the species could pose a serious risk to the yellow lampmussel, which has been labelled a species of "special concern" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. "They're filter feeders, mussels, so they would filter the same organisms or organic matter as the yellow lampmussels. So in that respect [zebra mussels] risk impacting negatively that species." According to the Fisheries and Oceans, the yellow lampmussel is only found in two Canadian watersheds, the St. John River and Sydney River in Nova Scotia, making it particularly vulnerable to changes in those ecosystems. Damaging to humans Aside from the threat they pose to New Brunswick's aquatic ecosystem, zebra mussels are also known to wreak havoc in spaces affecting people. Melanson said municipal intake and drainage pipes along the St. John River could become clogged by clusters of zebra mussels and the same can happen to infrastructure for hydroelectric dams. "And when they do stick to these hardened substrates, they really form dense mats," he said. "We're talking something perhaps [the size of] the end of your small fingernail, but take hundreds or thousands of those in dense clumps, you can already imagine the impacts that can happen just on, on infrastructure alone." Melanson said zebra mussels have been found on the Madawaska Dam, but the dozen or so that were found are considered a small number. Melanson said swimming spots could also become hazardous if zebra mussels spread and multiply in the St. John River, given their shape and size. "The shells being small by their very nature are very sharp, and ... a person walking barefoot, it could cut their feet." Stopping their spread Once zebra mussels have entered a water body, there's not much that can be done to eradicate them, said Sarah Cusack, a project co-ordinator with the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council. Cusack said part of what makes them so proliferous is that in their larval stage, zebra mussels can travel long distances on their own just using the natural flow of a body of water. On top of that, the larvae are impossible to see with the naked eye and can get accidentally transported from one waterway to another by boaters and kayakers. Cusack said in light of that, her organization emphasizes to recreational boaters to thoroughly clean their boats, drain any captured water, and let them dry out before putting it back in the water — especially if they're going to be in a different water body. "I do believe that this is something that should be taken very seriously," Cusack said. "Zebra mussels have caused billions of dollars of damages and management requirements elsewhere where they've been introduced," she said. "They're not native to North America. So we are going to see potentially changes in our ecosystem, in our freshwater systems, and a cascading effect that will happen because of that because they do move so quickly."
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Discovery of zebra mussel near Mactaquac raises alarm over spread of invasive species
The recent discovery of a live zebra mussel near Mactaquac, west of Fredericton, is raising concerns the invasive species is spreading in New Brunswick, with potentially damaging impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, boats and even beaches. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans found an adult zebra mussel on a dock in the St. John River just north of the Mactaquac Dam in December, said Terry Melanson, team lead for the department's aquatic invasive species program. The single mussel doesn't necessarily mean the species has taken hold in that part of the river, but it does suggest the mollusc has spread from the Edmundston region, where it was first discovered in the province in 2023, Melanson said. "Now, will it get bad? That we don't know," Melanson said in an interview. "We could see localized impacts and we could see very little [impact]. That's kind of the mystery behind this ... that though we're employing several methods to detect the zebra mussels, there's no way to know to what extent they're going to establish in the St. John River." A creeping threat Zebra mussels are native to eastern European waters but entered the Great Lakes in the late 1980s through ballast water discharged from ships, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Zebra mussels shown covering a boat propeller. The invasive species can colonize any hard surface, which can lead to clogging of water pipes. