Ayer's Cliff Acts! Mayor Van Zuiden Moves Forward, Calling for the Enforcement of Riparian Zone Regulations
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The Massawippi Lake Massawippi Water Protection Association Journal Winter 2012 AYER'S CLIFF ACTS! MAYOR VAN ZUIDEN MOVES FORWARD, CALLING FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF RIPARIAN ZONE REGULATIONS. HE ALSO ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS THE TOMIFOBIA MASSAWIPPI WATERSHED-FILTER PROJECT. impose the letter of the law. On the other hand, he added, “the lake question is essential LAKE LEVEL for Ayer's Cliff. We can't PAGE 5 unequally treat taxpayers, where the work of some is BILL C-45 undermined by the indifference or bad faith of PAGE 6 others.” WATERSHED-FILTER Ayer’s Cliff shorelines Pressure from citizens PAGE 7 Alec Van Zuiden explained listened to, reinforced his that pressure from citizens growing conviction. “I was played a big role in increasing impressed by the his awareness of the issue. presentations and the “Since my election, besides willingness of all these people yer's Cliff will become municipalities bordering Lake your organization, there are to come up with concrete the first lakeside Massawippi, and it is many other citizens who have solutions. I like efficiency, the Amunicipality to levy forbidden to cut all vegetation not given up: meeting after concrete.” fines on property owners who within a five-metre band from meeting I received questions Without a doubt, the mayor of continue to refuse to comply the high water mark. For the Ayer's Cliff exudes a natural with regulations pertaining to past three summers, Everblue energy, and, from first glance, the riparian zone. The tolerant Massawippi seasonal is one to chomp at the bit to approach of the five Parc employees have crisscrossed get to the finish line. regional Massawippi partners the lake to distribute Inexhaustible when on a made the law-respecting information, measure project, his dreams for his citizens somewhat impatient. compliance, and explain rules. village go from suitable lake Ayer's Cliff has taken control Beyond the saying “no one access to free Wi-Fi. Nothing of the situation. This is a big can ignore the law,” perhaps run-of-the-mill here. For the win for activists - among them more appropriately in this mayor, anything is possible, it Everblue Massawippi - who case, we could say “very is only a question of taking the have tried to raise awareness clever the ones who have not right action. and convince both elected heard.” officials and lakeside Taking the right action residents for almost five Unable to get through to those Alec Van Zuiden years. resisting the rules, Everblue As for the regulations, the Massawippi officially on this topic. I had to act, but means were simple, but they Since 2008 petitioned each municipality to not alone: the whole council had to be applied: an apply the fines the regulations had to act.” enlarged mandate for the We should recall that call for. inspector, a nuanced regulations pertaining to the Interviewed in his office, The creation of the Table de riparian zone have been in Mayor Van Zuiden told us that concertation sur la Tomifobia, Continued on page 3: place since 2008 in all five normally he is not one to and the presentations he Ayer ’s Cliff [email protected] 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca 1 On the Board EverBlue Massawippi Members of the Board The Board of Directors of Everblue Massawippi is always on the job. A new page will be dedicated to the members in our newsletter. They have a lot to say… hen I was offered the board of the executive am proud to be part of the team of Wposition of VP committee of the Conseil volunteers and a member of Everblue Communications and régional de l'environnement IMassawippi's board. Our newsletter Public Relations, I was told de l'Estrie, which follows all outlines clearly the range of marvellous the organization wanted to environmental concerns, projects we have undertaken to maintain the make its position on various including water, and which health of our lake. My role is as director of issues better known, and took an active role in the the member-recruitment committee. establish a constructive controversy last autumn In 2011 we achieved, and even surpassed, relationship with different when a mining project was the magic 500-member level, and this year environmental actors. being considered in the we are targeting 580. area. It is a technical and difficult task - each year This intention to spread the Josette Gauvin we have to start from scratch. Yet, it is the message and promote Finally, the Conseil régional Membership members that guide our actions. collaboration has assigned me the role of Your support as membersI is crucial if we are to have weight when materialized through our representative at the dealing with the different levels of government. Strength lies in newsletter, presentations to COGESAF, the