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Land Protection Section has the responsibilities
to carry out maintenance work on system of tidal dykes
in Nova Scotia. This Section also provides advice
to dyke landowners on improving drainage systems on
the dykeland. Maintenance work is also carried out
on ten flood control dams in Musquodoboit River Watershed.
The tidal dyke system in Nova Scotia consists of
241 kilometres of dyke with 260 aboiteaux structures.
Dykes are between 1 and 2.5 metres in height. An aboiteaux
structure is a culvert under the dyke that has a gate
on the tidal side of the dyke.
This structure allows fresh water to flow out during
times of low tide and prevents salt water from flooding
the land during high tides. 17,400 hectares of land
are protected by dyke and aboiteaux. The majority
of the land protected is used for agricultural purposes.
However, approximately 600 residential and commercial
properties are protected as well as many miles of
road, railroad and utility lines.
During the 1950's, the Federal government rebuilt
the dyke system in Nova Scotia. Aboiteaux at that
time were constructed mainly of wood with large structures
being built with concrete. Today, aboiteaux are being
rebuilt or replaced using mainly high density polyethylene
pipe with concrete headwalls at both ends.
Dykelands are valued for their high nutrient deep
soils. Generally, uplands in Nova Scotia have shallow
top soils with very dense subsoils. The dykelands
being deposited by the tides have deep soils with
many plant nutrients.
Since dykeland soils are largely made up of silt
size particles, internal drainage is poor, therefore
surface drainage is used to improve dykeland soils.
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