The MassawippiLake Massawippi Water Protection Association Journal SUMMER/FALL 2014

lacmassawippi@gmail.com 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca

THE -GREEN SYMPOSIUMBLUE

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Everblue Massawippi will close out the season with a full-colour symposium packed with information on the blue-green theme

o we still have blue-green algae? What is it? Where members of Everblue Massawippi who register before does it comes from? Why? October 22. DIs it dangerous? How do we recognize them? How Committed, dynamic and proactive, organizers have

do we get rid of them? scheduled simultaneous conferences at different times. This will allow participants to choose according to their

Cyanobacteria and the proliferation of aquatic weeds are a interests and schedules which presentations suit them constant problem. Although few of our leaders talk about it, best, while promoting discussion and question periods. the problem remains and we are concerned. Eight years In addition to the scheduled presentations, participants after the first blue-green algae crisis in Lake Massawippi, will have the opportunity, especially during the lunch the 2014 symposium will address the issue from different break, to share their experiences and concerns with angles, paying particular attention to the popularization of invited experts and elected officials. An opportunity not documented scientific principles. to be missed.

What is the situation in Quebec in general and Lake For additional information, see the program and Massawippi in particular? How are we responding? In registration details on page 8.addition to five experts from the University of Sherbrooke Everblue Massawippi will hold its general assembly at who will present their approaches to the problem, the the close of the conference, at 3:30pm.geomorphologist Jean-Claude Thibault will discuss the benefits of the bottom-third technique in the management of ditches. His dynamic conference will cater to municipal inspectors, excavation contractors, agricultural producers and those who monitor their activities. The biologist Catherine Frizzle from COGESAF (Conseil de gouvernance de l'eau des bassins versants de la rivière Saint-François) will review the various concrete actions being taken by stakeholders in the Lake Massawippi watershed. And finally, Everblue Massawippi's website team, along with their design partners, Le 3e Joueur, will take a step-by-step, online and interactive approach to demonstrate how best to navigate the site and find relevant information efficiently.

The event will take place from 9am to 3pm on October 25 at the Servite College, one of the most beautiful sites on the shores of Lake Massawippi, where at this time of year snow geese should be presenting their dazzling pageantry. Everblue Massawippi welcomes all who are interested in water quality; elected officials or municipal employees; members of environmental organizations; directors of other organizations and citizens of the watershed. For the second consecutive year, the conference is free for

WEB SITE : page 2LAKE HEALTH : page 5LAKE LEVEL : page 7

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday, October 25, 15h30Collège Servite,

470 Main St., Ayer ’s Cliff

BLEU . EVERBLUE

MASSAWIPPI

Everblue Massawippi wishes to express its gratitude to Nature Hatley and Blanchard Litho for their generosity in financing the

printing of the Journal 2

lacmassawippi@gmail.com 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca

Technological turning point on our website: HAVE FUN!We redesigned our website, take a look and enjoy! receipt in your email inbox and voila!lacmassawippi.ca Think you know the lake better than anyone? Take this

test. Open our interactive map and try to identify the 34 Unabashedly modern, full-colour, abundant photos - the drops falling from the sky. Most players, even the best, will site contains everything you need to know about Lake get them all only after a few tries.Massawippi. And that's not all! The site will keep evolving, not unlike our splendid lake, over the coming months. Can't find what you're looking for? Feel free to browse Follow the icons, one click will take you wherever you want through the menu, many things can be found at the bottom to go - quality of life, wildlife, sampling, blue-green algae, of the screen, or use the keyword search.projects in the field, bylaws, and more. Navigating Everblue Massawippi's website is like sailing on the lake, an easy, Have we forgotten something? Want to know more about a "all-natural" web experience. particular subject? Send us suggestions, we will make

every effort to make the site as complete an experience as Big news and hopefully a step closer to reducing our paper possible.consumption: your new memberships, renewals and Contact us: lacmassawippi@gmail.comdonations are now as easy as 1-2-3 online. No worries, no reminders, no stamps, no forms to fold in eight ... a tax

It's not because no one talks about it that the problem of blue-green algae doesn't exist.We had our first real outbreak on August 12, five weeks later than last year, which is good news. Since then, however, all areas of the lake have been afflicted almost without reprieve. Cyanobacteria has been spotted in suspension on columns ranging from 5 to 20 cm from the surface. Be warned: in recent years, the months of September, October and even November have been the worst with major and persistent blooms.It is important to remember that blue-green algae can be harmful to your health and in the case of visible surface deposits, it is best to avoid contact and swimming. Pets should not be allowed to drink or bathe during outbreaks.

