The snow depot next to the Du Tremblay forest area in Longueuil is only used in winter, but its impact on the environment is felt all year round. Citizens and advocacy groups are calling on the city to find solutions to protect waterways and forest-dwelling wildlife, particularly the chorus frog. On the city side, we assure you that there will be further developments in the coming months.
Posted at 1:02 p.m.
“I find it absurd that a town like Longueuil wants to create a nature reserve in the Du Tremblay forest and right next to it builds a mountain of poison that flows into it. »
Nature photographer Patrick Bourgeois regularly visits the Du Tremblay forest area, which, at 267 hectares, is by far the largest natural park in Longueuil. He has photographed the tree frog there several times and finds it unimaginable that so much damage could be done to such a fragile ecosystem.
The amphibians have all left the forest. It’s really sad.
Patrick Bourgeois, nature photographer
However, the city of Longueuil confirms that the chorus frog is still present in the Du Tremblay forest area and continues to be heard, even if the number of individuals is decreasing.
The conservation director of the Ciel et Terre organization, Tommy Montpetit, made the same observation for a long time. When the snow melts, the discharged wastewater pollutes the Massé stream and risks disappearing the habitats of several species. Nowadays there are very few animals left in the forests.
“ [Les milieux humides] “We cannot withstand the force of the current if the landfill melts,” explains Tommy Montpetit, who believes that moving the landfill would only postpone the problem. “We see holes forming [la dalle de béton] on which the dirty snow is deposited. This is totally ridiculous! The water flows directly into the Massé stream. We must therefore manage to keep the landfill where it is, but by closing the holes. »
“The forest has been contaminated since 2008,” adds the expert. Can we decontaminate it? Does life [animale] will it continue? These are important questions that need answers. »
Alain Branchaud is Director General of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Quebec Section. His organization claims that in addition to the chorus frog, fish are also threatened by the water currents in the Du Tremblay forest area. He regrets the poor management of this aspect in the city of Longueuil.
“This is a file that should be reviewed regularly,” he said. He wants the Ministry of Environment to impose sanctions on the city and monitor the quality of the water in which various endangered species such as the mullet and the mud mullet live.
Upcoming developments
The city of Longueuil is aware that the proximity between the snow depot and the forest area is problematic. The director of strategic advice and spokesman for the city of Longueuil, Louis-Pascal Cyr, explains that the city’s aim to decontaminate the site as much as possible is, first of all, to limit the amount of salt added in winter. However, an even more important step needs to be taken.
“The initial aim is to enlarge the settling pond to increase sediment deposition,” says Mr Cyr. Ultimately, we want to ensure that the water is diverted towards the sewer network. »
The expansion of the basin must be completed by winter 2024, then water diversion will take place on a larger scale. Longueuil is already in discussions with Quebec’s Environment Ministry about field work that will begin in the summer and fall of 2024.
“We asked our teams to review the entire project while respecting the wildlife,” said Boisé-Du Tremblay councilor Lysa Bélaïcha. It respects the necessary criteria, including reducing the width of Béliveau Boulevard and prohibiting real estate development in the Du Tremblay forest area. » She wants to observe the impact and environmental impact of the snow dump in the long term, she says.
Lysa Bélaïcha adds that the city of Longueuil has promoted the conservation of the chorus frog’s habitat by creating ponds in the Du Tremblay forest area and that the flow of water from snow deposition does not affect these ponds. According to Tommy Montpetit, if the city is serious about protecting this environment, it must protect the habitat of this species during field operations at all costs. “Our guidelines for protecting nature in our area are clear,” assures the local council.
“Basically a simple problem that has now become a huge problem,” concludes Mr. Montpetit.