3. Name of Wetland: GRAND CODROY ESTUARY, Newfoundland

1. Country: Canada

2. Effective Date of Information: The information provided is taken from text supplied at the time of designation to the List of Wetlands of International Importance, May 1987. The info sheet was updated by CWS-AR in February 1993.

3. Reference: Canada - 22.

4. Name and Address of Compiler: Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3.

5. Date of Ramsar Designation: 27 May 1987.

6. Geographical Coordinates: 47ø50'N., 59ø18'W.

7. General Location: Grand Codroy is located on the west coast of the Island of Newfoundland approximately 30 km north of Port aux Basques, Newfoundland.

8. Area: 925 ha.

9. Wetland Type (Ramsar Classification System): Marine and Coastal Wetlands:

   Type 6 - Estuarine waters; permanent waters of estuaries and estuarine systems of deltas.

10. Altitude: 0 to 1 meter above mean sea level.

11. Overview (Principle Characteristics): The site is principally a broad intertidal river estuary with depths from 0 to 2 m with deeper areas in the meandering river channel.

12. Physical Features (Geology, Geomorphology, Hydrology, Soils, Water, Climate): The site is a large coastal estuary. The 7 km long wetland varies in width from 1 to 1.5 km and narrows to a 100 m channel at the outlet to the ocean. The tidal amplitude is approximately 1 m.

13. Ecological Features (Habitats, Vegetation): The mouth of the estuary is separated from the waters of Searston Bay by a 1 km-long sandspit vegetated by dune grass Ammophila sp. The meandering river channel of the Grand Codroy occupies 15% of the area, while the remainder is a shallow, brackish wetland with flats and sand bars exposed at low tide. Portions of the intertidal area are heavily vegetated with eel grass Zostera marina. Four small islands occur within the wetland and the surrounding rolling upland is largely farm and open fields.

14. Land Tenure:

    (a) Site: The area is undeeded but under the jurisdiction of the Province of Newfoundland.

    (b) Surrounding Area: The surrounding uplands are privately owned except for the 24 ha Codroy Valley Provincial Park.

15. Conservation Measures Taken: Since 1974 the entire site, including the surrounding upland, has been closed to hunting by a Provincial Order-in-Council known as the Hunting Prohibition Order. In 1993 a "Grand Codroy Wetlands Conservation Plan" was drafted as part of the Stewardship initiative under the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

16. Conservation Measures Proposed: Since 1990, there have been on-going discussions with local landowners concerning protection for this area. The recommendations under the Wetlands Conservation Plan call for the securement of key habitat sites and entering into "goodwill" (stewardship) agreements with private landowners who border on the Ramsar site. Education and public awareness programs are also recommended.

17. Current Land Use/Activities in:

    (a) Site: An annual waterfowl banding station is operated during September and early October. Upwards of 500 ducks are annually trapped and banded at this site.

    (b) Surrounding Area: The surrounding land is a pastoral rural landscape with mixed farming activities and private homes.

18. Threats to Integrity of:

    (a) Site: Further development of the upland fringe could alter patterns of waterfowl use and there are concerns over siltation in the estuary.

    (b) Surrounding Area: Cottage development and land use practices (i.e., spring burning) will impact on wildlife use.

19. Hydrological/Physical Values: The Codroy Valley is a very scenic rural landscape.

20. Social/Cultural Values: The delta and estuary wetlands of the Grand Codroy River are Newfoundland's most productive and valuable wetland habitats.

21. Noteworthy Fauna: The estuary supports flocks of up to 3 000 Canada Geese Branta canadensis during fall and early winter, and upwards of 1 000 Black Duck Anas rubripes in late September. Pintail Anas acuta, Green-winged Teal Anas crecca carolinensis, American Wigeon Anas americana and Greater Scaup Aythya marila also occur in lesser numbers. Small concentrations of shorebirds use the intertidal bars and flats at this site in late summer and the endangered Piping Plover was thought to nest on the sand bar at the mouth of the estuary in 1993.

22. Noteworthy Flora:

23. Current Scientific Research and Facilities: The Canadian Wildlife Service has banded waterfowl at this site annually since 1979. In 1992, staff of the Nfld Wildlife Division conducted resource inventories for the preparation of the Wetlands Conservation Plan.

24. Current Conservation Education: A small seasonal interpretation centre is operated at the site during the summer tourist season.

25. Current Recreation and Tourism: The estuary is a favourite birding area and often frequented by naturalists. A seasonal visitor centre is on site.

26. Management Authority: Newfoundland Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Lands.

27. Jurisdiction: Province of Newfoundland.

28. Selected Bibliography: no published references, however, a number of internal reports including; Waterfowl Habitat Study in the Grand Codroy Estuary, T. Burke, 1992; Grand Codroy Estuary Wetlands Conservation Plan, 1993.

29. Reasons for Ramsar Designation: The site is an exceptionally fine example of a large coastal estuary and is the Province's most important wetland, supporting large numbers of Geese and ducks.