WE WASH EVERYTHING

Washing boats that arrive from other lakes is a matter of survival.

Think about it.

Don't let anyone enter the lake without washing their boat, kayak, paddleboard or tube.

WE AVOID THE WEEDS

to circulate in the weed beds, even in a kayak, even on a board, is a sure way to make them grow.

Let's avoid weed beds at all costs!

WE MONITOR BLUE-GREEN ALGAE

Blue-green algae outbreaks are common in July. Swimming and water sports are strongly discouraged during the outbreaks. We publish every day on facebook the state of the situation. No outbreaks at this time. If you think you see one, call us:

819-238-4410

WE MINIMIZE NOISE

Noise gets louder on a lake. Loud engines, music, yelling, loud parties, circling and wave hopping on a personal watercrafts are DISGRADING to other boaters, swimmers, fishermen, residents and disturbing to wildlife.

Let's be sensible and aware of our noise footprint.

WE RESPECT WILDLIFE

Wildlife is at home at the lake.

It is necessary to observe it with discretion, to abstain from pursuing or hunting it, to respect the reproduction zones.

To circulate at very low speed in the 100 meters and not to intervene in the mouths of rivers, brooks or marshes are the elementary rules in the matter.

WE KEEP OUR DISTANCES

Keeping your distance is the safest way to avoid mistakes that are often made in good faith.

Distance from the shore, distance from swimmers, distance from other boats, distance from weed beds, distance from shallow bays.

Let's not take risks, let's keep our distance.

WE REDUCE OUR SPEED

During the vacation season, the number of users doubles.

Swimmers, bathers, skiers and windsurfers are very small and not very visible to the larger, more powerful and faster boats as well as to the more nervous and less stable personal watercrafts.

As on the road, let's adapt our habits to the circumstances. Speeding while on vacation is dangerous.

ALCOHOL WHILE DRIVING A BOAT, ZERO TOLERANCE

It goes without saying, and yet ...

Local residents are used to seeing excesses, loss of control and near misses.

As with driving, the rule is simple: drinking and driving can lead to serious consequences and severe penalties, but above all, it compromises your safety and that of others. Zero tolerance.

WE PROTECT THE SHORELINE

The shoreline is the first line of protection for the lake. They are also the most vulnerable. No vegetation control is allowed within the first 5 meters.

That's easy. Owners or visitors, DO NOT TOUCH THE SHORELINE.

Another way to protect it :  let's avoid the first 100 meters with motorboats and reduce the waves at less than 300 meters from the shoreline.

BEWARE OF SEDIMENTS

Our ongoing studies tend to prove that the stirring up of sediments by motors, paddles, large or crossed waves, releases phosphorus trapped at the bottom of the lake and seriously affects the quality of the water, swimming, the practice of water sports and can cause important cyanobacteria outbreaks.

Before venturing into a shallow bay, think about the consequences.

LET'S BE COURTEOUS

Blue Massawippi has been working for 5 years now to harmonize boating and environmental protection.

During this period, the number of boaters has doubled.

We know from experience that courtesy and awareness are the primary assets in this process.

Despite irritants and differences, let's be courteous. It's the only way to change habits.

DOWNLOAD ONDAGO

To help you follow all these recommendations, nothing is more appropriate than knowing the lake.

By downloading the Ondago application on your phone, you will know at all times where you are and what behavior is recommended at that place.

It's an initiative of Blue Massawippi and it's free.

Have a safe vacation!

Help us, become a Blue Patroller for a day and spread the word to visitors.

At Blue Massawippi, we are convinced that raising awareness remains the most effective course of action.

Last Sunday, President Patrick Fréchette and Vice-President Denis Petitclerc lent a hand to the Blue Patrol to spread the word ... cordially. 😎

More and more snails (Banded Mystery Snails) are being found clinging to docks and nestled under rocks, and many local residents are concerned that the dreaded Zebra Mussel is invading.

Although exotic and invasive, the Banded Mystery Snail CANNOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE ZEBRA MUSSEL.

The spiral, round shape, and the brown stripes on a beige background clearly and easily distinguish the Banded Mystery Snail from the Zebra Mussel.

Although we can be happy that this growing infestation is not that of the zebra mussel, these invasive snails well established in Lake Massawippi are not welcome.

Little known and poorly documented in Quebec, their proliferation is beginning to worry water conservationists, including Blue Massawippi.

It is in this context that we teamed up on Wednesday with the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife,

and Parks of Quebec and COGESAF to visit the various sites previously inventoried by our biologists.

