The ACCESS-BoFEP 2026 Conference program is available here
Abstract
The Bay of Fundy sits between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada, and is characterized by its surging tides, which carry nutrient rich sediment up into the basins and connected rivers, supporting unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Peoples who settled around the Bay of Fundy reclaimed wetlands by constructing structural defenses, such as dykes and dams, which are now outdated, expensive to maintain, and often no longer in compliance with environmental regulations. Coastal communities who were at one time protected by this aging infrastructure are increasingly at risk from sea level rise, storm surges, and changing precipitation patterns. Barrier infrastructure requires re-examination considering modern values and technology that allow, or require, more socially and environmentally sound approaches for development.
Barrier removal is often locally contested, yet few studies focus on understanding local people’s experiences in dammed river landscapes. This research addresses this gap using a mixed-methods comparative SIA to explore the evolution of two dammed tidal river landscapes and local people’s responses to changes over time. Our study sites are the Petitcodiac River, where a causeway that dammed the river was partially removed and natural tidal flow re-established, and the Avon River, where causeway modifications are under consideration.
Findings from this work include: 1) landscape values in times of transition require an understanding of the past, expectations for the future and present uses and preferences; 2) indicators of restoration support for ongoing contentious decisions are measurable and strongest are landscape perceptions; and 3) comparative SIA effectively increases understanding of experienced impacts and acceptance over time during management changes. We can learn from the Avon and Petitcodiac cases to avoid inequitable patterns and make progress towards improving river restoration outcomes with benefits for human and non-human life.
Citation
Margeson, K., Sherren, K., & Manuel, P. (2026). “If you make a river a lake…”: Using comparative social assessment impact to understand resistance and support for barrier removal and tidal river restoration. ACCESS/BoFEP Conference, Sackville, New Brunswick, 19-22 May 2026.
Related Blog Post
Belen, A., Emery Webster, A., Keast, E., Legault, A., Margeson, K., Martinez Calderon, D., & Toze, S. (2026, June 25). “Connecting Communities to Ocean Science”: ACCESS-BoFEP Conference, 19-22 May 2026. EIUI Blog. https://eiui.ca/connecting-communities-to-ocean-science-the-access-bofep-conference-19-22-may-2026/