The speed regulation project on the Richelieu River has been going on for a long time, but now it is time to support the new version! This comes from Transport Canada, which held consultations with all local stakeholders and residents of the four municipalities concerned – Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Denis- sur-Richelieu and Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu. A first regulation was proposed in 2022, it was amended and is now proposed to you for validation.
UPDATE: The regulation as proposed in this article has been accepted by Transport Canada! It entered into force on December 20, 2023.
Remember that this new regulation limiting boat speeds aims to reduce the magnitude of waves to protect the copper redhorse and slow down bank erosion, as well as to ensure the safety of users of the Richelieu River.
What does the new regulation on the Richelieu River provide?
- A speed limit of 10 km/h along four segments:
- Over a 20 km section (from the beginning of the municipalities of Saint-Antoine-sur-le-Richelieu and Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu to the end of the municipalities of Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu and Saint-Charles-sur -Richelieu) less than 50 m from the banks;
- Between the Bellevue campsite and the Thomas Marine Group;
- Between the Handfield Inn and the Saint-Charles ferry;
- From 500 m upstream of the water intake of the Régie de l'aqueduc intermunicipale du Bas-Richelieu to 300 m downstream of the Saint-Denis ferry.
- A speed limit of 50 km/h on the same 20 km section outside the 10 km/h speed zones described above.
- No water sports (e.g. wakesurfing) on the same 20 km section where the speed is limited to 10 km/h, nor between the Thomas Marine Group and the Handfield hostel. This practice is however permitted on weekends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a 20 km section outside the 10 km/h speed zone (further from the shore).
- No mechanically or electrically powered boats along the Richelieu River from Île Jeannotte to Île aux Cerfs.
How do I decide in favor of this regulation?
You can make a comment in support of the regulation as part of the consultation conducted by Transport Canada by August 16, 2023 (11:59 p.m.).
- Meeting on the consultation web page.
- Submit at least one comment to one of the sections provided on the page (Issues, Context, Objective, etc.). You have the choice to write an opinion of your own or to copy and paste one or more of the letters recommended by the Association of Riverains and Friends of Richelieu to help you express your wish to see regulations be put in place. in place (see below).
- When your comment(s) are ready to be sent, click on “Step 1: Proofread your comment,” then “Proceed to step 2 of 3.”
- Enter your details, then “Proceed to step 3 of 3”. So!
Inspiration: texts supporting regulations on the Richelieu River
Proposed by the Association of Residents and Friends of Richelieu
For citizens/residents of the Richelieu
To whom it may concern, a resident of the Richelieu River, I was able to see the problems caused by the speed of boats and towed sports such as wakeboarding for our banks and safety on the Richelieu River. I have followed the file from the beginning and it seems wise to move forward with the new version of the regulation. This will allow better coexistence with new non-motorised users who are increasingly numerous in sailing near our villages. Access to water is essential for us, citizens and local residents!
Thank you for considering my support for this draft regulation.
For Richelieu users
Having been a user of the Richelieu River for many years, I can only see the devastation caused in recent years by motorboats and motorized sports. Navigating the river is becoming more and more hazardous for small boats and those without engines. Some boat owners do not know how to self-regulate, it is urgent to have regulations that will allow security forces to act. The submitted project seems to me an excellent compromise to allow the different uses with greater security. I support the proposed regulation on the Richelieu River.
For non-citizens/residents or non-users of the Richelieu
Release 1
I would like to hereby give my support to the regulatory project proposed by the four municipalities bordering Richelieu. I recognize that consultation work over more than eight years was done to arrive at this draft regulation which aims to reduce speed in certain areas of the river. This will help preserve certain areas from deterioration due to the passage of motorboats.
Whether we think of the breeding areas of the copper redhorse and other precarious species, the regulations will also serve to protect our banks at risk of erosion. As well as protecting our drinking water intake from the mixing of bottom silt and the problems that this causes. I therefore give my support to this proposed regulation.
Version 2
I support the draft regulation on the Richelieu of the four villages. I am happy to see that a regulation will be adopted and that it takes into account the environmental issues that the river must face. There is an urgent need to act to protect our banks, aquatic plants and endangered fish species on the Richelieu. An important breeding area of the Copper Redhorse is currently at risk. It is crucial that the regulation is adopted for safeguarding.
Roy Dupuis and the protection of the Richelieu River
#Let’sProtectTheRichelieuRiver!
Our articles on the Richelieu River
Photo: Jordan Cormack/Unsplash. Note that this photo was not taken on the Richelieu River
