The Fluvarium
Encyclopedia
The Suncor Energy Fluvarium also known as the Fluvarium is a public centre for environmental education, located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
, and is operated by the Quidi Vidi
/Rennie's River Development Foundation.
The Fluvarium level or ‘windows on a stream’ area features an underwater view of Nagle’s Hill Brook through nine large viewing windows. Visitors can observe brown trout
and salmon
living in their natural habitat. The center also has a series of natural water aquariums and terrariums that showcase fish
and amphibian
species found throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
To clean up Rennie’s River, a series of projects were undertaken including stream stabilization, general environmental restoration, and construction of a fish ladder
. Since its inception, over 7.5 km of walking trails, including boardwalks and look-out areas, were completed along the banks of Rennie’s River and around Quidi Vidi Lake.
In 1985, the foundation also received approval by the St. John’s City Council to build an interpretation centre at Long Pond with a stream tank to “allow visitors to view, through a glass wall, the surface and bed of the river, where they will be able to observe trout spawning.”
By 1987, the QVRRDF began delivering environmental outreach programs to school children. The program focused on giving children a better understanding of the ecosystem
of the river
.
The foundation spent the majority of 1988 securing funding for the construction of The Fluvarium. In June 1988, Prince Edward
“turned the sod” at the site where the centre would be constructed.
In November 1990, The Fluvarium opened to the public with the goal to educate the public and in particular school aged children about the importance of watersheds
and how to treat them properly. It was officially opened by HRH The Princess Anne
, on July 2, 1991. The opening celebrations included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, and a tour of the building and grounds.
The second level exhibit area features a view of the Nagle’s Hill Brook and has a number of educational exhibits concerning freshwater environments. This includes interactive displays on water
, glaciations, wetlands, riparian zones and water monitoring.
Fluvarium
The Fluvarium level features a panoramic view through nine large viewing windows, into Nagle's Hill Brook. A tributary of Rennie's River, this brook originates 3 kilometers north of The Suncor Energy Fluvarium, at Three Pond Barrens. It was diverted to flow past the "windows on a stream" for visitors to explore the life of a river and the ecosystem of which it is part.
The windows allow visitors to see typical areas in a river system, including deep pool
, shallow pool and riffle
areas. The majority of the fish seen in the brook
are brown trout, a species introduced into Newfoundland in 1884. Fish can enter and exit the diverted section using a fish ladder. During the fall, visitors can watch brown trout prepare their nests (redds) and spawn
in the riffle areas.
The centre also houses a number of aquariums, fed with stream water from Nagle's Hill Brook. These contain species of typical freshwater fish and amphibians from around Newfoundland and Labrador, including Atlantic salmon
, American eel
s, Arctic char
, wood frog
s and green frog
s.
The QVRRDF began its first research project at The Fluvarium, March 1992. Research into the pigmentation of rainbow trout
flesh using Rhodotorula
in prepared diets was investigated in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Institute of Fisheries and Marine Technology Aquaculture Unit.
From 1995-2002, The Fluvarium took part in an Atlantic salmon restocking program in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Salmon eggs were incubated on site and each year about 8000 salmon fry were released into the Rennie’s, Waterford and Virginia Rivers.
In 1999, salmon were found in a fish trap at Quidi Vidi Lake. They were believed to be from the first batch of fry
released in the system in 1995 and were the first salmon seen in the rivers since the 1930s.
Salmon program
The Suncor Energy Fluvarium continues to play a small part in Atlantic salmon restocking with the Atlantic Salmon Federation
’s Fish/Friends program. Each spring The Suncor Energy Fluvarium delivers about 1600 salmon eggs to various schools that raise the eggs in special classroom incubators
. In the late spring, classes go to The Suncor Energy Fluvarium to release salmon eggs into Nagle’s Hill Brook.
An annual tradition since 1988, the event attracts large crowds to the banks of Rennie's River, to watch up to 4,000 “sponsored” yellow rubber ducks make their way down the river and through the city, to the finish line. The first three ducks across the finish line win prizes for their sponsor.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, and is operated by the Quidi Vidi
Quidi Vidi
Quidi Vidi is a neighbourhood in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador....
/Rennie's River Development Foundation.
The Fluvarium level or ‘windows on a stream’ area features an underwater view of Nagle’s Hill Brook through nine large viewing windows. Visitors can observe brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
and salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
living in their natural habitat. The center also has a series of natural water aquariums and terrariums that showcase fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
and amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
species found throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
History
Quidi Vidi/Rennie’s River Development Foundation (QVRRDF) was established as a registered non-profit charitable organization in 1985. It was formed by a group of environmentalists and conservationists who were motivated to protect and enhance Rennie’s River, a major waterway flowing through the heart of St. John’s into Quidi Vidi Lake. The QVRRDF started with the goal cleaning up the polluted Rennie’s River and building a walking trail along its meandering path.To clean up Rennie’s River, a series of projects were undertaken including stream stabilization, general environmental restoration, and construction of a fish ladder
Fish ladder
A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
. Since its inception, over 7.5 km of walking trails, including boardwalks and look-out areas, were completed along the banks of Rennie’s River and around Quidi Vidi Lake.
In 1985, the foundation also received approval by the St. John’s City Council to build an interpretation centre at Long Pond with a stream tank to “allow visitors to view, through a glass wall, the surface and bed of the river, where they will be able to observe trout spawning.”
