Home > When : Seasonal Changes
 |
|
Ospreys in nest, courtesy of Brigitte Noel |
 |
|
Late summer, Grand Lake Meadows, courtesy of Duncan Campbell |
 |
|
Fall, Jemseg River, courtesy of Brigitte Noel |
 |
|
Winter, Grand Lake Meadows, courtesy of Keith McKenzie |
Seasonal Changes
The particular location and seasonal changes in the Grand Lake Meadows make this wetland a cradle of life that serves as breeding, nesting and feeding grounds for a great variety of diverse plants and animals including migratory birds.
An unusual aspect of the area is the annual spring freshet that floods the wetlands between the St. John River and Grand Lake. This occurs because the gorge at Reversing Falls at the mouth of the river is narrow and exposed to the tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy both of which impede the free flow of river water.
As a result of ice, spring rains and snow melt the River regularly overflows its banks. The wide spread flooding deposits fine-grained alluvial soil that is rich in organic matter on the Meadows. This makes the Meadows a source of nutrients for many species and the micro organisms that originate here, the smallest items in the food chain, have beneficial and far-reaching effects on the watershed downstream.
