Good afternoon.
My name is Ariane Orjikh. I am a biologist and general manager of Memphrémagog Conservation Inc., also known by the acronym MCI, a non-profit organization whose mission, since 1967, has been to protect Lac Memphrémagog.
Lac Memphrémagog is the largest waterway in Estrie. It is the drinking water reservoir for more than 175,000 people, including the cities of Sherbrooke and Magog. Consequently, the quality of its water is a major public health issue for the region. The lake is 44 kilometres long and 75% of the lake lies in Canada, while the remaining 25% is located in Vermont. On the Canadian side, the lake is surrounded by six municipalities and has more than 2,000 waterfront residences.
The lake is a major tourist attraction for swimming, fishing and recreational boating. In 2010, 4,137 permanent watercraft were recorded on the Canadian side alone. In 2021, 5,203 permanent watercraft were observed, an increase of 1,000, or 25%, in only 11 years. The types of watercraft that most increased in number were paddleboards and kayaks, as well as motorized jet skis and big wake boats, which are used in sports, such as wake surfing, that generate oversized waves. A 2021 survey of 643 Lac Memphrémagog users showed that waves that disturbed other users and threatened their safety were significant issues that could be explained by the increasing numbers of light watercraft that were forced to coexist with a growing number of boats generating oversized waves.
The environmental impact of oversized waves is well known and scientifically documented. A study by the Université du Québec à Montréal shows that sports that generate oversized waves at least 300 metres from shore cause shoreline erosion. A Université Laval study found that sports that are practised in water less than seven metres deep stir up bottom sediments. As a result, in certain areas of Lac Memphrémagog, waves from watercraft reduce water transparency, increase concentrations of nutrients and trigger harmful algal blooms, also called cyanobacteria, which can be harmful to human health. It should be noted that Lac Memphrémagog has experienced a serious proliferation of harmful algae in recent years, a problem that was the topic of a study conducted by the International Joint Commission in 2020.
We often cite the example of Lac Memphrémagog's Fitch Bay, a sector known for its aquatic bird gathering area, its spawning grounds for many fish species and the habitat of the bridle shiner, which has been designated an endangered species by the Canadian government. In addition, 17 of the total 100 or so properties are waterfront properties that have boats that generate high wakes. Fitch Bay is 3.1 metres deep with a maximum depth of only 5.8 metres. Water quality in the bay is a concern, harmful algae blooms are frequent and sports that generate oversized waves in the area cause significant problems.
Which is why, in 2016, the regional county municipality of Memphrémagog struck a committee to analyze the possibility of restricting certain boating practices in specific problem areas. Since one step in the procedure prescribed by Transport Canada was to attempt substitute solutions other than restriction, an awareness campaign was launched. Eight years later, recreational boat owners are still generating waves near the shorelines and in shallow areas. Awareness efforts require significant financial and human resources, rely on the goodwill of pleasure boat owners and must constantly be repeated for the benefit of new visitors.
Even in the event of a major environmental and safety issue, municipalities seeking to remedy the situation by regulation have no other choice but to follow a tedious and bureaucratic procedure prescribed by Transport Canada for each of their waterways. Since the environmental impact of oversized waves is well documented, Vermont has decided to regulate big wake boats on all its waterways. Consequently, to protect Canada's lakes, Memphrémagog Conservation Inc. believes it is essential that the federal government establish national standards for all of Canada's lakes based on scientific data and that it simplify the restriction application procedure that local administrations are required to follow.
Thank you.