Author Archives: admin

Beach at Sandy Lake (Bedford, NS) closed due to high bacteria levels 13Jul2023

Update ug 2, 2023: E. coli results from the Beach Monitoring program at Sandy Lake indicate very low levels of E . coli at 5 locations across Sandy Lake Beach, ranging from ‘Non-detect to 4.0 CFU/100ml. Samples were taken on … Continue reading

Posted in climate Warming, Water Quality, watershed | Leave a comment

Art Meets Nature and Activism at Sandy Lake – art show opens Thursday July 13th, 2023 !

A wonderful collective of artists has been creating works based on their experiences at Sandy Lake Regional Park. Their gorgeous paintings and drawings will form part of a 2-week long art show at Second Gallery (Upstairs at 6301 Quinpool Road, … Continue reading

Posted in Biophilia, Conservation, Talks & Walks | Leave a comment

Sat Jul 15, 2023: Hemlock Treatment Demonstrations Day

Eastern Hemlock is a prominent component of the forests around Sandy Lake; some trees are over 200 years old. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, aka the Hemlock Vampire, “can cause defoliation, twig dieback and mortality in as few as 4 to 10 … Continue reading

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Halifax seeking “Naturalization Coordinator” 8Jul2023

Having a ‘Naturalization Coordinator’ for HRM is a  welcome initiative, but it should be coupled with a commitment, wherever and whenever possible, to place new developments on sites that are already ecologically degraded.

Posted in Conservation, Halifax Green Network, Regional Park proposal, Regional Plan | Leave a comment

Voices of spring by the shore and in the forest at Sandy Lake (Bedford) 30May2023

At times, it is completely silent by the water and in the forest by Sandy Lake, but not on May 30, 2023. When I took my usual walking route by the lake and into the forest there were two prominent … Continue reading

Posted in Conservation, Sandy Lake, Wabanaki Forest | Leave a comment

Wildfire approaches Sandy Lake (Bedford, NS) 31May2023

The massive wildfire that started in Tantallon on Sunday May 28, took a step closer to Sandy Lake & Environs yesterday, when it evidently jumped to the Farmers Dairy area or started there independently: It seems to have been quickly … Continue reading

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Errors in the Forest Development Stage Layer for Sandy Lake area 2May2023

I have made use of the Forest DCL (Development Stage Layer) in the NS Provincial Landscape Viewer to illustrate the abundance of Mature and Muti-Aged-Old Forest in the area of Sandy Lake, e.g. see the map at the top of … Continue reading

Posted in Conservation, Wabanaki Forest | Leave a comment

Nature NS: “Undeveloped Shorelines and Rare Old Forests in Bedford NS Threatened by Rushed Housing Order” 24Mar2023

Nature Nova Scotia, the Federation of Nova Scotia Naturalists, announced on their Facebook site yesterday that they had recently joined the Sandy Lake-Sackville River Regional Park Coalition “to help spread awareness and take action on the threats facing this rare … Continue reading

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Deep water oxygen levels in Sandy Lake (Bedford, NS) fall to precariously low levels 21Mar2023

  UPDATE June 21, 2023: A set of Independent observations I have just learned about are consistent with our observations of low oxygen at depth, and additionally provide evidence of internal P loading. See below UPDATE June 17, 2023: Clarification … Continue reading

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HRM Sandy Lake Ecological Features Assessment completed 9Jul2022

UPDATE JULY 12,2022: Council passed the boundary study motion unanimously (motion below, moved by Counc. Blackburn, Seconded by Counc. Outhit): That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to: 1. Incorporate the analysis and findings of the Sandy Lake … Continue reading

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