AIRE PROTÉGÉE PROPOSÉE
secteur du lac de l'Écluse

Please note this is an abridged version of the French content.
LAND AND WATER LANDSCAPES, WILDLIFE AND PLANT SPECIES

THE BLUE AND GREEN ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR TO RESTORE HERITAGE CONNECTIVITY
Includes lakes Écluse, Saint Germain, Petit lac Saint Germain, Clair, Petit lac Clair, Marble and a multitude of other lakes and priority wetlands.

Let's protect the ecological corridor of the Ecluse lake sector in Saint-Pierre-de-Wakefield in Val-des-Monts, its ancient forest, its marshes and waterways, its unique biodiversity and its exceptional forest ecosystem. This sanctuary is the habitat of several species at risk. The lots in question surround biological refuges numbers 07251R022, 07251R023, 07251R024 and 07251R006 (existing protected area). This ecological corridor conservation project would link the proposed Mont-Sainte-Marie biodiversity reserve, André-Michaux ecological reserve and Denholm Falls Regional Park, all the way to Gatineau Park. This essential territory, contiguous to the Lac Saint-Charles white-tailed deer confinement area/wintering grounds, is surrounded by several lakes and wetlands that are important, harbor a rich biodiversity, play a major role in reducing the impact of global warming and contribute to the quality of drinking water since their vegetation purifies the water and filters pollution. See the Interactive Map of Protected Areas in Quebec.

Important species of fauna and flora at risk and in danger inhabit these sacred lands on this unceded Algonquin-Anishinabe territory, in particular: the least bittern, the whip-poor-will, the red-headed woodpecker, the milk snake, the olive-sided flycatcher, southern flying squirrel, wood thrush, loggerhead shrike, bald eagle, water snake, four-toed salamander, marsh frog, rusty blackbird, pipistrelle eastern, lake trout and several other species that are considered rare or accidental.

There are green frogs whose blue-turquoise color is the result of a genetic mutation (a kind of melanism where the yellow pigmentation is absent). Several of these extremely rare specimens have been observed and photographed in the wetlands surrounding Ecluse lake. Some of them have even been observed with a melanistic iris, creating black eyes.

This sector is an important and critical corridor for the migration of several animal species, a wide variety of migratory birds and especially for Monarch butterflies which are now considered endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

The old-growth forest of Ecluse lake and protected area number 07251R022 as well as the surrounding lakes, streams and wetlands are suitable habitat for the American marten (pine marten), the fisher (fisher) , stoat, mink, river otter, red fox, coywolf, Canadian lynx, owl barred owl, northern raven, bald eagle, broad-winged hawk, cooper's hawk, turkey vulture ), fireflies, and many other species of insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, fish, plants, and trees.

NUMEROUS INDIGENOUS TRAIL MARKER TREES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SECTOR OF ECLUSE LAKE!

Cataloging these unique and rare trees is currently in progress. Trail marker trees are mostly ancient maples, oaks and beech. Their protection must be recognized under a citation of a heritage asset and/or recognition of a humanized landscape. The conservation of biodiversity and the regulation of the envisaged conservation objectives are of high priority. The conservation interest of the territory must be preserved for future generations: the quality of the natural environment, its fragile ecosystem, its unique biodiversity, ecological connectivity, landscape quality and the historical quality of cultural & traditional values. 

Objectives: To protect and sustain important landscapes and waterscapes, their associated nature conservation, and other values ​​created through interactions with humans and their traditional resource management practices and customs. To establish long-term conservation of species associated with this cultural landscape and their migration corridors, and preservation of nature and culture through the protection of the landscape with spiritual, cultural and traditional values.

An intervention permit (experimentation & research) was granted by the MFFP in support of the project to catalogue trail marker trees in administrative region 07 (U.G. 072, UAF 07251) of the Collines-de-l'Outaouais. View the diagram of the lots covered by the research project on the biodiversity and cultural heritage of Ecluse lake.

PROTECT OUR NATURAL HERITAGE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS!

Your support is required to promote and recognize this project.

Please fill out a letter of support to confirm your endorsement of this project.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUED INTEREST!