Description:
The Memramcook River covers a drainage area of approximately 400 km². Including several small tributaries, the Memramcook River watershed covers a territory where the still minimal human presence has very little impact on the general state of the river. In fact, aside from the Memramcook and Dorchester communities, the upper part of the Memramcook River watershed is still a largely wooded region. Finally, very near the Memramcook River causeway, there is a small water plan, which is the Memramcook Lake, with an area of approximately 0.24 km².

Possible pollution sources
Even though human presence has little importance in the Memramcook River watershed, certain activities, like those associated with extraction companies (quarries) situated on each side of the river near Route 6 constitute a potential and possibly important threat for the future. In addition, the causeway modifies the hydrological characteristics of the river, as well as its natural cycles. The absence of migration passes for fish is another element that modifies the aquatic life upstream and this, despite the periodical opening of the sluiceway.

Qualité de l'eau
In the upper part of the Memramcook River, the average E-Coli rate (45.83 MPN/100 mL for PWMG 59 and 105.76 MPN/100 mL for PWMG 35), as well as the average dissolved oxygen rate (8.72 mg/L for PWMG 59 and 8.92 for PWMG 35) suggest the class A for water quality in this section. A bit lower on the river's course, near the Transcanadian Highway, we recorded a higher average E-Coli rate (140MPN/100mL) and an average dissolved oxygen rate of 10.19 mg/L. Considering only these rates, it would be easily conceivable to class this section in class B. However, considering that this sector flows straight through an important center of quarries and that the strip of vegetation along the river is virtually nonexistent, we rather recommend class C. For the sections found downstream, the average E-Coli rate is moderate (154.00 MPN/mL) and suggests at first glance the class B. Moreover, by considering the type of activity taking place upstream, it would be difficult to envisage a class superior to B. Finally, it seems that the local community is ready to do what is needed to preserve th water quality in the upper part of the river. For what concerns the section near the quarry and the sectors upstream, the community agrees to take action in order for the situation not to deteriorate further in the next years and seems satisfied with the proposed categories.