Volunteers Requested

2020-06-20 - The Blue Sea Lake Watershed Association is looking for volunteers and support for the preparation and laying of burlap to control certain Eurasian watermilfoil beds in Blue Sea Lake. Work is scheduled for this month and in July.

To carry out this experimental project, we will need volunteers, boats, trucks, accommodation and meals for experts from outside, and also financial support in the form of donations.

For those who want to volunteer their time or assets, contact the President of the Association, Francis LeBlanc by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (613) 697-8864. For donations, go directly to the Association's website at www.associationbluesea.org.

The Jute Tarp Project is Going Ahead

After years of planning and preparation, the Association is finally proceeding with its experimental initiative to use burlap as a way of controlling the spread of Eurasian Milfoil on Blue Sea Lake. Biodegradable burlap will be carefully placed over selected concentrations and then monitored over the next five years to determine the effect on the milfoil and on the ecology of the lake. The installation will be carried out over the next month and work begins immediately. For more information on the project, see our 43^rd bulletin.It should be noted that this project is funded by the Affluents Maritime Program aimed at implementing actions stemming from water master plans that contribute to the Maritime Strategy of the Government of Quebec.

Water Quality Monitoring

2020-05-17 - On March 27, the RSVL informed its partners that the 2019 results sheets are now available on the Ministry’s website. To directly access the results sheets for the lakes under our supervision, go to the Water Quality page under the "WATERSHED" tab of our website. This same page explains how water is monitored, provides information on the content of the results sheets, describes the general schedule of monitoring activities and indicates the needs for volunteers to carry out the activities. 

Danger! Eurasian Milfoil! Stay Clear of the Yellow Buoys!

2019-05-25 - The navigation season on our lakes begins; it is time to remember the danger of water milfoil for the health of our lakes and the importance of respecting the yellow buoys to be installed shortly by the Association to warn boaters of the presence of water-milfoil-infested areas, that they must avoid.

Wash your Boats

2019-05-25 - And to prevent the importation of other specimens of this invasive plant and of all other species of the same nature, we remind you of the importance of washing your boats before launching them if they come from another body of water. Messines and Blue Sea washing stations are easily accessible; take advantage of them! In this regard, it should be noted that both municipalities remain committed to the continuation and improvement of the mandatory boat washing program.

Don't Make Waves

2019-05-25 - In a letter received today, the Canada Revenue Agency informs us that the Association meets the requirements for tax exemption as a charitable organization under the Income Tax Act. Thanks to those responsible for this success, including our Treasurer John Turnbull who led the effort, the members who participated in the August 25^th Special General Meeting to authorize the request to change our letters patent (French only) and our secretary André Beauchemin who was responsible for quickly obtaining our supplementary letters patent (French only - for the English translation of key changes, click here ) from the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.

To Know More on Boat Washing

Photos: M. Grégoire & P.R. OuimetApril 2018 - Representatives of the Association and of the two municipalities of Blue Sea and Messines met recently to plan the boat washing program for 2018. The two municipalities are taking steps to launch the program for the start of the fishing season on April 27.

To Learn More About Washing Boats!

Source: Web video of the MDDELCCApril 2018 - A web video produced a few years ago by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and fight against climate change (MDDELCC) highlights the importance of boat washing and illustrates how to do it in 5 steps to prevent the spread of invasive species in our aquatic environments. Click here to see it.

Avoid the Spread of Eurasian Milfoil - Pay Heed to the Yellow Buoys! Why?

Photos: P.R. Ouimet

April 2018 - It's time to recall the danger of Eurasian milfoil for the health of our lakes and the importance of avoiding areas delimited by the yellow buoys installed by the Association to indicate the presence of milfoil bed, areas that boaters must avoid.

Eurasian milfoil reproduces mainly by fragmentation of the stems. The stems are broken naturally or cut accidentally (fishermen, boat propellers, etc.) These fragments are then deposited elsewhere at the bottom of the water. Each fragment of one centimetre or more can produce a new plant.

Eurasian milfoil beds become so dense that other species of aquatic plants naturally present are eliminated. Thus, there are fewer aquatic plant species in our waters. This loss of biodiversity results in an impoverishment of the aquatic environment. This plant can also significantly harm fishing, among others lake trout fishing. Finally, Eurasian milfoil is also a constraint to the use of aquatic environments for human recreational purposes.

For more information, two sources of interest: the Eurasian Water-Milfoil website pages of Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program and of the ministère du Développement Durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (French only).

2019-07-24