Everblue Massawippi warns the public as soon as possible following systematic inspections. For up-to-date information, check our website (lacmassawippi.ca) and click on the "Lake Health" tab. As cyanobacteria appear and disappear quickly, if you think you see blue-green algae, please contact us at: 819-238-4410 or lacmassawippi@gmail.com.For more information on cyanobacteria, click on the "Blue-Green Algae" tab on our website.

Cyanos 2014 - The Problem Persists.

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MARCHÉ GUY PATRY INC.1185, Main St., Ayer’s Cliff / 819.838.4949

Proud to support citizen comitment in the Lake Massawippi region

lacmassawippi@gmail.com 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca

generosity of Mr. George Wardman who new lake access outweighing the negative bequeathed 420 acres which had been pinch to the ecologist's heart. We can only owned by his family for three generations. hope.The second plot (55 acres) was At the time of writing, the number of active purchased with donations made to the Everblue Massawippi members Foundation. The Foundation is focusing reached 1100. Membership has more its efforts now on the six kilometres of than tripled in the last three years under cliffs along the northwest shore where administrator Josette Gauvin's tenure.

On August 7, Everblue Massawippi much remains to be done to convince the The challenge this year was to maintain presented a report of its activities to the owners, raise the necessary funds and the magic number of 1,000 set last year. North Hatley Club. The 45 minutes close on difficult negotiations. Hats off to It's a done deal... and more! At the rate conference, Strengths and Weaknesses Mrs. Heyerhoff! things are going, we could pass the 1200-of a Handful of Diehard Dreamers, attracted forty members of the Club. President Michel Clairoux accompanied by director Michele Gérin explained in detail the work being done by Everblue Massawippi on the lake, shoreline, tributaries and the watershed. During the question period, Margot Heyerhoff explained that the Massawippi Foundation and Everblue Massawippi pursue the same goals through different means. The It's called the federal dock, but it has member milestone before the October Foundation seeks to protect by acquiring been owned by the municipality of Ayer's conference.properties or easements in the Lake Cliff for years. The town is in the process The large membership means a much Massawippi valley, while Everblue of rebuilding the dock, which is located on stronger voice. There is still time to renew Massawippi raises awareness, repairs, Route 141 along Slack Bay. A second your card or join for the first time. Visit the monitors, samples, and is involved in the storey and roof are being added, along lacmassawippi.ca website to pay online, entire watershed. In conclusion, Thomas with a thirty meter walkway on the north or send us a check: Everblue Massawippi, Pick, Everblue Massawippi administrator, side, directly on the lake. Senior members P.O. Box 2703, North Hatley, QC, J0B put a light yet thoughtful spin on the of the community will remember that the 2C0.evening by quoting one of his colleagues: original dock had a roof that was removed "Without money, conservation becomes in the sixties. The finished product Norman and Patterson Webster have conversation." promises to be compelling and will financially supported Everblue The Massawippi Conservation Trust certainly add an element of interest to the Massawippi for several years. In an effort pulled off a masterful coup last summer rest area just across the road, which has to help us raise funds, they are launching by acquiring two large tracts of land, and held up remarkably well for over ten a challenge this year: they will match in so doing, protecting 475 acres on the years. donations from new donors of $500 or northwest side of Lake Massawippi. This One caveat, though: the use of rocks and more up to $12,500. By gifting $500 or steeply sloped expanse is zoned white concrete piles for the footbridge ... not more, you will receive a tax receipt for the and was liable to attract developers. The something to encourage the eternal amount donated, and Everblue land is fragile, however, and of high recalcitrants to respect the rules on Massawippi will receive double that ecological interest. This remarkable shoreline management (from which, it amount through the Webster's generosity! acquisition, which took place last July, is must be remembered, municipalities are In meeting the challenge, you double your the result of a titanic effort. The exempt for their parks). No doubt the contribution to the lake! Foundation benefited from the great municipality counts on the benefits of this Thank you!

