Good afternoon.
My name is Roy Grégoire, and I'm a resident of Île de Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola and live on the bank of the river. When the ice breaks up back home in the spring, the segment of riprap that the federal government completed retains it, creating a kind of dam. As a result, the ice flowing down river stops there and the water level rises nearly 20 feet. I know that because my land is normally about 20 feet above the water level.
We know there are many erosion factors, but I think the biggest cause is the federal government's incomplete riprap works. Shipping has something to do with it, of course, because as Mr. Barthe said, 4,500 ships navigate the river every year.
Climate change is also involved. Studies show beyond a shadow of doubt that the waves generated by ships are more powerful than those caused by wind. According to one report, shipping alone is responsible for 70% of water level fluctuations in the St. Lawrence River. Those changes have a significant impact on shoreline erosion near the channel. The waves associated with shipping on the river are responsible for 60% of shoreline erosion.
The situation is starting to be disturbing. Personally, I've started seeing signs of major impending erosion. I had an engineer come to my house and I'm waiting for his report.
That's all I have to say for the moment. I'll try to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you.