Salmonid (Salmo salar and Salvelinus fontinalis) habitat restoration in the Cobequid Bay watershed, Nova Scotia: Effect of instream restoration and enhancement devices on selected ecosystem indicators

Using selected ecosystem indicators of salmonid habitat, this project established how community based restoration and enhancement techniques affect habitat that has been impacted by human influences in Nova Scotia. Methods used complied with accepted field techniques and included water temperature measurements, dissolved oxygen measurements, aquatic invertebrate presence, fish presence, stream profiles, stream substrate analysis, and both fish and riparian habitat surveys.; On four streams, pool and riffle restoration using digger logs was put into place approximately six channel widths apart, perpendicular to water flow. Riparian enhancement was completed by planting local vegetation, willow, and other recommended species.; In general, after riparian enhancement and restoration using digger logs were installed, the water became colder, DO increased, and the width became narrower. Also, sediment contained more cobble and gravel, but less silt and organic matter, the ratio of runs, riffles, and pools became more balanced and the amount of vegetative cover increased.