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Broken Brooks
Culverts are designed to re-route watercourses under roads and railbeds. However, changing the nature of a watercourse can have an adverse effect on aquatic species that live within it, such as fish. Improperly installed or malfunctioning culverts can become barriers to fish, thereby trapping them in segments of a watercourse. Culverts can negatively impact fish populations by restricting access to food, cool water refuges and spawning grounds.

In 2007, Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP) initiated the Broken Brooks project to evaluate watercourse crossings in terms of being passable to migrating fish. Sixty culverts were assessed and 55% were found to be partial or full barriers. The project was continued in 2010, with 777 preliminary assessments and 158 full assessments. Of the 777 preliminary assessments, 516 were culverts on fish bearing watercourses and 285 or 55% were deemed barriers.

In 2011, the assessment protocol was changed to improve data collection and classification. As most watercourse crossings on roads closest to the main stem of the Annapolis River were visited in 2010, those located further upstream were focused on in 2011. Sites located on main roads not visited in 2010 were also assessed. Each site was evaluated using the Fish Passage Index. Using the score generated, it was classified as passable, partial barrier, or full barrier. Full assessments were completed on partial and full barriers. If a culvert had a natural bottom or was backwatered, it was considered passable and a Fish Passage Score was not needed.

CARP staff visited 228 sites in the 2011 season. Of these, 144 were culverts on fish-bearing watercourses. Sixty-two, or 43%, were passable, while 82, or 57%, were found to be partial or full barriers. Two barrier bridges were also discovered.

In addition to assessments, remediations were also completed at eleven sites across the watershed. Nine debris removals were performed and two rock weirs were built to eliminate outflow drops and to backwater the culverts. Through these actions, approximately 26 km of upstream habitat was made available for migrating fish species. Including the downstream sections, over 58 km of habitat on the watercourses that were remediated was made accessible to fish.

Broken Brooks 2011: Assessing and Restoring Aquatic Connectivity in the Annapolis River Watershed
Broken Brooks 2010: Repairing Past Wrongs
Broken Brooks 2008: Culvert Assessments in the Annapolis River Watershed
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