Davignon Lake, a source of inspiration
Davignon Lake is a reservoir constructed in 1967 by the City of Cowansville to store water from the Yamaska River to supply the city with drinking water. Its main tributary is the South East Yamaska which runs south to north and flows into the Saint Lawrence River through Lake Saint Pierre.
The Lake’s state of health
Davignon Lake is an indispensable source for the supply of water to the city but it is also a significant resource for nautical activities and swimming. Over the past few years, incidents of blue-green algae have raised concerns among the citizens. There has also been an erosion problem along the lake’s shoreline and the banks of the tributary rivers. The sand bank that has recently appeared at the mouth of the lake clearly illustrates that the lake is filling up. The sediment carried by the tributaries also carries nutrients and increases the quantity of material that is in suspension in the water.
A Five Year Action Plan
An excessive amount of nutrients accelerates the aging of the water table. The current trophic level of the lake indicates that it is at the mesotrophic stage, which means that the lake is approaching its life end. We must now take steps to limit the amount of nutrients from human activities that find their way into the lake in order to improve the lake’s condition. This is why the City of Cowansville tabled its Plan d’action pour le bassin versant du lac Davignon – Action Plan for Davignon Lake and its water shed in September of 2010. This plan provides for a series of actions over the next five years to meet the following objectives:
Maintain and improve the quality of the water in the wet lands of the water shed:
- Ensure the city’s water supply;
- Maintain recreational activities;
- Slow down the eutrophication process in the lake.
Raise the awareness and enlist the help of all of users and stakeholders in the water shed area:
- Create a sense of ownership of the lake among residents of Cowansville;
- Enlist the support of other area municipalities to raise the profile.
An integrated water management
An approach that brings together the entire water shed area implies an integrated water management. The term “water shed” includes all of the water that drains into a common place or that reaches a lake. The condition of a lake is therefore directly influenced by topography, land use, vegetation and the activities that are carried on within the water shed. While the lake is situated in Cowansville, the water shed includes the municipalities of Brome Lake, Sutton, Dunham, Brome, Potton and Bolton West.
The involvement of the people and consultation with the various intervenors is necessary for the plan to succeed. Over the coming years, concrete actions will be taken to preserve Davignon Lake.
To learn more, please contact the Land Use Planning and Environment Department at 450 263-0277.
