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Farmers struggling with waterlogged crops after rainy start to summer
He said this is the wettest start to the summer he's ever seen, which has stopped crews from getting into the fields to pick the produce. The rain is also washing away pesticides that protect tree crops. "Every time we've gone into the orchards to mow or spray or do anything, it's rotted it up or just everything's gotten washed off, so it's definitely been challenging," he said. Spurr said he expects that could create quality issues with their harvest this year. Jordan Eyamie, the manager at Webster Farms, is facing the same problems. Her farm grows strawberries and raspberries. She said her farm has been struggling to protect the strawberries — which are ready to harvest — from something called Botrytis rot brought on by cool and wet conditions. "It's like a grey mould and that can be a season-ender if you can't get it under control," she said.
Halifax-area beach closed because of toxin-producing algae bloom in lake
RCMP investigates mischief to fire hydrants in Town of Yarmouth
RCMP in Nova Scotia are investigating mischief to fire hydrants in Yarmouth that caused flooding to a home. Yarmouth Town RCMP received a report Thursday morning that fire hydrants had been tampered with on Brunswick, King, Beacon, Main, Marsha and Water streets. Officers learned that several hydrants had caps removed and had been activated, allowing the water to flow, between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The water flooded the basement of a home on Marsha Street.
Rising levels of chloride, aluminum in Halifax lakes a concern, study says
Levels of chloride, arsenic and aluminum in some Halifax lakes are a concern, according to a newly published Dalhousie University study. The peer-reviewed study examined four decades of water quality data from 50 lakes. It says that concentrations of aluminum in 29 per cent of the lakes, chloride in 20 per cent of the lakes and arsenic in one lake exceeded Canadian aquatic life protection guidelines.
Blue-green algae in 16 lakes across Nova Scotia already
The province’s Environment and Climate Change Department says 16 lakes have been identified as having toxic blue-green algae so far this year, with all reports coming in June. At the same point last year only eight lakes had been identified as having a bloom of the algae. Elizabeth Kennedy, the director of the water branch for the department, said that while there may be more instances this year because of hot and dry weather in May and June, the department has also been pushing its awareness campaign so more people could be reporting sightings.
What controls the pathways of the Labrador Current?
Changes to the flow of the Labrador Current along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia are leading to sudden warmings or drops in the oxygen levels of the waters in several regions including the St. Lawrence Gulf and Estuary. This change has dire consequences for marine ecosystems and fisheries. To better predict what could happen in the future, researchers set out to answer the question: what controls the pathway of the Labrador Current?
Proposed rules for mobile home parks in Halifax come as a relief to residents
On a summer morning two years ago, Susan Doyle turned on the tap to run a bath — and was greeted with a splash of dark water. "It was black as tar, the water. And I'm like, 'Oh my goodness,'" Doyle said in a recent interview at her Woodbine Park mobile home community in Beaver Bank. After 13 years of winding its way through city hall, a proposed Halifax bylaw would outline construction requirements and service standards for so-called "land-lease communities" like Woodbine Park.
Rural homeowners face water-softener shortage due to Ontario strike
People who live in rural parts of Nova Scotia that have wells on their property are in a bind these days. Water-softener salt, which is used to treat hard water, is in hot demand because there is little of it at stores in the province. "I've been looking for it for about three or four weeks," said Carol Morrison, who lives in Oakfield, a community about 30 kilometres north of Halifax. Morrison said she is keeping a close eye on how much water she is using until she can secure more water softener. "I take short showers, reduce the number of washes I do and really make sure the dishwasher is loaded right up before I run it through." The reason for the shortage is a strike by employees at Windsor Salt in Ontario. It's one of Canada's biggest producers of water-softening salt and there is now a huge hole in the market. Other companies' shipments have been making it to some stores like Costco, but they are quickly snapped up.
Tantramar historic dike system an engineering masterpiece, historian says
Driving along the back roads of the Tantramar marsh on the border of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, you can witness a vast expanse of grass and farmland — but that wasn't always the case. The only reason that area of the Isthmus of Chignecto looks the way it does is because of an engineering marvel that dates back almost 400 years to the 1630s. James Upham, a Moncton historian and educator, says the dikes and aboiteaux built by the Acadians are what made the roads, railways and communities along the marsh possible.
Province says blue-green algae detected in 4 Nova Scotia lakes
The Nova Scotia government has detected blue-green algae in Oat Hill Lake in Dartmouth, Armstrong Lake and Lake Torment in Kings County, and Covey Lake in Lunenburg County. The algae produces toxins that can cause illness in humans and can be fatal to pets. Blue-green algae occurs in all parts of Nova Scotia and once it appears in a body of water, it will bloom again when the conditions are right.