4 lacmassawippi@gmail.com 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca

This summer, residents and that these sound levels create discomfort, boaters have complained about stress and fatigue.music coming from boats on the lake or moored to docks. The If, however, music bothers us on the lake, proliferation of watercrafts it is not only because of the noise level, equipped with advanced sound but because it is incompatible with the systems and the continued strong ambient sounds we expect in this growth of wakeboarding likely peaceful natural environment, destroying explain this trend in North Hatley as it does its characteristic sound context. and Ayer's Cliff's bays. This is what we call sound/noise Many boats are equipped with differential: the music that we might

embarcations motorisées et des sports nautiques wakeboard towers to which are appreciate in a loud bar is disturbing in a

sur le lac Massawippi. Several measures were attached powerful loudspeakers quiet place where it is neither expected

taken as a result "to reduce the impact of blasting pounding beats heard for nor desired. In this context the noise

motorboats and improve the coexistence between hundreds of meters. As a result, all pollution is increased tenfold!

shore residents and boaters on Lake Massawippi" lake users are forced to listen to

This included persuading water skiers and music they do not necessarily want Sound civic-mindedness

wakeboarders to practice their sport in the to hear. They realize quickly that It is imperative to preserve the harmony of

deepest and widest part of the lake, between noise regulations are non-existent the sounds of nature which are

Baltimore and Woodland bays. Many boaters or near impossible to find, and that particularly tenuous on a lake like ours,

respect this measure, which helped regulate the lake patrol lacks the means to being long and relatively narrow and

wakeboarders and encourage a harmonious intervene. Lake residents left to surrounded by hills. Sounds echo and are

sharing of the lake. It is still necessary, however, their own devices amidst the amplified so that conversations of fishers

to continue to disseminate information and cacophony have the option to call can sometimes be heard hundreds of

educate casual boaters.the police or raise the awareness meters away. To limit noise on the lake of their fellow citizens. and its shores means respecting all users,

It would be time, indeed, to implement another from the shore resident reading on her

recommendation of this report: a mandatory code Why does noise bother us? dock to the kayaker, fisher, swimmer or

of conduct. In addition to being revised and Many studies show that sound casual observer listening to the loons. To

posted, this code should now become part of a begins to be distressing at 75 turn on a sound system on the water most

binding contract signed when purchasing the decibels and dangerous from 85 likely means preventing someone else

access permit. It should include a specific article decibels. Sound and noise are from enjoying the lake. This means

on noise pollution produced by sound systems so measured in decibels on a thinking twice before wakeboarding to the

boaters are clearly informed and the lake patrol logarithmic scale, meaning that the sound of music. It is a matter of sound

authorized to intervene when the music is heard addition of ten decibels is a tenfold civic-mindedness and common decency.

beyond the boat.increase. The noise level of a personal sound system normally A code of conduct required

To protect the lake means also preserving its lies between 74 and 115 decibels In 2009, a panel of experts at Envireau natural soundscape.L'ordre des audiologistes et presented to the mayors of Parc

orthophonistes du Québec judges Massawippi a report entitled Impacts des

Louise Gérin-Duffy

Harmony means turning off your music!

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The following businesses sponsor Everblue Massawippi and offer our members :

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extensive studies at this cyanobacteria. Our This explains the point. We watch the signs, sampling is done in spring, paramount importance of we know the summer and fall from sites closely monitoring the water consequences, and we other than those of the quality of rivers and develop solutions where RSVL. This collaboration streams. Data analysis possible. will continue through 2017 allows us to regularly

and will garner much identify sources of pollution, Based on feedback we 2. SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS additional data. whether industrial, receive during the annual OF THE LAKE Finally, the constant commercial or agricultural, renewal campaign, the monitoring of cyanobacteria but also often from health of the lake is our Then comes the water outbreaks remains a inhabited areas.members' biggest concern. analysis per se. Five times priority. The Minister In collaboration with the two What steps are we taking? each summer we collect responsible no longer MRCs, we sample, not all, What are we monitoring? samples from five specific travels to sites and but a dozen or so streams Establishing health sites. These samples are municipalities do not have alternately, as well as the parameters is no simple sent to the lakes-monitoring the means to act. We Niger and the Tomifobia task. The lake is affected by network (RSVL) for a broad therefore take it upon rivers.many factors: climate, analysis. The results allow ourselves to collect Here again, we regularly erosion, development, us to determine if the water samples in times of crisis participate with our partners agriculture and recreational is deteriorating or and send them for analysis, in more specific studies. use, to name a few. improving, and, depending in addition to notifying the This has been the case for Evaluation, therefore, must on the site, help us find the five riparian municipalities. two years in the area of be ongoing and wide- causes of the improvement Brook Stream. We take ranging. Everblue or deterioration. Here again 3. THE TRIBUTARIES forty samples each year Massawippi uses every the answers are not always from spring thaw until fall means at its disposal to obvious and often outside It is worth repeating that frost for l'Institut de keep data up to date. our immediate grasp. We Lake Massawippi has an recherche et de

act immediately whenever enormous watershed. In développement 1. VISUAL ASSESSMENT possible, with longer term addition to ditches and agroalimentaire (IRDA).

