Situated in the Lanaudière region, in the zone d’exploitation contrôlé (controlled resource use zone; ZEC) des Nymphes, Lac Crystal is an ultra-oligotrophic headwater lake, a rare specimen in highly-developed southern Québec. Ultra-oligotrophic lakes are characterized by extremely low nutrient and sediment input, leading to the exceptionally clear waters seen in the photo above, showcasing an incredible 12 metres of visibility below the lake’s surface. Lake Crystal also has an estimated 14-year retention period—the time it takes to fully cycle through and renew its waters—whereas most lakes in the Laurentide range have a retention period of less than a year.
Lake Crystal feeds the Maskinongé River watershed’s principal tributary, where its pristine water quality makes it a remarkable ecological phenomenon. Lac Crystal is recognized as a site faunique d’intérêt (site of faunal interest; SFI) as it provides habitat to a population of highly vulnerable lake trout. It is one of only four lakes among Lanaudière’s over 10 000 lakes and rivers classified as an SFI for lake trout, making its protection essential to the protection of these local populations. Lac Crystal and its close neighbour, Lac Civille, form a high value conservation site. Lac Civille, also part of the Association du Lac Crystal’s conservation efforts, is also an SFI for its population of brook trout.
Last year, residents filed an application for a protected area project around both Lac Crystal and its neighbouring Lac Civille on the grounds of their delicate and unique ecosystems. This application is still under review by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP).
The Ministère des Ressources naturels et des Forêts (MRNF) has recently approved a logging operation that threatens the delicate balance of Lac Crystal. Conducting logging in Lac Crystal’s watershed is effectively removing the “pool filter”, as the forest in the surrounding watershed serves as a natural filter, retaining sediments and nutrients that would otherwise flow directly into the lake’s waters. This decision to allow logging puts Lac Crystal and Lac Civille’s rare and fragile ecosystems at risk of irreversible damage.
The members of the Association du lac Crystal, a collective of residents and concerned citizens, are taking justice into their own hands to oppose the MRNF’s decision to approve the logging project on the grounds of it being unreasonable and unlawful. This is why the Association du lac Crystal approached the Legacy Fund for the Environment to support their legal opposition to the exploitation of the lakes’ essential surrounding forests.
Join us in supporting the Association du lac Crystal in their legal battle and help preserve one of southern Quebec’s rare remaining ultra-oligotrophic lakes and the habitat it provides for native trout populations. You can also help by sharing the story with your community and raising public awareness about the issue, or by signing their petition to halt the cuts.
Note: these additional resources are in French.
Follow their progress below and join a community of passionate freshwater conservationists in their fight to preserve this unique ultra-oligotrophic ecosystem.
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