About Quoddy Futures Foundation

ABOUT QUODDY FUTURES FOUNDATION (QFF)

Established in 1992 as the St. Croix Estuary Project (SCEP), Quoddy Futures Foundation is one of the original nine community sites of the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP), an initiative sponsored by Environment Canada. Today there are 16 unique organizations and QFF is the only ACAP sites that it is located on an international river and represents the interests of both Canadian and American residents of the Quoddy Region.

QFF maintains its office at the Quoddy Learning Centre located at the Ganong Nature and Marine Park at Champlain, Dufferin Parish, New Brunswick, about halfway down the St. Croix River between St. Stephen and St. Andrews (Map). QFF is a not-for-profit, charitable organization which, on behalf of its members, strives to promote wise environmental and social management in the Quoddy Region (Charlotte County, NB and Washington County, ME). Directors of the Board are chosen from the membership.

Currently QFF

QFF's early work focused on surveying the resources of the estuary area, monitoring water quality, and identifying environmental and social issues. This effort culminated in the development of a Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) for the St. Croix Estuary and surrounding areas.This document has provided the guidelines throughout much of its first decade.

However, in 1999 two significant events occurred that changed the direction and focus of the organization. One changed the environmental and direction of QFF. The other changed the social direction of the organization.

Firstly, a new Board under new leadership recognized that very little remediation was occurring as a result of the work carried out by QFF. While the organization was providing valuable information to a variety of authorities little change was occurring. As a consequentce a new direction was launched whereby, strong basic field research would be used to identify environmental trends. Environmental "hiot spots" were identified and each year a new remediation effort would be launched to affect positive change and each year the problem site would be revisited until action occurred. This approach has been effective in accomplishing some remedial action.

Secondly, the QFF launched a campaign to pruchase the 350 acre Todd Point site from the estate of Whidden Ganong. This was accomplished and in 2001 QFF became the owner and manager of this property which, in compliance with Mr. Ganiongs wishes is now operated as a nature park. Aubsequently, QFF was gifted Camp Waweig a community camp located 0on 40m acres on the Waweig Estuary.

Building on a valuable information base, SCEP is now moving towards the postive growth of the Quoddy community based on remedial efforts and proactive involvement with sustainable developments.

For the record, the following is a list of objectives established in our original CEMP. We have crossed out those that have been accomplished.

1	Reduce bacterial discharge from New Brunswick-side wastewater treatment plants - Partly completed, but expected to be ongoing.
2	Develop a community contingency plan for oil spill response in Passamaquoddy Bay - Completed, but now needs to be revisited.
3	Conduct a ballast water education and problem prevention campaign - Completed, but now needs to be revisited.
4	Establish new public access points, in accord with resource conservation and land development plans, and maintain existing points. Completed.
5	Assess the environmental impacts of salmon aquaculture in Passamaquoddy Bay. Undergoing review.
6	Study the environmental effects of scallop and urchin dragging. Completed, but now needs to be revisited.
7	Complete the Integrated Research Program on rockweed harvest. Completed.
8	Convene a transboundary forum on effluent treatment standards for the St. Croix. Completed.
9	Replace or repair failing on-site septic systems. Completed, but now needs to be revisited.
10	Develop nonpoint source pollution prevention strategies. Underway with indefinite completion time.
11	Conduct household toxic waste collection and education projects. Completed.
12	Conduct industrial, commercial and institutional pollution prevention campaign. Completed, but now needs to be revisited.
13	Separate storm and sanitary sewers in St. Stephen. Essentially completed, but some current resistance from the Town of St. Stephen.
14	Construct pump-out stations for boat holding tanks. Completed.
15	Evaluate the potential impact of toxic discharges from industrial and municipal WWTPs on Estuary Area biota. Completed, but now needs to be revisited.
16	Sample finfish and shellfish for dioxins and furans. Completed.
17	Assess PAH concentrations and potential ecological effects. Completed.
18	Monitor the Estuary Area for faecal coliform bacteria. Continuing indefinitely.
19	Establish accredited microbiology laboratory in Charlotte County. Completed by Eastern Charlotte Waterways.
20	Produce atlas and compendium of fish and shellfish habitat in Passamaquoddy Bay. Completed, but now needs to be revised.
21	Develop and implement site-specific terrestrial and freshwater habitat protection strategies.Completed, but now needs to be revised.
22	Publish results of the pilot rockweed harvest and associated resource assessment, resource monitoring and research activities. Completed.
23	Conduct independent scientific review of report on results of pilot rockweed harvest. Completed.
24	Convene public meetings to discuss published results of, and other relevant information related to, the rockweed harvest. Completed.
25	Monitor upstream fish passage efficiency at Milltown dam fishway. Under control of St. Croix International Waterway Commission.
26	Monitor downstream fish passage efficiency at Milltown dam fishway. Under control of St. Croix International Waterway Commission.
27	Prevent and clean up marine debris. Ongoing.
28	Develop a system for collecting and disposing of foreign shipboard waste. Completed, but now needs to be revised.
29	Erect directional/locational signage for, and interpretive signage at, public access points. Completed. Destroyed.
30	Establish and maintain public water-side recreational trails. Completed and on-going.
31	Maintain navigational aids in the upper St. Croix Estuary. Not in mandate.
32	Establish "no wake" zones between St. Stephen and Calais and in part of St. Andrews Harbour. Not completed. Outside mandate.
33	Assess the environmental impacts of a proposed quarry at Bayside. Ongoing.
34	Determine places potentially impacted by sea level rise and study options for preventing damaging effects. Completed.
35	Study means for designating water use. Ongoing.
36	Develop and implement a priorized research and monitoring agenda for the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region. Completed.
37	Study feasibility of a septic system maintenance program. Completed, but now needs to be revised.
38	Conduct water conservation programs. Ongoing.
39	Monitor the Estuary Area for major nutrients. Completed.
40	Assess nutrient sources in, and impacts to, the Estuary Area. Completed.
41	Assess TBT concentrations and potential ecological effects. Completed.
42	Conduct a "clean marine" education campaign for all water users. Ongoing.
43	Monitor numbers of escaped cage-raised salmon at Milltown dam fishway. Under control of St. Croix International Waterway Commission.
44	Develop and maintain an inventory of important terrestrial and freshwater habitat sites. Completed and ongoing.
45	Study the feasibility of establishing an underwater park. Completed at Ganong Park. 150 acre area is an intertidal park.
46	Develop the capacity for local educators to undertake environmental studies of the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region. Ongoing.
47	Sustain and, if possible, expand environmental studies involving local students and other citizens. Ongoing.
48	Publish a regular popular newsletter or other publication on the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region. Ongoing.
49	Develop an Internet home page on the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region. Completed but ongoing.
50	Convene an annual event for the exchange of information on, and celebration of, the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region. Ongoing.

Quoddy Futures Foundation (St. Croix Estuary Project Inc.) is one of the founders of
Environment Canada's Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP)

350 Todds Point Road, Dufferin, NB, Canada
Telephone: 506-467-9905, Email: director@quoddyfuturesfoundation.org