Motor boats: 

On a lake like Manouane, it is important to have an adequate motor boat. But the problem is that a lot of campers and chalet owners own boats much too powerful. Let me explain. I have seen again this summer 2007, a person riding a giant boat propelled with a 140HP motor and when he passed by us, he created a wave of 30 centimetres. I believe there should be regulations. Motorboats should not have more that a 20HP motor, max. We should also control the speed on the lakes because many people don’t know how to be courteous when passing another boat. It’s not because you are in the forest that everything is permitted. Like in the city, you should respect others as well as their private property.  

Why regulate the speed of motor boats? Remember December 2004, the tsunami, in Thailand, the speed and force of the giant waves created on the beaches, removing and destroying everything in its passage? Imagine now a motor boat with a 140 HP motor passing near the shore line and creating a wave of 30 centimetres. You will say 30 centimetres is not much but for many birds and small animals that occupy the shoreline, it’s just like a tsunami. You destroy and flood their environment and can also drown their small ones.  Your mini tsunamis, created by your motor boats, also create premature erosion on the water banks.  

Aquatic birds like the loon, nests near the water and need tranquility in order to construct their nests and raise their young. However, when there is frantic activity on the water caused by motor boats, it affects the loon. I noticed that over the last few years on Manouane Lake, we hear and see less loons and this is because of the motor boats. Also over the last 4 or 5 years, I’ve noticed the loons tend to seek the lakes farther within the forest. Why?  It’s simply because the loon needs the peace and quiet. They need to live and raise their young in security. Indirectly, the loons that live on these lakes have to feed and what do they eat? The trout that swim in these lakes. In fact, for the past few years, these lakes are being emptied of the trout. In fact, there are less and less trout being caught, not because of excessive fishing, but because of the motor boats forcing the loons to seek tranquil places. 

The Federal regulation on the restrictions of operating motor boats can impose a 10 km/hr speed limit when near a lakes’ shoreline. In Quebec, the restrictions vary between 23 to 100 meters from the shoreline, with the exception of Lac Brome where they had the courage to make a stand. In fact, according to article 73 of the Federal regulations on operating of motor boats, it is prohibited to navigate 10km/h.within 150 meters from the Lake Brome shoreline. This is the most imposing restriction in Quebec for motor boat driving conduct. 

Generally animals need tranquility to live and raise their young but when this peace is threatened, animals finish by leaving the territory and this is what is happening right now at Manouane Lake, with the moose, wolf and very soon we will no longer hear the loon singing in the morning and evening. 

In my opinion, bringing awareness to people to change their behaviour on the water and prohibit any boat with motors over 20HP would be a good thing in order to save the loon and our shorelines from premature erosion. On the market there exist motors that are less noisy and less pollutant. Think about this the next time you need a motor for your boat. A canoe and an old fashion paddle are best for the environment, for your health and for the loons.