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6. TP 14761E - Protecting Quebec's Waterways - A Boater's Guide

TP 14761E - Protecting Quebec's Waterways - A Boater's Guide

Printable version : TP 14761E - Protecting Quebec's Waterways - A Boater's Guide (PDF Format, file size 780 Kb).

Table of contents

• How we act matters
• Understand the importance of our waters and shorelines
• Help keep out the invaders
• Know and obey the law
• Use nature-friendly cleaners
• Learn more

How we act matters

Quebec's lakes, rivers and waterways are home to fish, animals and plants of all kinds. Human activity can affect them very much. How we act in, on or near the water matters.

Let's work together to protect our waters so they can be enjoyed long into the future. Let's take simple steps to change things. It's not just a trend — it's the law.

Let's work together to protect our waters so they can be enjoyed long into the future.

Understand the importance of our waters and shorelines

Many kinds of plants and animals depend on waterways and shores for survival. Shoreline erosion and polluted water are two problems that can make their home unhealthy.

Did you know?

• Plants, bushes and trees growing along the shore help keep erosion problems under control and hold back pesticides and other chemicals coming from sewers, farms or factories.
• Without this vegetation, many of these chemicals flow directly into our rivers and lakes and can threaten the wildlife. They might prevent fish and animals from reproducing, spread disease or even cause the loss of some species.

Shoreline erosion happens when fine particles of soil detach from the shore. Many things cause this to happen quickly. Some, like currents, spring ice movement and runoff are natural. Others are human activities such as removing plants, bushes and trees from the shoreline and waves produced by boat movements.

You can help protect the water

• Use environment-friendly cleaning products that don't harm the water.
• Get your engine cleaned often to reduce the amount of emissions going into the air or water.
• Fill your tank carefully.
  • Moor your boat securely and shut off the engine.
  • Fill the portable tanks outside the boat.
  • Make sure you know how much it can hold to avoid leaks and overflows.
  • Use absorbent materials if you do spill fuel. Cleaning products that spread in water will cause even more pollution.
• Reduce bilge water pollution.
  • Keep your automatic bilge pump shut off. Use it only when needed and when the bilge contains only water.
  • Use towels or bilge pads to absorb oils, fuel, antifreeze and transmission fluid, then dispose of them.
  • Use absorbent materials when cleaning your bilge.
  • Use bilge pumping services offered in some pleasure boat harbours, if you can.

You can help protect shoreline

• Reduce your boat's wake. Adjust your speed to produce as few waves as possible and keep away from the shore.
• Keep your garbage on board. Bring it home to recycle or throw away.
• Protect or replace shoreline shrubs, trees and leafy plants on your shoreline property.

Respect sites where seals, bird colonies or marine mammals live.

• Watch from a distance: use binoculars to see them more closely.
• Limit noise.
• Don't feed, chase or hunt animals.

LEARN THE LAWS that apply to watching animals in the areas you plan to visit. They can vary from place to place.

Attention boaters!

Reduce noise to respect other waterway users, neighbouring residents and the wildlife around you.

• Use a device, such as a muffler, to limit motor noise.
• Turn down the radio.
• Avoid always boating in the same place.

Help keep out the invaders

What are they?

Invasive exotic species are plants, fish, shellfish and even tiny algae or bacteria that enter into waters other than those from which are their natural home. They then multiply and crowd out the plants and animals that do belong there.

They usually enter Quebec's water system through international marine traffic, by attaching themselves to the bottoms or propellers of vessels. They can also enter from water emptied from bilge tanks. These invasive exotic species then spread out even further by means of currents and other living species.

Did you know?

Dumping live bait, such as fish bait or crayfish, in a lake is one way of risking bringing invaders into an area that can cause real harm to the food chain and local ecosystem.

A few examples

The zebra mussel

The zebra mussel is one of the most common invasive exotic species of North America's waters. This small striped shellfish lives in clusters in algae-rich shallow fresh water. Zebra mussels each filter up to one litre of water per day for food. This means there is less food for other aquatic organisms.

Any craft leaving water with these mussels can spread them to another body of water. When zebra mussels attach themselves to boats, they can damage the hull: their larvae can block engine pipes and when present in large numbers, they can even block sewer pipes and drinking water inlets.

The water chestnut

The water chestnut is a water plant with floating triangular leaves and seeds that look like nuts. They cover large areas of the water's surface, which harms other water life because they allow less light and oxygen into the water. They can also limit fishing and swimming access to certain bodies of water.

The Eurasian watermilfoil

The Eurasian watermilfoil is an aquatic plant that lives between 0.5 and 3.5 metres below the surface. In Canada, it is currently found only in fresh water. It takes root at the water's bottom and forms a very dense mass when it reaches the surface.

Once they take root in new waters, these plants spread and become so dense that they smother all other plants, block waterways and limit swimming and boating.

Blue-green algae

Since our waters are their natural habitat, blue-green algae are not considered exotic invaders. However, they are a major threat to our waters because they grow and spread quickly, and do real harm to the environment.

Phosphorus from human activity is the main cause of their rapid growth. Chemicals, fertilizers and septic tank overflows that contain phosphorus make their way into our waters and cause these algae to spread. Greywater (water from showers, sinks, etc.) dumped from boats, also speeds up algae growth.

Blue-green algae can make water unfit for drinking and swimming because contact can cause serious health problems in humans. Drinking it may cause stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, headaches and fever. Touching it may cause skin problems.