action taken when the other drainage ways, no This collaboration will allow The lake communicates. It issues are more complex. less than 35 tributaries us to analyze the results of gives us signs. The things In addition to this regular dump their sediment and our ongoing efforts in we watch for first are the collaboration with the pollutants, as the case may agricultural areas.growth, reduction or RSVL, we frequently be, directly into the lake. Data does not give us the disappearance of water participate in studies The Tomifobia River and complete picture, it's true. plants, species changes, undertaken by external, the Niger (a tributary of the But it is a foundation to increase or decrease of better equipped research Tomifobia) top the list, build from and follow up on. wildlife numbers, water groups such COGESAF or followed by 33 streams of From there, the real work clarity, blooms of universities. This is the various sizes. begins: stop the cyanobacteria, sediment case in 2014 with the The water entering the lake degradation and continue accumulation, and University of Sherbrooke as through its tributaries the restoration.excessive shore erosion - part of a study on the resides an average of 1.8all things visible to the impact of pesticides and years. As for the sediment naked eye. No need for herbicides on carried in, it settles to stay.

Health cooperative

www.csvm.ca819-838-1082

This Journal Team : Paule Obermeir, Everblue

Massawippi Board, Louise Gérin-Duffy, Helmut Obermeir

(translation), Michèle Gérin (texts and photos)

This journal is distributed 3 times a year, free of charge, to 6000 residents within the Lake

Massawippi watershed

lacmassawippi@gmail.com 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca6

Overlooking the southwest horses, farm implements, gables give it a monastic air end of the lake on one of the etc.... In all, 330 arpents of which fits well with the natural valley's most beautiful sites, which 120 are under beauty all around. The house the Servite College is an cultivation." with the four white gables, integral part of the landscape attached to the college, and remains, 66 years after On November 12 he requests serves as a residence for the its construction, the most authorization from the community. On September impressive waterfront Sherbrooke Diocese to 12, 1949, the college opens institution. The roots of the establish the Juvénat de la its doors and welcomes 67 College are no less Province Servite Canadienne students.impressive: in the history of in Ayer's Cliff. On December the Order of the Servites in 2, he and the architect brave To ensure their livelihood, at Canada, the facility in Ayer's ice roads to examine the site least in part, the Servites Cliff is a major turning point. and take measurements. On operate the farm. Five

April 20, 1948, the purchase brothers are assigned The Servites wish to expand contract is signed and five specifically to the farm while to Canada, and in 1912 the Servites take possession of nine fathers manage the task is assigned to the the property that very college and its academic Servites of Tuscany. An evening. The house is empty activities.interim facility in Ottawa is and fridgid, the waterpipes opened and remains in frozen. They sleep huddled In 1958, the Servites service until 1946. Father around the fire in the cold on inaugurate a summer camp Maltempi, the project manager who is tasked with finding a countryside retreat for young novices and fathers, lights on the idea to kill two birds with one stone.He visits Ross College in Lennoxville, which is for sale and an old reform school in Sweetsburg (now makeshift beds without sheets for 7 to14 year-olds. The Cowansville), but nothing or blankets. camp's activities, run by materializes. It's on student brothers from Ottawa, November 11, 1947 that he On June 21, construction take place primarily on the proposes "a large, very begins. The beautiful house current Servite Beach adaptable, private house" in with white gables welcomes (formerly known as the Beach Ayer's Cliff. the fathers and 33 novices on of the Fathers), where long

September 7 of 1948. The rudimentary buildings house White Gables Farm new building is inaugurated campers. This summer camp immediately seduces Father August 14, 1949. will continue until 1970.Maltempi: "It is splendid. Hills, Next up: Three-storeys of In 1960, the college grove, lake, large residential reinforced concrete with a undergoes a major villa, two colonial style brick façade and a roof of expansion, including a gym,houses, forty cows, five Moncour tiles. Its seven continued on page 7

