May 2022

Some great news! The Fondation de la faune du Québec gives $64,900 in financial assistance for our battle for control of Eurasian watermilfoil in Petit lac des Cèdres.

The Association for the Protection of the Cedar Lakes (APLC) welcomes the decision by the Fondation de la faune du Québec to award us a grant of $64,900 to support the APLC’s fight against the Eurasian watermilfoil. This invasive plant species affects lake trout habitat, and the project for control of the Eurasian watermilfoil will help. The foundation’s decision is a vote of confidence in the approach used by the APLC and in its ability to mobilize our members to take action to protect our lakes.

This is an unexpected boost for all of us! The grant covers 66% of the $99,400 required to complete the project over the next 24 months, including the contract with Fyto. We had to demonstrate that the APLC could collect 34% of the total value of the project. The funds raised last year and the projected revenues this year convinced the foundation that the APLC has the resources to carry out the project. To date we have collected $27,331 in donations. 

The foundation receives more than 700 requests per year and it can assist only so many organizations. The foundation was particularly impressed by the methodology proposed by the APLC, which includes the laying of synthetic tarps on weedbeds combined with manual uprooting. The foundation also took into account the ecological significance of the project, given that Grand lac des Cèdres is designated as a wildlife site of interest for lake trout spawning grounds, and it is connected to Petit lac des Cèdres.

The Fondation de la faune du Québec is a parapublic organization that reports to the Ministère de l’environnement, de la lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la faune et des parcs (MELCCFP). It offers financial and technical support for projects related to the conservation and enhancement of wildlife and its habitat. The APLC applied for financial assistance within the framework of the foundation’s program for the battle against invasive exotic plants.