Did you know?

As they spread, these algae often look like foam, scum or a spill of blue, brown, red or sparkling green paint — especially when the water temperature rises.

How you can help

Learn to identify invasive exotic species and blue-green algae. Make a phone call

Report the presence of invaders or blue-green algae as quickly as you can to the numbers below:

• Report invasive plants
  Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs
  1-800-561-1616
• Report invasive wild animals
  Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune
  1-866-248-6936
• Report blue-green algae
  Services Québec
  Quebec region: 418-644-4545
  Montreal region: 514-644-4545
  Other Quebec regions: 1-877-644-4545

Don't take invaders with you

Before leaving the waterway

• Look closely at your boat, trailer, engine, fishing gear and equipment such as anchors, oars, etc.;
• Remove all water plants or shellfish from your boat and throw them in the garbage;
• Remove any water in the boat as well as all bilge water;
• Drain all the water from the engine cooling system; and
• Do not throw live bait in the water. Throw it in the garbage or freeze or salt it to use at another time.

After leaving the waterway

• Remove any invaders that are too small to see by rinsing your boat, trailer and the other equipment in hot water (over 40° C) and, if you can, use a high-pressure water spray; and
• Let the boat and its equipment dry in the sun at least five days before visiting another body of water.

Help limit blue-green algae growth

• Use ecological, phosphate-free cleaning products;
• Don't dump greywater into the water or along the shore; and
• Wax your boat: a good coat will keep dirt from sticking to it, and you won't need to use detergents to wash your boat.

Know and obey the law

Canada and the Province of Quebec have laws that protect our waters and shores. Some apply to pleasure boating. Make sure you know and obey the laws in force in any waters you navigate.

The Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals came into force on May 3, 2007. They address major problems to the health of our waters and shorelines, such as sewage, garbage and hydrocarbons.

Problem: Sewage in our waterways

It is against the law to dump untreated sewage in Canada's inland waters. Inland waters are all the rivers, lakes and other navigable fresh waters within Canada. In Quebec, the inland waters of the St. Lawrence River are located west of a line drawn between Pointe-au-Père and Pointe d'Orient.

Sewage contains, among other things

• Human or animal body waste.
• Drainage and other waste from toilets and other containers of human or animal body waste.

When pleasure boaters must comply

• Pleasure craft built before May 3, 2007 must comply with the Regulations no later than May 3, 2012.
• New pleasure craft built on or after May 3, 2007 must already comply.

ATTENTION! Depending on the date the pleasure craft was built, a freestanding portable toilet will not be authorized or is no longer authorized in inland waters. However, boats outside of inland waters may have such toilets if you cannot install fixed equipment.

SOLUTIONS: Currently, a variety of equipment and related alternatives exist which can serve pleasure boaters in finding sewage management solutions.

Choose a sewage management solution that works best for you. Choices include:

Marine Sanitation Devices

A marine sanitation device is a piece of equipment installed on board a ship that is designed to receive and treat sewage. Different models are on the market.

Only sewage treated with a marine sanitation device that meets legal standards can be discharged in inland waters. Consult the regulations to find the standards for sectors east of Pointe-au-Père.

Holding tank

A holding tank is used only to collect and store sewage or sewage sludge. Although the holding tank is useful, its use requires pumping installations on dry land. Make sure to follow pumping instructions. Avoid disinfectants, as they may be harmful to the environment.

Problem: Garbage and hydrocarbons

It is against the law to dump garbage, hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon blends into Canada's waters.

SOLUTION: Keep garbage and hydrocarbons on board with you. Bring them home to recycle or dispose of properly.

Report a problem

If you accidentally pollute water, or if you see someone else polluting the water, call the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Alerting and Warning Network at 1-800-363-4735 immediately.

Did you know?

Pleasure boaters who do not obey the Regulations may receive a sanction or fine.

Use nature-friendly cleaners

All-purpose cleaner	Mix 30 ml of baking soda or borax, 30 ml of tea tree essential oil, 125 ml of vinegar, 15 ml of biodegradable dish soap and 2 litres of hot water. Spray on the surfaces to be cleaned.
Chromium	Rub with baking soda. Rinse and polish with mixture of vinegar and hot water.
Deck and floor	1 cup of vinegar combined with 8 cups of water.
Drain	Pour 60 ml of baking soda in the drain, followed by 60 ml of vinegar. Let it rest for 15 minutes. Then pour in a full kettle of boiling water.
Mould	Add 60 ml of borax and 30 ml of vinegar to 500 ml of hot water. Spray the mixture to eliminate germs.
Toilet	Pour 125 ml of baking soda and 125 ml of vinegar in the toilet bowl. The foaming reaction cleans and deodorizes. Brush and flush.
Wood (polish)	Mix 30 ml of edible linseed oil, 30 ml of vinegar and 60 ml of lemon juice in a glass pitcher. Rub the solution into the wood with a soft rag until it is clean. To store the solution, add a few drops of vitamin E from a capsule and cover.
Window and mirror	Mix 2 ml of liquid soap, 45 ml of vinegar and 500 ml of water in a spray bottle. Use a cotton rag to clean and shine.

Learn more

Reading this guide does not replace knowing the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals.

For further information, visit the Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety Website at: www.boatingsafety.gc.ca.

For more information on protecting Quebec's waterways and shorelines, visit www.tc.gc.ca for links to many useful Websites.

Date modified:

2012-01-26

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