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) They've since spread through much of eastern Canada and the United States. The threat to New Brunswick first came in 2022, when zebra mussels were detected in Quebec's Lake Temiscouata, which drains into the Madawaska River, a tributary of the St. John River. WATCH | Why spreading zebra mussels could hurt infrastructure: As feared, the mussels were discovered the following year in the Madawaska River, including on infrastructure connected to Edmundston's Madawaska Dam, said Melanson. Last summer, samples by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans found zebra mussel larvae in several locations in the St. John River as far south as the Mactaquac Dam, Melanson said.. Danger to native species Melanson said once zebra mussels take hold in an environment, they can propagate in clusters numbering into the thousands. If that happens in New Brunswick, the species could pose a serious risk to the yellow lampmussel, which has been labelled a species of "special concern" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Terry Melanson, team lead for the aquatic invasive species program with DFO, is seen here decontaminating a boat at a fishing event. (Submitted by Terry Melanson) "They're filter feeders, mussels, so they would filter the same organisms or organic matter as the yellow lampmussels. So in that respect [zebra mussels] risk impacting negatively that species." According to the Fisheries and Oceans, the yellow lampmussel is only found in two Canadian watersheds, the St. John River and Sydney River in Nova Scotia, making it particularly vulnerable to changes in those ecosystems. Damaging to humans Aside from the threat they pose to New Brunswick's aquatic ecosystem, zebra mussels are also known to wreak havoc in spaces affecting people. Melanson said municipal intake and drainage pipes along the St. John River could become clogged by clusters of zebra mussels and the same can happen to infrastructure for hydroelectric dams. "And when they do stick to these hardened substrates, they really form dense mats," he said. "We're talking something perhaps [the size of] the end of your small fingernail, but take hundreds or thousands of those in dense clumps, you can already imagine the impacts that can happen just on, on infrastructure alone." Melanson said zebra mussels have been found on the Madawaska Dam, but the dozen or so that were found are considered a small number. What look like stones from a distance are actually zebra mussel shells on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. (Bartley Kives/CBC) Melanson said swimming spots could also become hazardous if zebra mussels spread and multiply in the St. John River, given their shape and size. "The shells being small by their very nature are very sharp, and ... a person walking barefoot, it could cut their feet." Stopping their spread Once zebra mussels have entered a water body, there's not much that can be done to eradicate them, said Sarah Cusack, a project co-ordinator with the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council. Cusack said part of what makes them so proliferous is that in their larval stage, zebra mussels can travel long distances on their own just using the natural flow of a body of water. Zebra Mussels are a threat that should be taken seriously because of the damage they can cause, said Sarah Cusack with the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council. (Submitted by Sarah Cusack) On top of that, the larvae are impossible to see with the naked eye and can get accidentally transported from one waterway to another by boaters and kayakers. Cusack said in light of that, her organization emphasizes to recreational boaters to thoroughly clean their boats, drain any captured water, and let them dry out before putting it back in the water — especially if they're going to be in a different water body. "I do believe that this is something that should be taken very seriously," Cusack said. "Zebra mussels have caused billions of dollars of damages and management requirements elsewhere where they've been introduced," she said. "They're not native to North America. So we are going to see potentially changes in our ecosystem, in our freshwater systems, and a cascading effect that will happen because of that because they do move so quickly."
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pair Of Forwards Set To Make Kraken Debut
Michael Eyssimont and Jacob Melanson are set to make their Seattle Kraken debuts tonight against the Nashville Predators. With the trade of Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstand, as well as the healthy scratching of Brandon Tanev for trade protection reasons, the Kraken have three open spots in their lineup that need to filled. Eyssimont, the forward who came over to the Kraken in the trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning will make his Kraken debut, playing in his 58th game of the season. He's scored five goals and 10 points and will be a valued addition to their bottom six, providing speed and aggressiveness on the forecheck. 'I try to put away all the process, moving parts and everything that comes with it in the rearview mirror for a second, then just focus on playing a hockey game,' said Eyssimont during this morning's post skate media scrum. 'I've played some one thousand hockey games in my life. So just trying to go in there and treat it like playing hockey because that's what it is.' Melanson, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, will make his NHL debut tonight. He made his AHL debut last season, scoring six goals and 18 points and has followed that up by recording seven goals and 10 points in 27 games. The 21-year-old has dealt with injuries this season but maintains his hard-working mindset. 'I told myself at the start, you've gotta go through adversity to do anything in life,' said Melanson. 'I knew it was going to be a little road bump for me [understatement but typical Melanson toughness]. That I had to keep working. Obviously, it just makes these times even better.' The Kraken kick off a three-game road trip in Nashville with newly acquired Mikey Eyssimont and 2021 #NHLDraft pick Jacob Melanson looking to make their debuts with Seattle. @ByBobCondor has more → — Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) March 6, 2025 As the Kraken continue to offload veteran players, the expectation is that more Coachella Valley Firebirds players will make their NHL debuts. Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