By 1987, the QVRRDF began delivering environmental outreach programs to school children. The program focused on giving children a better understanding of the ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
of the river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
.
The foundation spent the majority of 1988 securing funding for the construction of The Fluvarium. In June 1988, Prince Edward
Prince Edward
-People:* Edward, the Black Prince , eldest son of King Edward III and father of King Richard II* Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales , son of King Henry VI of England and Margaret of Anjou...
“turned the sod” at the site where the centre would be constructed.
In November 1990, The Fluvarium opened to the public with the goal to educate the public and in particular school aged children about the importance of watersheds
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
and how to treat them properly. It was officially opened by HRH The Princess Anne
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, on July 2, 1991. The opening celebrations included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, and a tour of the building and grounds.
Exhibits
Water: Past, Present, and FutureThe second level exhibit area features a view of the Nagle’s Hill Brook and has a number of educational exhibits concerning freshwater environments. This includes interactive displays on water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, glaciations, wetlands, riparian zones and water monitoring.
Fluvarium
The Fluvarium level features a panoramic view through nine large viewing windows, into Nagle's Hill Brook. A tributary of Rennie's River, this brook originates 3 kilometers north of The Suncor Energy Fluvarium, at Three Pond Barrens. It was diverted to flow past the "windows on a stream" for visitors to explore the life of a river and the ecosystem of which it is part.
The windows allow visitors to see typical areas in a river system, including deep pool
Stream pool
A stream pool, in hydrology, is a stretch of a river or stream in which the water depth is above average and the water velocity is quite below average.-Formation:...
, shallow pool and riffle
Riffle
A Riffle is a short, relatively shallow and coarse-bedded length of stream over which the stream flows at higher velocity and higher turbulence than it normally does in comparison to a pool....
areas. The majority of the fish seen in the brook
Richard Brook
Richard Brook was Chief Executive of the UK deafblind charity Sense-National Deafblind and Rubella Association. He was appointed in July 2008 and left in September 2010. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of the Public Guardianship Office and then first Public Guardian and Chief Executive of the...
are brown trout, a species introduced into Newfoundland in 1884. Fish can enter and exit the diverted section using a fish ladder. During the fall, visitors can watch brown trout prepare their nests (redds) and spawn
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
in the riffle areas.
The centre also houses a number of aquariums, fed with stream water from Nagle's Hill Brook. These contain species of typical freshwater fish and amphibians from around Newfoundland and Labrador, including Atlantic salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
, American eel
American eel
The American eel, Anguilla rostrata, is a catadromous fish found on the eastern coast of North America. It has a snake-like body with a small sharp pointed head. It is brown on top and a tan-yellow color on the bottom. It has sharp pointed teeth but no pelvic fins...
s, Arctic char
Arctic char
Arctic char or Arctic charr is both a freshwater and saltwater fish in the Salmonidae family, native to Arctic, sub-Arctic and alpine lakes and coastal waters. No other freshwater fish is found as far north. It is the only species of fish in Lake Hazen, on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic...
, wood frog
Wood Frog
The Wood Frog has a broad distribution over North America, extending from the southern Appalachians to the boreal forest with several notable disjunct populations including lowland eastern North Carolina...
s and green frog
Green frog
The Green Frog is a species of frog native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. There are two subspecies—the Bronze Frog and the Northern Green Frog.-Description:...
s.
Partnerships
ResearchThe QVRRDF began its first research project at The Fluvarium, March 1992. Research into the pigmentation of rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
flesh using Rhodotorula
Rhodotorula
Rhodotorula is a pigmented yeast, part of the Basidiomycota phylum, quite easily identifiable by distinctive orange/red colonies when grown on SDA . This distinctive colour is the result of pigments that the yeast creates to block out certain wavelengths of light that would otherwise be damaging...
in prepared diets was investigated in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Institute of Fisheries and Marine Technology Aquaculture Unit.
From 1995-2002, The Fluvarium took part in an Atlantic salmon restocking program in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Salmon eggs were incubated on site and each year about 8000 salmon fry were released into the Rennie’s, Waterford and Virginia Rivers.
In 1999, salmon were found in a fish trap at Quidi Vidi Lake. They were believed to be from the first batch of fry
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
released in the system in 1995 and were the first salmon seen in the rivers since the 1930s.
Salmon program
The Suncor Energy Fluvarium continues to play a small part in Atlantic salmon restocking with the Atlantic Salmon Federation
Atlantic Salmon Federation
The Atlantic Salmon Federation is an international conservation organization established in 1948.The Federation is dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon and the ecosystems on which their well being and survival depend.ASF’s headquarters are in St...
’s Fish/Friends program. Each spring The Suncor Energy Fluvarium delivers about 1600 salmon eggs to various schools that raise the eggs in special classroom incubators
Incubator (egg)
An incubator is a device simulating avian incubation by keeping eggs warm and in the correct humidity, and if needed to turn them, to hatch them. Modern incubators are electrically heated with a thermostat....
. In the late spring, classes go to The Suncor Energy Fluvarium to release salmon eggs into Nagle’s Hill Brook.
The Duck Race
The Annual Rennie's River Duck Race is a popular fundraising event for the Quidi Vidi / Rennie's River Development Foundation that helps to support their environmental initiatives.An annual tradition since 1988, the event attracts large crowds to the banks of Rennie's River, to watch up to 4,000 “sponsored” yellow rubber ducks make their way down the river and through the city, to the finish line. The first three ducks across the finish line win prizes for their sponsor.