Thursday, March 19, 2026
More than 4,800 hectares within the Loch Lomond and Spruce Lake watersheds in New Brunswick have received special conservation status.
The new status of the watersheds is the result of a partnership between the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), the City of Saint John and the governments of Canada and New Brunswick, an NCC release said.
Additional support was from Environment and Climate Change Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and private donors.
“Protecting our drinking water is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a city. By securing these watershed lands for the long term, we are strengthening the health and resilience of our community. This achievement shows our shared commitment to ensuring clean and safe water for the people of Saint John for generations to come,” City of Saint John mayor Donna Noade Reardon said.
“This collaborative achievement shows what’s possible when people and communities come together for nature. By working at a scale unmatched in Canada, we’re delivering nature’s benefits, such as clean water and air that strengthen community resilience and directly benefit citizens and the planet,” NCC New Brunswick program director Emilie Day added.
The land will continue to be managed by the City of Saint John, the release said, while working closely with the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) to monitor water quality in the watersheds.
