Highway 104 is a 38 kilometre-long infrastructure project connecting Sutherland’s River and Antigonish in Nova Scotia, Canada.
To preserve and remediate the biodiversity of the surrounding area, we implemented an Environmental Management System throughout the project’s design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases.
We protected fish populations by replacing ageing infrastructure with baffled culverts and conducting fish rescue operations before construction. Wildlife passages and fencing were installed to ensure the safety of land-based wildlife and plants, with wildlife surveys conducted before construction to protect species including birds, bats, turtles, protected trees and lichen. To preserve habitats and waterways, we ran a workshop to educate project staff on habitat suitability index surveys, electrofishing techniques, fish species identification, installation and maintenance of watercourse restoration structures, riparian habitat planting, and watershed management. The workshop emphasised the importance of habitat and watercourse restoration in preserving biodiversity and was attended by over 20 participants from various organisations. The Environmental Management System resulted in the replacement of ageing infrastructure, incorporation of wildlife passages, fencing, and crossings, and the education of project staff on habitat and watercourse restoration. These measures helped to minimise the project’s impact on the environment while preserving and improving the biodiversity of the surrounding area.
