- Link: Presentations & conferences
Summit on the Protection of Gatineau Valley Lakes and Rivers
Stakeholders target 5 major priorities…
and develop courses of action
About a hundred stakeholders from Gatineau Valley vacationer circles met during the summit organized by the Federation of Gatineau Valley Lakes and Rivers Associations (FALRVG) and the Gatineau Valley Société d’aide au développement de la collectivité (SADC) in cooperation with the Gatineau Valley RCM last September 14-15 at the Château Logue – Hôtel – Golf – Resort in Maniwaki. This work produced five major observations relating to the current challenges of vacationers and about thirty recommendations were developed.
On day one, participants assessed the current situation assisted by several experts including Roméo Bouchard, co-founder of the Union paysanne and a major player in regional development in Quebec. Participants representing vacationers, associations, municipalities and development organizations attended speeches on the Gatineau River watershed, water quality, vacationer development, blue algae, territory management tools, legal aspects, etc.
The aim of the September 15 plenary session was also to come up with an action plan for vacationers and specific courses of action to be taken in the coming months. “This summit eloquently confirmed that natural resources can become an important lever for the region. What you do here will serve as an example elsewhere,” declared Roméo Bouchard, in his wrap-up summary. Using an instant electronic voting system, participants were able to produce five major observations:
- Phosphates are enemy number one.
- Lakes do have development limits.
- All users of waterways are responsible for their
deterioration and rehabilitation ($).
- Invading species pose a major threat to our natural capital.
- Local communities must regain control of their resources.
A myriad of options were suggested to address each of these issues - joining a popular movement demanding that phosphates be banned in soaps; distributing all relevant information to vacationers and to entrepreneurs and various municipal stakeholders; rehabilitating shores, characterizing all lakes to be integrated into the development plan; reviewing how lakes are occupied (e.g., allowing common access to the lakes and building housing further from the shoreline); improving the knowledge of erosion-related problems stemming from human intervention; creating an obligation to reforest shorelines; putting together water quality monitoring teams; informing users on how to avoid contaminating lakes with water milfoil when transferring boats; improving vacationer involvement in municipal activities; giving municipal inspectors better tools to ensure compliance with regulations, and so on.
Although the options were numerous and imply long-range work, Summit organizers showed an interest in getting started rather quickly. “We are all somewhat responsible for protecting our lakes and rivers and ensuring water quality for tomorrow.” About thirty recommendations were proposed during the summit.
For starters, I am acting first on the willingness to put together a working group quickly to come up with action to propose for 2008 as early as next spring,” indicated Gatineau Valley RCM Reeve Pierre Rondeau.
The Gatineau Valley SADC, which has been actively working on this case for a few years, has also pledged to continue the efforts. “I, along with our partners, will form the committee. We will be able to meet once again next February or March to propose solutions and action for the purpose of making a collective effort,” declared Pierre Monette, the Director General of SADC.
Presentations and conferences -
Follow-up meeting of the summit on the protection of Gatineau Valley RCM lakes and rivers, Friday, May 9, 2008
Summit on the Protection of Gatineau Valley Lakes and Rivers
« Summit / The Proceedings »
Document on the Summit on the proteciton of Gatineau Valley and Rivers, that was presented the 14 & 15 of September 2007.
« M. Roméo Bouchard »
Natural resources-a key economic lever in outlying regions.
« M. Roméo Bouchard »
Conclusion.
« M. Giorgio Vecco »
Description of the Gatineau River watershed.
« M. Henri Fournier »
The condition of some lakes in the southern part of the Gatineau Valley RCM.
« M. Henri Fournier »
The health of our Lakes.
« M. Pierre Monette »
Developing the Vacationer's market.
« Mme Chantal Picard »
What is Blue Algae ?
« M. Jean-Pierre Courteau »
Blue Algae and effects on health.
« Louis-Philippe Mayrand »
The role of associations in protecting the environment of lakes and rivers.
« Pierre Dallaire »
Tools at the disposal of municipalities to protect lakes and rivers.
« Friday votes result »
« Saturday votes result »
