A section of meadow land located in Middle River that benefited from a 1984 stream stablization project that kept the stream in its original watercourse. This is what the society strives to protect to the benefit of the recreational fishery, farm production as well as recreational areas used by a broad section of the Canadian population.
Restoring the vital balance of rivers that flow from the Highlands of Cape Breton
Our mission is to restore neglected waterways, protecting critical salmon runs and ensuring the vibrancy of our local farms by removing centralized government bureaucracy control in favour of decentralized local control. In keeping with the integrity of the tax expenditures in Canada, the society's efforts will significantly improve how our provincial & federal tax dollars are spent.
Who we are
The Highland Rivers Watershed Society is a collection of community minded individuals who wish to change current government policy surrounding the care and control of the rivers that traverse our communities. We are cognisant of the fact our communities are built around these rivers and they are our most important asset. It is the broad consensus that the current federal & provincial policies governing our river systems is not working as control for upkeep is totally held outside of the community. By lobbying elected representatives, we wish to put our rivers under local control, supported by both federal & provincial funding. Furthermore, we see the current funding of government bureaucracies as the main reason for the degragation of our waterways as the federal and provincial authorities provide little in the way of support for the ongoing damage occuring in the streams preferring to provide road blocks as opposed to positive support for improvements. In line with recent inititaves by the federal government of Canada, our mission is to lobby our elected representatives to change existing policies that will lead to reducing the current government oversight agencies, taking that funding and applying it to stream stablization projects. Our goal is to obtain elected representative support at the federal & provincial levels for reducing/eliminating current government bureacracy, this exercise should be expenditure neutral with benefits to all users of our waterways.
Advocacy in Action: Insights from the Highland rivers showing the need for change
The watershed index
Stay informed about our latest research, field notes, and community efforts focused on restoring local salmon populations and preventing seasonal flooding through collaborative watershed management.
SHARED STEWARDSHIP
Restoring the Flow, Reclaiming the Future.
We work at the heart of the Highland watershed to reverse environmental neglect. By stabilizing riverbanks and restoring natural floodplains, we empower wild salmon to return home while safeguarding the vital land local farmers rely on for their livelihoods.