N.S. premier says Ottawa must pay entire bill to protect land link from flooding risk
Nova Scotia's premier pulled no punches Thursday, saying Ottawa should pay the entire cost of protecting the important land corridor linking his province and New Brunswick from climate change-related flooding. Tim Houston made the comment after being asked whether his government would apply to the federal disaster mitigation fund by the July 19 deadline. Federal Infrastructure Minister Dominic LeBlanc has encouraged both provinces to apply for funding for up to half the $301-million potential cost to protect the Chignecto Isthmus. "That (land) strip is a very significant national trade corridor," Houston said. "We understand Minister LeBlanc's position on that and the offer for the feds to pay 50 per cent, but quite frankly we think he's wrong. We think the feds should be paying for that."
Free well water kits given out by province don't test for hydrocarbons
The free well water testing kits given out by the province to residents impacted by the recent wildfires do not detect hydrocarbons, but there are options if anyone suspects that type of contamination. Hydrocarbons are a large group of compounds that include fossil fuels such as natural gas and petroleum. It can also include home heating oil. Signs of hydrocarbon contamination include odours or an oily sheen on water or soil. If this is detected, the province recommends that people contact an environmental consulting company and ask to speak to an environmental site professional.
Canada and Nova Scotia invest in new water and wastewater infrastructure in Kentville
Through this investment, the Town of Kentville will install new water distribution pipes, sanitary sewer collection pipes and a stormwater management system as well as replace an existing water tank and treatment plant under the future Donald E. Hiltz Connector Road, which will connect the Kentville Business Park to Prospect Avenue. This investment will increase capacity to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater while opening up new land for to build housing in Kentville.
Nova Scotia farmers worried about water use amid dry spring
A Nova Scotia farming group is concerned about the amount of water being used for agriculture this spring, but a provincial hydrologist says underground water levels are normal for this time of year. The current conditions have prompted Agriculture Canada to classify much of Nova Scotia as "abnormally dry," and categorize Truro and part of the Annapolis Valley as having a moderate drought. "It's getting to a point now where things are really drying out," said Allan Melvin, a sixth-generation farmer from the Annapolis Valley and president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
Funding announced for water, wastewater infrastructure upgrades in Yarmouth, Digby counties
“Three interdependent projects that are in close physical proximity will increase the capacity to treat and manage wastewater and storm water and increase access to potable water. The Vancouver Street intersection will be improved, including the water lines supplying the Yarmouth Regional Hospital," reads the project description. "In the neighbouring combined sewer overflow, a tidal check valve will be installed to prevent tidal water from entering the combined sewer system. The Gardner Street Lift Station will be disconnected from the storm water connection to receive a new exterior dedicated line and outfall."
Ottawa grants $154M to Dalhousie-led study on North Atlantic and climate change
Dalhousie University in Halifax will lead what it calls "the most intensive investigation ever into the ocean's role in climate change" thanks to $154-million in federal funding announced Friday. The research program is getting a piece of $1.4 billion awarded to Canadian universities by the federal government through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
ALLISTER AALDERS: April has been dry, and it’s concerning
It has been a divided month weather-wise throughout April. Most of the month featured a blocking pattern that led to relentless clouds, fog, and drizzle for eastern Newfoundland, with fair conditions in other parts of that province and for most of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. There is one common trend across the entire region, though — it’s dry. How dry? While we have a few days left to add to these numbers, there’s little precipitation ahead for Atlantic Canada to finish the month.
Water main break disrupts water supply, traffic in Halifax
A water main break in west-end Halifax disrupted water supply and traffic early Monday afternoon. Halifax Regional Police had asked drivers to avoid the Armdale Roundabout, where water was pooling, "making driving hazardous," the force said in a news release. Just before 4 p.m. AT, police said the roundabout had reopened to traffic. Halifax Water spokesperson Jeff Myrick said crews were working to repair the break, which occurred when a construction company hit a transmission main on Roosevelt Drive.
Ocean temperatures soared to new 'pretty alarming' highs off Nova Scotia in 2022
Ocean temperatures off Nova Scotia hit record highs last summer, eclipsing the record-breaking temperatures set in the Atlantic a decade earlier. "It's pretty alarming," said Fisheries and Oceans Canada research scientist Chantelle Layton. Layton is part of the DFO team analyzing results from the annual Atlantic Ocean monitoring program in eastern Canada. Canadian scientists are discussing the 2022 data this week.