Strategy to deal with ongoing water quality concerns released in N.B.

Whether it's divinginto the salt waters of the Atlantic Ocean, or tossing a fishing line into the Miramichiriver, tourists, and locals alike get considerable use out of New Brunswick's coastlines, rivers, lakes and ponds.

On Friday, the provincial government released a 23 page document which outlines its new plans for caringand preservingNew Brunswick's waterways.

In a news release, the Department of Environment and Local Government said it hasrenewed its approach to watershed management, improved wetland protection, enhanced public reporting, and is establishinga recreational water monitoring program.

The executive director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, LoisCorbett,said these aresteps in the right direction.

"We can't go very far withoutgoingnear rivers or lakes or to the coast," she said.

"This strategy is an opportunity to modernizethe policy and legal tools we have to make sure we put a stiff backbone to keep water clean."

Water quality has been top of mind for many in the province over the past 18 months.

Potentially toxic blooms of blue-green algae werefound last summer in places likeNashwaakLake.

• No-swimming advisory at Parlee Beach as temperatures soar
• The secret history of Parlee Beach water testing

Parlee Beach became notorious for water-quality issues after a CBC investigation revealedthat during many days in the summer of 2016, the water was not safe for swimming,but some confusion over signage led many tourists to believe it was.

The strategy outlined by the province includesnew framework under the Clean Water Act that would helpprotect areas like ParleeBeach, as well as other dunes and coastal marshes.

• Blue-green algae found inNashwaakLake
• Up to $3M announced to improveParleeBeach water quality

There are also plans to improvehow the public is informed about water quality issues, and to introducebettersignageto protect public health.

Devil in the details

Corbettis in favour of the initiatives, but says the devil will be in the details.

She said when you pull apart the actions outlined in the 23-page document, there arecomponentsthat will provide protection for water resources, if the government can put all those pieces together.

"I think there is a lot of good action items in the plan itself," she said.

The plan is to implementthe improvements over a two-year period between 2018 and 2020.

ForCorbettthe two-year timeline is ambitious but she is hopeful the government will live up to itsplan.

"It's not like a shake and bake, it's not something that is going to happen over night," said Corbett.