Restigouche Wilderness Waterway Could Become A Provincial Park
New Brunswick’s Restigouche Wilderness Waterway has been a valued natural landscape and there is work being done to turn it into a Provincial Park. it would represent 235 km of exceptional watercourse and approximately 20,000 ha of land.
“The government has been working with stakeholders for several years now on a conservation project to protect and preserve the Restigouche River. Throughout the year, some ideas were thrown out there, and we’ve reached a point where we have enough information and research done to propose to citizens.”
The feasibility study in 2012 and continued work afterwards has had positive results which has led to the following proposed timeline…
2019-20 - Consultation and Design
Conduct consultation with rights holders (First Nations)
Conduct consultation with stakeholders and public;
Complete Environmental Impact Assessment
Complete Archaeological testing
Complete design phase for work
2020-21 - Investment and Administration
Capital development / construction
Legislation / Regulation / Policy
Crown land transfer (to Parks Act)
Third party management agreement
2021-22 - Establishment
Staffing
Official Opening
The park could be built as early as 2021 at an estimated cost of $5.75 million over a three-year period.
In terms of canoeists, they are considering zoning the waterway to limit the horsepower of watercrafts and potential restrictions on the use of gas engines, electric motors, and engine noise and speed may be considered as well.
The New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture is interested in public input on a proposed provincial park and has a survey to gather your input (Survey closes December 6th, 2019)
