In 2021, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as required by the Fisheries Act, ordered that the gates in the aboiteau on the Avon River beneath Highway 101 causeway be opened to allow the free passage of fish on the river.
That order drained the artificial Lake Pisiquid located next to downtown Windsor, returning the river to its historic tidal path. The order angered some people in Windsor who used the lake for recreation and who preferred the lakefront view it provided over the natural beauty of the mud flats. It also infuriated property developers who felt a view of the lake was a crucial selling point for local real estate.
In 2023, John Lohr, the NS Minister of Emergency Management ordered the fish passage closed as an emergency measure to maintain the lake. He said Lake Pisiquid was needed as a water resource to fight fires and the emergency measure was requested by local officials. The local fire chief has denied any such request was ever made yet the emergency order continues to be renewed every 14 days.
The closing of the Avon River aboiteau gates interrupts the natural flow of the tides, killing fish and marine life while harming the local ecosystem. Local fishers, Mi’kmaq and community members are extremely concerned about the environmental damage and loss of aquatic life and have petitioned the Province to reopen the gates to restore the Avon River to its natural ebb and flow.
The Blomidon Naturalists Society is advocating for the fish. If you would like to help reopen the aboiteau gates and free the fish, please click on the website donate button on the main page to contribute to the Avon River Legal Fund.