CBC
26-01-2025
- Politics
- CBC
2 running in upcoming mayoral byelection in Haines Junction, Yukon
Residents in Haines Junction, Yukon, are going back to the polls this week to elect a new mayor, just months after the last municipal vote. Advance polls for the mayoral byelection took place on Thursday, a week before election day on Jan. 30. Former mayor Michael Riseborough resigned in November just one month after taking office. In a statement to council, Riseborough cited his health as the reason for his resignation, brought on by workplace stress. There are two candidates now vying to take his place: acting deputy mayor Diane Strand, and Brian Melanson. Melanson also ran for mayor in the October election, and has decided to throw his hat in the ring one more time. "It was a community decision," he said. "I've had about 30 people coming to my house to let me know that Mike resigned and they wanted me to run again." Melanson says his greatest strength is his ability to stay neutral and navigate through conflict and differing opinions with respect. He says he's approached this race differently – taking more time to canvass, knock on doors and really understand what the community wants. Diane Strand is a familiar face in the village council chambers. She's already served one term as a councillor and is also the former chief of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. "I've been asked several times over the last couple of elections to put my name forward and I've always declined because I'm quite a busy person," she said. "But on this last go-around, I really started thinking about how much I enjoy being on council, how much I enjoy doing this kind of work and giving back to the community." She says besides her leadership experience, she feels that having a member of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations in office would be important for the community. "We've been missing that Indigenous voice within municipal governments," she said. "I think being that voice could help bridge misunderstandings and be beneficial to Haines Junction. "I think it's good to have someone that has sat on both sides of the table." Focus on finances When asked to predict Haines Junction's biggest challenge over the next four years, both candidates were quick to point to the economy. "Financials," said Melanson. "Canada's broke. We're definitely going to have a problem in the near future with fiscal responsibility and tightening our belts. We're not going to have the money in two years that we do today." Melanson noted that both the federal Liberal and Conservative parties have mentioned the need for future cuts. The federal and territorial government employ a number of people in Haines Junction, and Melanson says the community should be prepared for layoffs. "It's going to require bringing the community together," he said. "There are quite a few things in our [Official Community Plan] that allow for small projects to help people learn new skills. Meanwhile, Strand says she's nervous about what will happen to the Canadian economy if the U.S. imposes punishing tariffs. "Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow, with President Trump." Strand also wants the community to be better prepared for wildfires and have a solid fire management plan. Tipping fees Landfill fees are also a hot-button issue in the community. New fees are scheduled to come into effect next month, with small 45-litre garbage bags to cost $10 to drop off, and large bags to cost $20. The bylaw, which was passed in September, aims to recover the high annual operating costs of waste management. "This is part of growing and this is part of development," Melanson said. "It's going to be hard." Melanson says he's heard a number of wants from the community: a new pool, curling rink, paved trails, an improved downtown core and a new playground. "The money is going to have to come from somewhere, and it won't be coming from Ottawa." Strand, too, supports the new landfill fees. "We have to pay, unfortunately," she said. "All across Canada there are tipping fees." Strand says she's passionate about getting a proper swimming pool into Haines Junction, but says the community must be sure it has the resources to build and sustain it. "We do need to do some really serious asset management for all of our buildings. We also have to be realistic that our water management costs money. And yes, there is a lifespan for the dump. We need to be smart in how we manage it," she said. Byelection polls will be open Jan. 30 from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. at the St. Elias Convention Centre.
