News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The State of Water Quality in New Brunswick’s Lakes and Rivers: Water Quality Monitoring Results 2003-2016 was released today.

“We are committed to working alongside watershed groups, stakeholders and First Nations to undertake water quality monitoring and support restoration actions to ensure water quality in our rivers and lakes continues to be good,” said Environment and Local Government Minister Jeff Carr. “This is one way we are ensuring our communities will be vibrant and sustainable for generations to come.”

The report, which will be updated annually, summarizes water quality results from the province’s lakes and a network of 55 river monitoring stations. It outlines the department’s monitoring partnerships with federal partners and non-profit groups, and it provides details of other surface water monitoring programs.

As well, the report offers a brief overview of additional water quality issues that have been observed in the province’s surface waters, including invasive species and algae blooms.

The department has been routinely sampling rivers since 2003 and each year the water quality assessment has demonstrated that 80 per cent or more of sampling stations have either excellent or good water quality.

The report fulfils action item No. 1 in A Water Strategy for New Brunswick 2018 – 2028. The water strategy and water quality report are available on the department’s website.