CONSTRUCTION THROUGH DELICATE ECOSYSTEMS

In 1984, the Nova Scotia government proposed to build a section of provincial highway 107 across a salt marsh at chezzetcook. Salt marshes were identified by several agencies as being sensitive to any construction, especially a roadway which would have the potential of even greater effects from deicing chemicals or accidental spills. The department established a series of testing procedures which would be used to judge the effects of the construction. Parameters to be measured included water chemistry, chlorophyll, bacteria, vegetation, benthos, fish, clams, birds, foraminifera and sedimentology. In order to protect the salt marsh, extraordinary construction techniques had to be implemented to reduce siltation at any other injurious site. Special lagoons were constructed to collect any runoff and the entire construction site was protected by silt fences. Department technicians continuously monitored water chemistry, expecially the ph of runoff waters. Detailed monitoring of the suspended solids in all runoff waters was done using a special sampling device, the van dorn sampler. (a)

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

  401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • Gervais, F A
  • PIERCEY, D E
• Publication Date: 1988

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: E25-E39
• Serial:
  • RTAC 1988 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
  • Publisher: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animals; Bogs; Conferences; Environment; pH value; Road construction; Runoff; Sensitivity; Silts; Vegetation
• ITRD Terms: 2459: Animal; 4348: Bog; 8525: Conference; 2455: Environment; 7116: pH value; 3665: Road construction; 4329: Run off; 5928: Sensitivity; 4149: Silt; 2488: Vegetation
• Subject Areas: Construction; Data and Information Technology; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00487561
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1989 12:00AM