Conservation group says tighter regulations needed on Lake Memphremagog

Memphremagog Conservation Inc (MCI) recently surveyed 643 boaters on Lake Memphremagog and said the results suggest activities on the lake are under-regulated.

According to MCI the majority of boaters who answered the survey said regulations should be tighter, pointing to issues like boat waves, motorboat noise, sediment churned up in the water column, and shoreline erosion.

“Canada’s lakes belong to all Canadians,” commented MCI President Robert Benoit in a press release. “The problem we are experiencing is a lack of regulations. By comparison, Quebec’s autoroutes belong to all Quebecers, but, thankfully, they are well-regulated, with the responsibility to enforce the rules falling on the government,” Benoit said.

According to MCI, the majority of the 643 survey respondents would like to see increased presence of peace officers on Lake Memphremagog. Thirty per cent said feel that their security is compromised by the activities of other boaters.

The survey results are available on MCI’S web site at www.memphremagog. org.

Memphremagog Conservation Inc. (MCI) is a non-profit organization working for the protection, conservation and improvement of Lake

Memphremagog and its watershed for the benefit of present and future generations.

MCI works in collaboration with various other organizations, governments, and citizens to carry out concrete actions.

MCI relies on scientific data to make aware, inform and empower the various actors to ensure the environmental health of Lake Memphremagog and its watershed.