St. Mary's River (Nova Scotia)

The St. Mary's River is a Canadian river. It runs through Guysborough County and Pictou County of Nova Scotia and drains into the Atlantic Ocean at Sonora, Nova Scotia. At approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi), it's one of Nova Scotia's longest rivers. The river drains an area approximately of 1,350 square kilometres (520 sq mi) and has four branches the West, East, North and Main. It offers important Atlantic Salmon habitat and the riverbanks are provide habitat for the wood turtle.^[1]

There is an estimated 130 lakes in the St. Mary's watershed, ranging in size from less than five hectares to 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) (Lochaber Lake). The largest lakes, all on the East and North branches, are the Lochaber, Lochiel, Eden and Archibald’s Mills Lakes.

Named Rivère Isle Verte by Champlain,^[2] the current name is from Fort Saint Marie, a French-built fort which was later taken over and destroyed by the British. There was also a Fort Saint Charles on the river nearby; both were seventeenth century forts.^[3]

Known fish species in the St. Mary's system

1. Alewife
2. Atlantic Salmon
3. Smelt
4. Brook Trout
5. Shiner (fish)
6. Brown Bullhead
7. American Eel
8. Lamprey
9. Yellow Perch
10. American Shad
11. White Perch
12. Rainbow Trout Rare Catch
13. Atlantic mackerel in the Surf

Conservation

There are efforts under way to protect ecologically important lands along the river.^[4]

References