{"id":37752,"date":"2022-06-09T15:42:37","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T19:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/?p=37752"},"modified":"2023-01-16T11:57:26","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T16:57:26","slug":"grande-descente-riviere-petite-nation-partage-equitable-eau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/en\/grande-descente-riviere-petite-nation-partage-equitable-eau\/","title":{"rendered":"A big descent of the Petite Nation River to demand equitable sharing of water"},"content":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint-Andr\u00e9-Avellin, June 9, 2022 <\/strong>\u2013 A mobilization bringing together municipalities, tourism industry players, riverside residents, canoeists and kayakers was held today to demand equitable sharing of water in the river region Little Nation. Around thirty participants are concerned about the low flow of the Petite Nation River and the lack of domestic water in summer in the regional county municipality (MRC) of Papineau and are demanding ministerial intervention. In a gesture of solidarity, they made a big trip down the river. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A minimum flow rate claimed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Due to the low flow, the Route bleue project on this river, developed by Canot Kayak Qu\u00e9bec, is in danger. The Blue Route aims to \u201ccreate an enriching ecotourism experience, using safe, easily accessible paddling routes, all in an eco-responsible setting,\u201d we can read on their website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the side of the Outaouais Society for Nature and Parks (SNAP), we are concerned about the impacts on ecosystems that low water levels could cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The participants are demanding an interim measure providing for a minimum reserved flow of 15 m3<\/sup>\/s until an independent study, another wish expressed by the group, is completed. This is the minimum allowing for safe recreational use, according to the president of the Outaouais Canoe Camping and Whitewater Club Pierre Radisson, Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Venne and co-organizer of the mobilization event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe pride ourselves on having abundant water in Quebec, but that is not true everywhere. Here, the resource becomes scarce in the summer and we must rethink the sharing of its use across the watershed,\u201d indicates the director of Fondation Rivi\u00e8res, Andr\u00e9 B\u00e9langer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lack of domestic water <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Citizens of Saint-Andr\u00e9-Avellin lack water for domestic use at times during the summer. \u201cWe are among those who no longer have water and who see the banks falling visibly,\u201d testifies the co-organizer of the demonstration, Roch Parent, supported by the spokesperson for the Local Residents\u2019 Organization. , Dominique Simard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quebec must be an arbiter for the equitable sharing of water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Until now, the management of the dam by the municipality of Lac-Simon, upstream, was seen as the primary source of the low water problem in the river. An independent study on the ecological flow that must be reserved for the Petite Nation River is necessary to ensure the equitable sharing of water between the users of Lac Simon and the riverside residents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following unsuccessful discussions with Lac-Simon on the management of the dam, the group turned to the MP for Papineau and Minister of Outaouais, Mathieu Lacombe, to intervene in the matter. \u201cThere are solutions on the table. The solution must allow everyone, both those above and those below, to benefit from the banks. Doing nothing would mean that the people below are less important than those above,\u201d explains the mayor of Saint-Andr\u00e9-Avellin, Jean-Ren\u00e9 Carri\u00e8re. The mayors of Duhamel, Papineauville and Ch\u00e9n\u00e9ville, as well as municipal councilors from Ripon also joined the mobilization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MP Mathieu Lacombe and the mayor of Lac-Simon did not respond to our invitation to participate in the event. The municipality of Lac-Simon has always maintained that it complies with the Dam Safety Act<\/em>. Minister Lacombe's office indicates that it is up to the MRC of Papineau to resolve this matter. Only the MP for Qu\u00e9bec Solidaire, Marie-Claude Latourelle, was present to demonstrate her support for the neighboring municipalities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Regional Wetland and Water Environment Plan (PRMHH) of the MRC of Papineau must be submitted in the coming months, but no conservation measures would be planned for the Petite Nation River. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical context <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The flow of the Petite Nation River has experienced marked variations during the summer period for many years, according to data from the hydraulic station located in Ripon. In the last ten years, periods of low water have been observed in summer: in 2020, 109 days were recorded during which the river flowed at less than 15 m3<\/sup>\/s, between June and September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Outaouais Pierre Radisson Canoe Camping and Whitewater Club<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Based in Gatineau, the Pierre Radisson Canoe-Camping Club is a non-profit organization formed in 1977, whose objective is to bring together canoe-camping enthusiasts from the Outaouais region. Its members seek to share an exceptional canoe-camping experience in a team spirit while promoting the learning of canoeing and camping techniques, while respecting nature and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Fondation Rivi\u00e8res <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For 20 years, Fondation Rivi\u00e8res has worked to preserve, restore and enhance the natural character of rivers and contributes to ensuring water quality and access to water for the Quebec population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signatories:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n