The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), with funding from the federal government and Teck Resources, has secured a new nature reserve totalling roughly 16 square kilometres around Beothuk Lake, near Millertown in central Newfoundland. The area protects parts of the Exploits River watershed, including wetland and forest habitat used by fish and local communities.
What the reserve includes
The Beothuk Lake Nature Reserve encompasses land near Millertown, Beothuk Lake and Rushy Pond, and includes a stretch of the Exploits River. NCC says the acquisition aims to safeguard drinking water sources, fish habitat and wetlands while helping protect the landscape against extreme weather events.
- Area: 16 square kilometres (approximately 1,600 hectares)
- Purchase price: $1.3 million (land bought from Domtar, formerly Abitibi-Bowater)
- Funding: Teck Resources contributed $2 million; the federal government provided $180,000
- Location highlights: Beothuk Lake, Rushy Pond and part of the Exploits River near Millertown
Partners and local context
The land was purchased from Domtar for about $1.3 million, and the deal brings together a mix of public and private support. The federal contribution of $180,000 and a $2-million donation from Teck Resources made the transaction possible, NCC officials said.
Teck previously operated the Duck Pond copper and zinc mine some 28 kilometres from Millertown between 2007 and 2015; cleanup at that former mine site remains ongoing. NCC officials acknowledged Teck played a role in enabling conservation on this nearby parcel.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to work with both communities, industries, and to protect obviously a good habitat for us," said Marie-Michèle Rousseau-Clair, vice-president of eastern Canada for the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Local leaders joined NCC and federal representatives for the announcement. Among them were Millertown Mayor Fiona Humber and Secretary of State (Nature) Nathalie Provost, underscoring the mix of municipal, provincial and federal interest in the area.
Why it matters to central Newfoundland
The Exploits River is one of the province's significant salmon-bearing waterways and a key freshwater resource for communities across central Newfoundland. Protecting riparian areas, wetlands and forest helps secure water quality and habitat continuity — outcomes that local officials and conservationists say are vital for both ecological and community resilience.
Conservation groups say reserves like the one at Beothuk Lake reduce vulnerability to extreme weather, maintain drinking water quality and preserve habitat corridors. NCC also pointed to future stewardship planning, with the organisation committing to work with Indigenous peoples, government partners and local land users as management plans take shape.
Next steps and community consultations
NCC has indicated community consultations and longer-term stewardship planning will follow the purchase. That process will determine access, permitted activities and monitoring arrangements for the reserve. Details about timelines for consultations were not released at the announcement.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area | 16 km² (approx. 1,600 hectares) |
| Seller | Domtar (formerly Abitibi-Bowater) |
| Federal funding | $180,000 |
| Private contribution | Teck Resources: $2,000,000 |
For people in Millertown and neighbouring communities, the reserve represents both a protection of local landscape values and a test of how conservation projects and resource-sector companies can work together. Officials say the project is intended to create long-term stewardship opportunities with those who live and work on the land.
As consultations unfold, residents and conservation stakeholders will be watching for details on public access, recreational use and specific measures to support salmon habitat and water quality in the Exploits watershed.
The Beothuk Lake Nature Reserve marks a notable addition to conservation lands in central Newfoundland, arriving at a moment when watersheds and freshwater habitat are increasingly a focus for policy-makers and communities across the province.
