Community unites to combat threat in Estrie
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The small hall at the Club Chasse et Pêche in Saint-Denis-de-Brompton was filled to capacity July 23 as concerned citizens, local officials, and environmental activists gathered to discuss the pressing issue of invasive aquatic species threatening the lakes of Estrie. Hosted by the Regional Environmental Council of Estrie (CREE), the event featured a comprehensive presentation of a recent study and a strategic plan to combat these environmental threats.
Aline Berthe, Co-Executive Director of the CREE, kicked off the event. “The room might seem small, but the turnout today shows just how crucial this issue is,” she remarked. “We’re here to present the results of a pivotal study conducted as part of the project titled ‘Strategic Regional, Interregional, and Quebec-wide Governance of Invasive Species.’ This study is a collaborative effort involving multiple regional councils across Quebec.”
Berthe emphasized the collective effort required to tackle invasive species, highlighting the involvement of councils from Estrie, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Laurentides, and Montérégie. The goal is to develop a regional strategy to combat invasive aquatic species and raise awareness among decision-makers, organizations, and the public.
Study findings and the Georgian viviparid (or banded mystery snail) discovery
Dr. David O’Connor, Project Manager at the CREE, provided an in-depth overview of the study. “During our research, we confirmed the presence of a new invasive species, the Georgian viviparid, in Brompton Lake,” O’Connor announced. “This discovery underscores the importance of vigilance and collective action to protect our precious aquatic ecosystems.”
The study identified various lakes in Estrie at risk of contamination, classifying them based on the ease with which invasive species could spread. Lakes were categorized into two levels: red and yellow. The red level indicates lakes containing species with planktonic stages, such as zebra mussels and Georgian viviparids, which can be difficult to detect and require rigorous decontamination procedures. Yellow-level lakes contain species that are easier to remove manually.
