August, 2023 — Your environmental association has had a very busy summer…
AGM
An In-person and ZOOM Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held 10:00 am, August 26, 2023.
Members were invited to attend the AGM to discuss our best way forward. This hybrid meeting was held at the Complex sportif La Pêche, Salle Desjardin, 20, chemin Raphaël, Masham.
Door to door campaign well-received
By now you will have received a visit from one of our volunteers distributing lake information and updating your contact info so that we can keep in touch. Feedback we have received has been positive; please let us know if you have any comment on our ongoing programs.
Milfoil Removal Adjacent to Your Property
After research and trials, Enviro Lac Gauvreau has purchased two
Weed Ripper tools for use by its members. So, if you want to borrow one for a day:
Send an email to:
envirogauvreaurakes@gmail.com with your name, address on the lake, phone number and two possible dates that you want to borrow the
Weed Ripper. It is free, but if you damage it or lose it, you’ll have to agree to pay for a replacement. You will then be contacted for a confirmation of the date and conditions and where you can pick it up. The rake comes with an extension if needed.
> Visit our "Eurasian Watermilfoil" webpage (Scroll down to "Methods to control of Eurasian Milfoil")
Boating — Did you know?
In the absence of legally enforceable speeding limits on Lac Gauvreau, Enviro Lac Gauvreau has worked hard over the years to develop evidence-informed guidelines that can guide your use of the lake while using watercraft, including the motorized variety. This practice is in line with our vision to help residents to continue enjoying and using the lake, while balancing the need to protect the health of the lake for future generations. We can all be grateful to those who are respecting the guidelines!
> Visit our "Responsible Boating" webpage
Field visit - hydromorphologist
On July 6 and 7 two scientists visited the lake and Parent Creek to assess potential options to reduce deposits of silt and nutrients in the lake. This visit was related to our plans to apply to the Quebec Ministry of Environment for a constructed wetland / re-meander program.
Jean-Philippe Marchand, Concordia University, Jakob Siedersleben, Innsbruck University and Rink de Lange, Enviro Lac Gauvreau conducted soil samples at Parent Creek.
(More news to come.)
Lac Gauvreau is safe for swimming but total Phosphorus (TP) levels remain high
E.coli - Bacteria (E. coli) samples from all lake testing sites in June and July indicate levels well within those considered safe for swimming, although Parent Creek levels are extremely high. (This result was immediately reported to the Municipality and the Campsite, as it could pose a danger to health.) The E. coli reading at Site 5 at the creek's outlet into the lake is low.
Total Phosphorus (TP) levels place Lac Gauvreau at the threshold between
Mesotrophic and
Eutrophic. Mesotrophic lakes have an intermediate level of productivity. These lakes are commonly clear water lakes and ponds with beds of submerged aquatic plants and medium levels of nutrients. Eutrophic lakes have high biological productivity with excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that support al abundance of aquatic plants and algae. Occasionally, an excessive algal bloom will occur.
The first measurements for
turbidity show improvement over previous years. Turbidity is the quality of being cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter. It is a key measure of water quality.
> Visit our "Water Quality Monitoring" webpage