Too high phosphorus concentrations are said to impact water quality and contribute to the proliferation of invasive aquatic plants and algae. Human activity in various forms has something to do with it.
The few data provided by the organization in its latest president’s report speak for themselves. Since 2008, experts have observed a slight upward trend in the concentration of the chemical element in Brome Lake. Last summer, the level of phosphorus in water exceeded the target of 15 micrograms per liter (µg/l). In July, it reached the threshold of 19.2 µg/l.
“Our observations are based on scientific approaches. We measure the quality of the liquid coming from the lake and that of the body of water itself. We know that it has suffered significant attacks in the past. We have to live with history, but we look to the future,” says the president of Conservation Lac Brome, Jean-Pierre Pilon.
The latter welcomed the presence of municipal elected officials during Saturday’s general assembly. He also praised the actions of the political body, which, according to him, focuses on regulations promoting health and the preservation of the local water body. But there is still a lot of work ahead for the organization and its partners. At the moment, the mission is to manage and limit external inputs of phosphorus.
The president of Conservation Lac Brome revealed the organization’s new slogan: “My lake, I take care of it.” (CLB)
“We put a lot of emphasis on this by measuring what enters the lake, what leaves the body of water. We take stock. Currently, our primary objective is to reduce what enters the lake. Sediments, mainly phosphorus,” confirms Mr. Pilon.
The president estimates that by reducing the phosphorus level to its target (15 µg/l), we would reduce the quantity of this material present in the lake by approximately 800 kilograms. For now, we must avoid “disturbing” the sediments lying on the bottom. And we must raise awareness among the population who are partly responsible for the addition of targeted materials.
A bit of awareness
Water transparency is also important in determining the health of Brome Lake. Last summer, the average transparency was 3.4 m. However, it fell from 4.25 m to just two meters from July 20. This decrease persisted until October, indicating a high presence of algae and suspended matter in the water column.
“We also observed, during a heatwave at the beginning of July, an outbreak of blue-green algae which was fortunately quickly dissipated by the winds. A second outbreak occurred in September, a month that was particularly warm and sunny. Unlike previous years, this lasted several days and covered a large part of the lake,” indicates the president’s report, including The Voice of the East got a copy.
To minimize the proliferation of invasive species, officials have established speed limits in certain locations and traffic zones for boats and wakeboards. The aim is to prevent boats from stirring up sediments in particularly shallower areas. When agitated, they could feed undesirable nautical flora and encourage its multiplication.
The board of directors of Conservation Lac Brome currently brings together around ten volunteers specialized in various fields, as president Jean-Pierre Pilon explained during the general assembly. (CLB)
The last year saw the creation of the Blue Patrol, an initiative of the organization which is deployed both on land and on water. The first part concerns the visit to residences, while the second allows you to meet boaters on the lake, as well as at the washing station and the launching points.
With the heavy rains, outings on the water were not as frequent as anticipated last year. In return, however, the boaters met, 134 in total, were all “welcoming, open and receptive to the advice of the patrollers”.
Over the past summer, Blue Patrol officials met with a total of 548 residents, visitors and workers, on the water and on land, during door-to-door operations and public events. An initiative that is all in all successful and above all promising for the years to come, judge the instigators.
Some solutions
Jean-Pierre Pilon affirms that simple actions can make a big difference for the health and preservation of Brome Lake. During meetings with citizens, the organization proposed disconnecting residential gutters (main house, cottage, etc.) from the municipal network and ditches so that water coming from a roof is absorbed instead by the ground.
“By creating absorption zones and small water gardens, the citizen improves the health of the lake. We approach people with practical things. We show that every gesture, no matter how simple and ordinary, counts for the environment. When everyone gets involved, less water is brought to the lake.”
“We work a lot with awareness and awareness. Respectful education which shows that human activity has an impact on the lake. And people are very receptive.”
— Jean-Pierre Pilon
Soil management on construction sites also has an impact on water quality and therefore represents an important issue. The patrol met several local entrepreneurs to raise their awareness. It must be said that residential construction starts were numerous in 2023.
“Our patrollers noted significant gaps in erosion control on all of the 33 sites visited. Eight of them had to be reported to the Town of Lac-Brome which, moreover, is committed to putting in place means to strengthen the application of its regulations,” indicates the president’s report.
The sediments and the large quantity of phosphorus also come from the riparian zones. During their tours, patrol officers made citizens aware of this. According to the organization, a natural strip captures sediment, filters phosphorus, creates shade and reduces the speed of water flowing toward the lake.
Representative of OBV Yamaska, Sonia Daoust informed residents of the need to revegetate the shorelines of the lake and its tributaries. (CLB)
The next year promises to be busy for those responsible for the organization. “It plays it safe, in prevention mode,” as its president indicates. All in order to prevent the state of the lake from reaching too critical a point.
“It is true that there are personal constraints, actions to take, but it is nothing if we compare with the problems that future generations, those of our children and our grandchildren, could suffer. . We need a long-term vision. More than ever.”