The Banded Mystery Snail has been present in southern Ontario for a long time. It is found alongside another invasive snail, the Chinese Mystery Snail, which is also widespread in Quebec but still absent from Lake Massawippi.

Coincidentally, just 2 days ago, an unexpected mortality of the Banded Mystery Snail was reported in Ontario.

On this subject and on the Banded Mystery Snail in general, LISTEN to this extremely interesting interview with André Martel, biologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature:

Des centaines d'escargots d'eau douce retrouvés morts dans des lacs

Probably because it is talked about so much, fears about the zebra mussel are becoming more and more widespread. That's a good thing. The more it is talked about, the better for the lake.

If all swimmers and boaters could identify it, there would be less concern and more control.

So here is a simple identification key:

Measures between 2 and 2.5 cm on average, and can reach up to 4 cm in length. Triangular in shape. Black or brown in color with white to yellow zigzag patterns.

To add to the above pictures, watch the film (44 sec) of Nicolas Bousquet from COGESAF who participated last week in the zebra mussel monitoring activities at Lake Magog, less than 10 km from Lake Massawippi.

GOOD NEWS! Blue Massawippi has obtained financial assistance for the Regional Park to upgrade the washing equipment at Massawippi Beach. Approved last Wednesday, the New Lake Protection project will be launched after summer vacation. More details in our next editions.

This project benefits from a grant from the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife, and Parks made possible by the Measure for the Protection of Quebec's Wildlife Capital 2021-2023 and the Quebec Salmon Fishing and Sport Fishing Development Plan 2017-2022.

Latest news

RESCUING THE AYER'S CLIFF WASHING STATION

No sooner had our mobile washing station been set up in North Hatley for the vacation period, it had to turn back on Saturday at noon to replace the one in Ayer's Cliff that had suddenly given out. Our "New Lake Protection" project (described above) is timely, to say the least!

Help for Hatley

Our Head Patroller Catherine led Inspector Abelle L'Écuyer-Legault on her tour of the waterfront and docks.

A great example of effective management of regulatory oversight in Hatley. Well done!

Mobile Washing Station

The mobile washing station will be back in North Hatley on Wednesday for the vacation period. The ÉTÉ team will be offering the first free wash to non-motorized boats that are intercepted and redirected to the station. (in collaboration with the Marina North Hatley, thanks to Steve Piercy).

Lake Health Check

The first phosphorus tests show levels comparable to last year. However, the Secchi test (clarity) shows much better results. Less heavy rainfall, less boating (temperature), clearer water and no cyanobacteria in the water column.

SOS Tributaries in the field

Characterization of the Massawippi Creek outings 1 and 2.

Thank you to the riverside owners for their warm welcome. 😃

Preparing for the summer camps

On a rainy day, preparations for the summer youth outreach capsules are feverish.

Starting this week: Youhou, Québec Lodge, and North Hatley Club.

Massawippi Beach

The Blue Massawippi team will be at the Massawippi Beach washing station this week, from Monday to Thursday inclusively between 4 and 8 pm.

See you at the market?

The ÉTÉ team will answer your questions at the two Saturday morning markets. In Ayer's Cliff, Julia talks with Louise Gérin-Duffy, in North Hatley, our young volunteer Emma Carrière is with Marcella Gerrish, the municipal councilor in charge of the market.

Cyanobacteria, Lake Massawippi spared for now

Read in

La Tribune 12 juillet 2021

The return of the MONARCH  (photo taken in Ayer's Cliff)

After a few years of disappointing scarcity, the monarch butterfly, this well-traveled butterfly, is slowly reappearing.

The monarch travels more than 4000 km to spend the winter in Mexico. It can fly 100 km per day. Milkweed fields are essential for its reproduction. To participate in the international movement to save this threatened species: MISSION MONARCH: MISSION MONARQUE 

LIKE

our Facebook page for daily news, alerts, instructions and more.

Help us by sharing our posts.

Facebook Blue Massawippi

FOLLOW

our Instagram account to see every day, with pictures, what we see, as if you were there.

Instagram Blue Massawippi

STAY TUNED!

Reports, scoops and analyses every week of the Summer in the NEWSLETTER.

Invite someone to follow the flow, from Ayer's Cliff to North Hatley.

Subscribe

Do you wish to support our actions?

Think of an e- transfer : simple, effective and free. We accept your donations directly at: bleumassawippi@lacmassawippi.ca

Don't forget to notify us by email so that we can contact you for your receipt.

U.S. donors can now receive tax benefits through our partener American Friends of Canadian Conservation.

AFCC BLUE MASSAWIPPI