Wharf Reconstruction at the Wallace Small Craft Harbour, Nova Scotia

The proposed project at Wallace Small Craft Harbour will consist of the reconstruction of the outer 42 m-long section with similar timber crib and fill construction. A 12 m-long pre-cast concrete retaining wall will be installed between the inner wharf face and the existing concrete launching ramp 502.

The reconstruction will be carried out using land-based equipment including loaders, cranes, excavators and trucks that will access wharf directly off the provincial highway Route 6. The wharf approach and adjacent DFO-SCH lands will be used as a staging area for equipment storage and as a material lay-down area for materials. Reconstruction will be carried out along the same alignment as the existing wharf and will not involve any permanent expansion of the footprint.

The wharf reconstruction is anticipated to commence in July 2025 and be completed by the end of March 2026. Project commencement is, however, subject to the Small Craft Harbours program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO-SCH) operational priorities and funding, as well as the completion of regulatory approval processes, therefore work may be delayed. The scope of the impact assessment will, therefore, be based on the works being completed over a period of 5 months commencing within a period of 5 years following finalization of the assessment.

DFO-SCH considered that the option to reconstruct the wharf in its existing footprint to be the most technical and economically feasible construction alternative. The other alternatives would be to abandon this proposed project and eventually abandon the harbour completely. Abandonment and displacement of the fishing fleet of 23 home-port fishing vessels is not currently a viable option.

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Latest update

Notice of Determination

 

July 17, 2025:  The Small Craft Harbours branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada as well as Transport Canada have determined that the reconstruction of a wharf project, located at the Wallace Small Craft Harbour in Nova Scotia, is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects on areas within federal jurisdiction and can, therefore, proceed.  Environmental effects on areas within provincial jurisdiction will be addressed through applicable provincial legislation and processes.

 

This determination was based on a consideration of the following:

 

  • Potential impacts on rights and interests of Indigenous peoples;
  • Any shared community and Indigenous knowledge;
  • Comments received from the public;
  • Potential impacts to the following environmental components:
    • Air Quality
    • Aquatic Species and Habitat
    • Avian Species and Habitat
    • Health, Social, and Economic Conditions
    • Land and Resource Use for Traditional Purposes
    • Marine Sediments
    • Navigation
    • Physical and Cultural Heritage
    • Sensory Disturbance (air/water, noise, and vibration)
    • Structures, Sites, or Things of Historical, Archaeological, Paleontological, or Architectural Significance
    • Terrestrial Species and Habitat
    • Terrestrial Soils
    • Water (marine, ground, surface, drainage, water levels, flow, etc.)
    • Wetlands; and
  • Application of technically and economically feasible mitigation measures (including but not limited to those listed in the attached document).

 

With this determination, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada may exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
1 Mitigation_Measures-Wharf_Reconstruction-Wallace_Small_Craft_Harbours PDF (180 KB) July 17, 2025

Contacts

Planning and Environment Group
Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Small Craft Harbours, Maritimes and Gulf Regions
343 University Avenue
Gulf Fisheries Centre
Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 5K4
Email: DFO.SCHMGEnvironment-MGEnvironnementPPB.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Wallace (Nova Scotia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Ports and Harbours

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-03-04

  • Proponent

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Small Craft Harbours

  • Authorities

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • Transport Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89338

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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