Completing the Grace Island Meadow Restoration Work 2008-09

The waterfowl nesting area of Grace Island on July 30, 2009, that was planted with MICA 2009 mixture on 12 hectares  (Photo courtesy of Alain Desmarais, Regroupement des Sauvaginiers du Lac St-Pierre)

Completing the Grace Island Meadow Restoration Work Final Report 2008/2009 (en français seulement) (pdf; 317 KB)

Goals and Objectives

The restoration of the Grace Island meadow will be able to count on a partnership group of the major stakeholders in the conservation of Lake Saint-Pierre, that is: Ducks Unlimited, Canadian Wildlife Service, Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, and others. These stakeholders will unite themselves around the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre’s project in order to restore, but also to establish, methods of cultivation that are favourable to the waterfowl and, at the same time, beneficial for the environment of a unique meadow at Lake Saint-Pierre.

Once this major work of returning the meadow back to its original form is completed, the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre will be better able to interest and make aware the farmers there in participating in our agricultural/wildlife approach. It will still include the better objective of our project: to return a unique meadow back to farming in order to promote waterfowl nesting.

The Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre, always with its partners, will also promote a particular species at the time of this work of returning the meadow back to its original form. The blue-winged teal, nearly disappeared from Lake Saint-Pierre, was in the past very present in the Grace Island meadow. It is especially that species that the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre wants to see returning to the Grace Island meadow in great numbers. However, work will also be aimed at the entire duck species that are present at Lake Saint-Pierre.

Activities

At the end of the summer 2008, towards mid-August, the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre wishes to complete the work of ploughing, digging ditches, as well as the preparation of a herbaceous strip at the perimeter of certain areas of the Island. To do so, the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre will call upon a farmer in order to complete this work. Work will be done on a meadow area of 85 hectares.

Specific Habitat Products/Results to be Supported by WHC’s Contributions

Grace Island is well known as an essential habitat to the biological diversity of Lake Saint-Pierre. Indeed, winged and terrestrial wildlife are found there in very great numbers. Its various marshes, its meadow and its mature forest support very important biodiversity. The origin of the occupation of the Island by humans is also worth mentioning. Agricultural practices allowed the conservation of an exceptional meadow at Lake Saint-Pierre. This meadow, a relic of a past time that is now nearly unique to Lake Saint-Pierre, is still very productive today with respect to the number and success of nesting of numerous duck species.

The Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre wants to protect the biological and historical values of the Island, but particularly protect the productivity of the meadow. The continuation of traditional agricultural activities seems to be the most interesting way (to do so). Agricultural activities that are necessary to the restoration of the meadow will be completed in summer 2008. With this project, the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre values showing its interest in becoming the vigilant guardian of this Island that is so rich in history and all kinds of wildlife.

Benefits to Waterfowl, Wetlands-Associated Species, and/or Other Wildlife

The archipelago area of Lake Saint-Pierre is a place that is frequented a lot by duck hunters. The project aims at supporting the maintenance of a duck population in order to ensure a quality of hunting for the generations to come. The restoration of the blue-winged teal, a species that has disappeared from Lake Saint-Pierre, aims at allowing the removal of this species that is appreciated by duck hunters.

Grace Island is frequented by an important population of white-tailed deer. At certain times of the year, one can observe several tens of deer on the Island. The restoration of the meadow will bring them a unique pasture space at Lake Saint-Pierre.

The herbaceous strip which will be planned at the perimeter of certain areas of the Island, will also bring a favourable plant cover to several species of nesting birds, as well as waterfowl. White-tailed deer will be able to feed there once again, if certain fruit plants will be planted there.

Relevance to Habitat Planning, Decision Making and/or Management

More than restoring an important habitat for the reproduction of waterfowl, the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre wishes to show the importance for duck hunters to act for the future. Indeed, by restoring this vast meadow that is well known as an essential site for the reproduction of waterfowl at Lake Saint-Pierre, by this act, the Waterfowlers Group of Lake Saint-Pierre wishes to be assured of perpetuating a traditional activity at Lake Saint-Pierre which is hunting for ducks.

Project Location

The project will proceed in an island setting – Grace Island is located in the municipality of Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel, in the county of Richelieu, in the province of Quebec.

Project Contact

For more information on this project, please contact Alain Desmarais, Vice President of the D’Autray Sector and Project Manager, Regroupement des Sauvaginiers du Lac St-Pierre, Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, Quebec.