Protected wetland area in Shediac neighbourhood damaged again

Protected wetland area in Shediac neighbourhood damaged again

Vegetation at the Pointe-du-Chêne salt marsh was first cleared about three years ago

Pointe-du-Chêne resident Chris Strugnell is upset after a protected wetland close to where he grew up was disturbed for the second time.

Strugnell remembers crossing the wetland on different occasions throughout his life while going for swims, visiting the beach, wind surfing, sailing or kayaking, he said.

The salt marsh located in the Shediac-area neighbourhood in southeastern New Brunswick is owned by a wetland conservation non-profit organization called Ducks Unlimited Canada. In May, the vegetation on and around the site was chopped to the ground, upsetting locals including Strugnell.

"As a community, we care about this place and we want to protect it and we don't want to have people coming and building houses or cottages here and thinking they can just do whatever they want with the place," he said.

"There are rules and there are regulations in place and they need to be followed."

Vegetation on a protected wetland in Shediac’s Pointe-du-Chêne has been damaged again

In fall 2023, someone uprooted all the vegetation at the same site and added a rock-covered berm.

The incident sparked local criticism and led to an investigation by New Brunswick's Department of Environment and Local Government, and Ducks Unlimited Canada. A repeated damage in May has led to similar outcomes.

"It was torn down two years ago and just leveled and that alteration was much larger than this time around because what was chopped down was decades and decades of growth," said Strugnell.

"This time it was just two years of growth, but it just shocked me, angered me, and frustrated me, that this had happened again."

In an email to CBC, Ducks Unlimited Canada confirmed they were aware of the "recent illegal activity," on their property, including "unauthorized disturbance," within the 30 metre wetland buffer.

The damage is a chargeable offence, said Jodie Hambrook, head of Atlantic Canada conservation partnerships and public relations at Ducks Unlimited Canada, in the email.

She said the site is meant to exist naturally for the waterfowl, wildlife and human population to benefit. It was declared as a Treasured Wetland of New Brunswick in 2025 under a public awareness initiative by the organization, the province and other local partners, said the email.

"DUC is confident this will be resolved through proper regulations and remains committed to honouring the integrity of the site," said Hambrook.

"We remain hopeful that public education will help prevent future occurrences," she said.

Site key to managing severe storms, rising water levels

The Red Dot Association of Shediac Bay is a group that advocates to protect the wetlands along the Northumberland Strait from Shediac to Murray Corner.

Director Bill Ross said, in an email, the association is concerned about the damage to the wetland site, which is known to be visited by wildlife and migratory birds.

He said the site also plays an important role in reducing the impact of storms and rising water levels along the coast.

“We must all ensure the preservation of these important habitats,” wrote Ross.

Jennifer MacNeil, a spokesperson for the Province's Environment Department confirmed the ongoing investigation in an email.

Her email did not specify what the exact penalty could be, but said the consequences of non-compliance can include warnings, orders, tickets or prosecution under their Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

"The department is working with the landowner, Ducks Unlimited, to discuss next steps including education and awareness of the nearby residences," wrote MacNeil.

The department also didn’t answer what the outcome of the previous investigation was.

Strugnell said he was happy to see a sign erected at the site following the damage. It identifies the land as a salt marsh and displays the names of different organizations including the Province of New Brunswick and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

"We're already exacting change because as you can see that that sign was put up and that's, that's a start," he said.

Rhythm Rathi is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick in Moncton. He was born and raised in India, and attended journalism school in Ontario. Send your story tips to rhythm.rathi@cbc.ca