To the Editor:



The recent article on dykeland flooding (The Advertiser, Dec. 5, 2006; “Storm surge could flood upper Bay of Fundy communities�) brings to mind an ancient technique which could be used not only to offset this flooding hazard, but in addition would serve to offset sea level rise, maintain dykeland fertility and offset lowering of dykeland soil level by sod-farming operations.

This technique, which consists of breaching the dyke to let seawater and the associated silt onto the dykelands, as described by W. F. Ganong in 1903 (Botanical Gazette Vol. 36: pages 161-187; 280-302; 349-367 and 429-455), was used in former times to restore fertility to dykelands that had begun to rundown.

The new silt deposits are rich in nutrients and, after a year or so of leaching to remove excess salt, dykelands would remain productive for up to 100 years.

But this process has the additional effect of raising the elevation of the dykeland because the new deposits of silt can be of substantial depth; 10-20 cm as I recall. By doing this at intervals, as needed, the elevation of dykeland could easily keep pace with sea level rise of about one foot per century (more if global temperature continues to rise).



Yours truly

David H. Webster

Kentville