St. Croix River (Nova Scotia)

Infobox River
river_name = St. Croix River

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caption = St. Croix River (lower dam at St Croix)
origin = Lake Panuke
mouth = Avon River
basin_countries = Canada
length = 34 km
elevation =
mouth_elevation = sea level
discharge =
watershed = The St. Croix River is a river in Nova Scotia entirely contained in Hants and Halifax Counties. Its headwaters are Panuke Lake. The river has been exploited for water power. There were water mills in the nineteenth century [Nova Scotia Museum, [http://museum.gov.ns.ca/imagesns/html/31091.html "Mill On The St. Croix River From The Bridge"] , (1817)] and in the 1930’s three hydroelectric dams were built; they still operate.

The lower reaches of the St. Croix are tidal. There is a wide flood plain where the river has cut through limestone bedrock now exposed as white cliffs. The calcareous soil harbours the rare Rams Head Lady Slipper. [ [http://nsnt.ca/pdf/Press%20Release%20St.%20Croix.pdf Nova Scotia Nature Trust] ]

The river and Panuke Lake were used as an important portage route first by the Mi’kmaq and later by European explorers and settlers. There is an unpopulated Indian reserve (St Croix Indian Reserve) on the lake. European settlement began with the Acadians (who named the river, calling the region Pisiguit) [Acadian-Cajun Genealogy [http://www.acadian-cajun.com/pisiguit.htm Pisiguit (with map)] ] and later English speaking settlers. Extensive land grants were let by the Nova Scotia colonial government beginning in 1761. [ [http://www.cyberus.ca/~bharvey/james.shtml James Harvie] ]

Today, the St. Croix is a popular river for canoe and kayaking enthusiasts. [Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia [http://ckns.homestead.com/Valley_routes.pdf Description of Valley canoe routes] ] The lower floodplains are dyked and farmed. The river’s tidal bore may be viewed at Tidal View Farm.

References