KENNETH C. BURROWS, QPII

Ken Burrows Sr. lives and practices environmental consulting in Nova Scotia. Ken has extensive experience in wetland delineations and wetland alterations. He is certified to perform these activities. He has received some of his formal wetland training from Humboldt College in Steuben Maine, was formally on New Brunswick’s list of wetland alteration specialists and is recognized by the Department of Environment in Nova Scotia. 

Ken Burrows Sr. has a Master of Arts from Saint Mary’s University in Atlantic Canada Studies and a PhD (abd) from Dalhousie University, concentrating on environmental legislation in Nova Scotia. These degrees primarily focus on environmental topics including the form and function of wetlands. An example, the 630.0 course at Saint Mary’s pertained to ‘Ecology and Resources’ of the region. This comprehensive advanced year-long seminar examined the region’s forests, hydrology, geography, biology, geology, botany, and ecology. A second course entitled Atlantic Canada Seminar discussed some of the problem areas in the environment, ie. destruction of wetland, pollution, and poor forest management practices, among others.

Ken’s  Master’s thesis was titled ‘The Aero Tech Park as a Model for Industrial Development from an Environmental Perspective’. A model for Environmental Impact Assessments pertaining to large-scale developments was the focus of the research. Pyretic slates and its impact on wetlands and watercourse were examined in detail.  Wetlands, watercourses, high water indicators, aquatic and other hydrophytic vegetation were central to this thesis. Obviously a great deal of time in the field was necessary to identify and research these topics. Subsequently the thesis was adopted by the Nova Scotia government as a model for large-scale development from an environmental perspective.

Much of Burrows’ PhD course work and research centred on the environment of the region. One of the fields consisted of 120 selected books and readings and was entitled ‘Environmental History of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Region’. Wetlands and the forestry were examined in great detail. This thesis concentrated on Early Forest Legislation in Nova Scotia. It tracks the development of Nova Scotia’s forestry legislation from 1749 to 1930. Wetlands, watercourse, and native plant life all were relevant to the research. From this thesis, a book was published called “Nova Scotia Through the Trees - 1761 to 1930”. It is used in various universities across Canada.  

From an academic perspective Ken has been exposed to great deal of science pertaining to the wetland delineation process. As far as recent practical experience, Ken is a ‘Qualified Person’ licensed by the Department of Environment in Nova Scotia since 1998. His company is responsible for approximately 400 on-site permits per year. As part of this activity wetlands, watercourses, and other geological or hydrological anomalies must be defined that may impact a permit.

In addition to this activity our company does consulting for subdivision layouts. In this process we identify wetlands, watercourses, high water marks, and any species at risk in the development area. It is Ken’s responsibility, as primary researcher, to collect the information, interpret it, and accurately report the findings. He has consulted on many subdivisions over the years and recently concluded projects, including wetland delineation, which involved three large subdivisions representing over a thousand acres. Ken also successfully obtained two approvals involving ‘wetland alteration’ in 2009.

As far as being current with today’s methodologies, the Wetland Delineation seminar held in Maine, and conducted by the proponents of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1987 Manual, has been a great resource. The 1987 Manual and the earlier Army Corps version contain invaluable information regarding the wetland delineation process. The successful completion of the seminar offered in Maine and the numerous courses and seminars Burrows attends in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia annually keeps him up to date with the current policies pertaining to wetlands.

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