organization numbers, but a participating membership is vital, too. We count the Lake Massawippi assigned by the on your continued support. Please make your membership watershed municipalities, government to draw up and cheque out to Everblue Massawippi, CP 2703, North Hatley, and work with other manage the Plan directeur QC, J0B 2C0. Thank you! environmental groups. de l'eau de la rivière Saint- François (the Massawippi watershed being considered Currently, I represent verblue Massawippi is not only about protecting water quality, Everblue Massawippi on a sub-basin of the Saint- François). Ealthough the issue is key. We are also concerned about the Comité consultatif en conserving and improving the beauty of the land surrounding environnement of the There are many the lake. In order to do this, we have to consult, so we began a environmental actors today, series of informal meetings to gather feedback from the greatest and Everblue Massawippi number of people. We not only want to get the pulse of folks who is often the organization Yves Gérin of folks who use the lake, but also hear from those who live in the region. Dozens of small that can most effectively Front lines bridge them in order to associations exist: from lakeside and bay better work towards residents; to campers, fishers, and boaters. We common goals. This is true will strive to bring them all together to make this Jacques Foisy for the mandate that I was project one they can be proud of. If the federal given and for most of the government indicates that it is ready to leave Spread the message Memphrémagog MRC, actions and projects lake management in the hands of the province, which plays an important undertaken by Everblue the province will probably like to transfer more role in the protection of the Massawippi. powers to local and regional municipalities. We environment in our region. must be on the front lines to meet the challenge As well, I was elected to the and take the future of our beautiful environment in our own hands. EverBlue Massawippi wishes to express its gratitude to Hatley Nature and Blanchard Litho for their generosity in financing the printing of the Journal 2 [email protected] 819.238.4410 www.lacmassawippi.ca of cyanobacteria (blue- accumulation. green algae) in our lake Continued : Ayer’s Cliff during the summer season. But, since mid-October, we approach with lakeside have seen an increase in residents, preparing We have been able to count the proliferation of these agreements, and, as a final on the support of volunteers algae, as shown in a photo option, fines. “We've given our (the lake guardians) to from Ripplecove Bay (page citizens the necessary tools so make frequent visual 4). On some days, the they can conform to regulations. inspections and report concentrations were very We are flexible when we see a bloom sightings using a high. Representatives from collaborative spirit, but in the guide prepared by the the Ministry took samples end, it has to work; it's not ministry. Photos and and are currently analyzing complicated – no more samples are taken and sent them. Louise Roux violations will be tolerated.” Lake Guardians to the ministry in order to verify if toxins are present. In the meantime, we assure Most violators have relented you that your association is verblue Massawippi since realizing that the No significant blooms were on the lookout - alerting teamed up with the municipality was serious. reported this summer, given authorities with every bloom ECOGESAF and the Several agreements for work that low rain levels and low - and increasing pressure. Ministry of Environment in have been signed (planting of lake levels led to poor We'll keep you informed as order to track the presence shrubs) within a respectable conditions for phosphate the matter develops. time-frame. And for the few stubborn violators remaining, warrants have been entrusted to the municipal prosecutor. y work with needed. With this in Everblue mind, I bring my Paule Obermeir Asked about his other Massawippi enthusiasm to the editing Raising awareness environmental concerns, the M mayor immediately mentioned began in the spring of of the texts for our 2012. With a varied work newsletter. municipal ditches. “We don't experience including have many, as our municipality I have also started business management, is primarily urban, and smaller working on the education, and sociology, than the others. But I believe in development of a park I was convinced I could that project. Not only will we owned by Everblue contribute to the mission collaborate, but we will also Massawippi with the view of Everblue Massawippi. promote responsible action in of turning it into a site for neighboring municipalities.” All To be a member of this learning and raising in all, quite promising for the highly dynamic team is a awareness about the Tomifobia Massawippi stimulating and protection of lake shores its early stages and will be Watershed-Filter Project.