THE SERVITE COLLEGE: A CROW'S-NEST VIEW ON LAKE MASSAWIPPI

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Ann Stafford

1041 Main, Ayer’s Cliffstafford@abacom.com819.838.4678

Spécialist in the Lake MASSAWIPPI AreaChartered Broker

chapel and several classrooms, which give it the appearance we see today. Built on the site of the old gabled house, the modern look of the new building is greeted with less enthusiasm than the previous one - a question of disharmony with the landscape. In practice, however, the capacity of enrolment is doubled and many new amenities are offered. The house is moved to the back of the property and covered in brick. It is still there today.On the heels of this expansion, the Servite community takes over the St. Bartholomew Parish of Ayer's Cliff and stops farming. Hoping to replace the farm income by cashing in on the wealth expected to be generated by Expo 67, the fathers announce the opening of a campground on the northern part of their beautiful beach, using, among other things, the barn as a recreational center. The campground will be sold to a private party in the 1980s. From its humble beginnings in a field, it now boasts 300 sites in a predominantly wooded environment. The Servites ensured the Catholic pastoral service in Ayer's Cliff from 1963 to 1982.Originally intended to train future Servites only, the College changes its mission over the years. It is currently a high school and secular since 2005 with the last of the Servite teachers leaving in 2007. The College welcomes boys and girls during the day, while the boarding school is reserved for boys. In 2013 the College of Notre Dame changed its name to the Servite College - a neutral institution based on a non-denominational model, and receives between 230 and 300 students. The management of the beach, the last responsibility of the Servite community, it is now entrusted to the College.

he lake level is still in the spotlight. There are as many opinions on this issue as there are Tmembers, and yet the solutions are few.

What is Everblue Massawippi doing about it?

We know that since the dam became functional again three years ago, an interim committee has chosen to maintain the average level at 160,5m. Three summers of experience lead us to conclude that keeping this average level, with the inevitable low side fluctuations, creates serious boat access problems in several bays. We also find that some tributary mouths are particularly affected by the accumulation of sediment.Faced with the discontent of residents of several bays on the southeast side of the lake, the Parc Régional held a public hearing in February. On this occasion, Everblue Massawippi tabled a resolution suggesting the formation of a standing committee to manage the dam (see full text on the web site).

Representatives of the Ministries of environment and wildlife were invited to offer their opinions, but had little to contribute. For them, variations in level during spawning are the issue - the average level has little or no importance.

The public hearing attracted a number of participants, but few left satisfied. Significant level changes, difficulty of access and the impact of sedimentation have no short-term solutions. No action has yet been taken on our request for a standing committee.The last meeting of the Parc Régional takes place on September 9. Everblue Massawippi renewed its request for the creation of a standing committee to promote more effective management, reevaluate average levels and better communicate with local residents. We will follow this issue on our website.

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8 lacmassawippi@gmail.com 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca

Blue-green algae in 2014The ABCs of blue-green algae - Pesticides and cyanobacteria in Quebec - Potential impacts of pesticides on cyanobacteria blooms - Tomifobia River and Lake Massawippi water quality - Marieke Beaulieu and Hubert Cabana

Climate Change - Hydrological modelling of the Tomifobia River watershed - Hydrodynamic modelling of Lake Massawippi - Better understanding means efficient action against blue-green algae Alexandre Ste-Marie and Mathieu Larouche

Ditch maintenance can be both ecological and economical - How to cut costs on municipal and agricultural ditch maintenance while still protecting lakes, rivers and wetlands Jean-Claude Thibault, geomorphologist

How to develop a website through pictures - Organizational diagnosis - Stages of creation - Raising awareness - Discovering and the fun approach - Forms and online communication - Online point by point demonstration of the Everblue Massawippi website Jean-Philippe Charbonneau and Michèle Gerin, Everblue Massawippi executive director

The activities of various groups in the Lake Massawippi watershed - Database and coordination of sampling - Online access Catherine Frizzle biol. M. Env. (COGESAF)

When it rains it pours

Green ditches mean twice the returns

The green internet

Blue water, clear water: inspiring projects

Everblue MASSAWIPPIMichel Clairoux, President

Jacques Bernier, VP Louise Roux, TreasurarYves Gérin, Secretary

Paule ObermeirJosette GauvinRoberto Toffoli

Jean-Marie LefebvreThomas Pick

Michèle Gérin. GM

It is still time to become a

memberOnline : www.lacmassawippi.caor mail your check to : EVERBLUE MASSAWIPPI,PO Box 2703, North Hatley, QC J0B 2C0