Water tests by RSVL program

PRESS RELEASE

Bouchette, May 7, 2012 - Robert LeSage, President of the Association of Grand Lac Rond, is pleased to announce to members of the association and all property owners of Grand Lac Rond the results of water test made through the RSVL program (Réseau de surveillance volontaire des lacs).

The RSVL program was introduced by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (MDDEP) in 2004 and was especially designed to analyze the trophic level of enrolled lakes and to monitor their progress.

The Association of Grand Lac Rond enrolled in the RSVL program in 2011 and the results of our first tests of water under this program have just been released and are very satisfying. Two monitoring stations were established on our lake, one on each side of the lake in deepwater. Here is the conclusion of the report of the Department:

"The integration of data collected for each monitoring station permits us to situate the trophic status of Grand Lac Rond in the ultra-oligotrophic class. This lake has little or no signs of eutrophication. Its water resource should be protected. To retain its status and its uses, the MDDEP recommends the adoption of preventive measures to limit the input of nutrients from human activities."

The Executive Committee of the Association is extremely pleased with these results, which contradict the alarmist remarks published in the Journal La Gatineau in August and September 2011. The President said that "in recent years, some people have been loudly proclaiming that our lake is in an eutrophic state. Well, today we have evidence to the contrary. An oligotrophic lake is considered by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (MDDEP) to be a young body of water in the aging process. The water quality of our lake is excellent for swimming. However, the Department recommends to never drink water from a lake of any kind, without iti being properly treated," concluded Mr. LeSage.

Despite these positive results, the President of the Association appealed to the common sense of local residents and cottagers, and insists that we must still take care of our lake to ensure sustainability. To this end, each person must carefully protect their environment and be environmentally responsible.