Community Update No. 11

Dear Perkins-sur-le-Lac neighbours,

In this update, we wish to share information about our recent land acquisition activities, including a comprehensive ecological study, our plans for upcoming educational events, and details about our next Annual General Meeting.

During the past several months we have focused our efforts on preparing an offer to purchase lots in the Lauzon Cormoran Project. We have presented a formal offer and are currently working with the Lauzon group and the municipality to see if the lot lines can be redrawn to allow CPSLL to carve out more strategic land for conservation on both Cormoran and potentially other Lauzon projects as well. These options stray from our initial strategy of simply purchasing large lots, as currently approved by the municipality, and as outlined in our Community Update No. 8, to one where much of PSLL could be surrounded by a network of protected land. Stay tuned!

We are also thrilled with the recent announcement by the Government of Québec to extend its conservation funding program. Yes, $144 million will be available over the next five years to assist groups like ours who seek to acquire and protect land in perpetuity. When the time comes, we are hopeful that our projects will qualify for some of this funding.

Four-toed Salamander

To proceed with this land acquisition project and possibly qualify for funding, we needed to gain a better understanding of the ecological value of this land. As such, we have completed, with the help of a biologist, an ecological study of the Cormoran Project. During our three site visits, we were able to confirm the presence of three species with status in Quebec: the Four-toed Salamander, a species likely to be designated as vulnerable or threatened, and two floristic species designated as vulnerable, the American Cancer-root and the Downy Rattlesnake-plantain. Species vulnerable to harvesting are also present in the area: White Trillium, Large-Flowered Bladderwort and Northern Maidenhair Fern which is found in other areas of PSLL.

Species at risk in Canada (federal designation) that have been confirmed include the Eastern Painted Turtle, the Snapping Trutle, and the Eastern Wood-Pewee. Other potential species (not confirmed but likely) include: Wild Leek, Butternut Tree, Ringneck Snake, Northern Watersnake, Eastern Milk Snake, Olive-sided Flycather, Canada Warbler, Least Bittern, and the Blanding’s Turtle.

Finally, the wetlands and the forest matrix are also biodiversity targets of conservation interest. The connectivity of natural environments throughout the region is an asset for species dispersal and refuge, while helping to buffer the effects of disturbances of natural (climatic) or anthropogenic (development and land-use) origin. Interested in reading the entire report? Click here.

Indeed, we learned a great deal about our surroundings, and we wish to continue this learning. As such, we are planning two educational events next Spring. The first will be a virtual session on the use of iNaturalist, a tool used to record flora and fauna. The second event will be a half-day guided birding walk. More details on these events will be shared early in the new year.

Annual General Meeting 2024 - Please note that our next Annual General Meeting is set for January 18, 2024, at 7 p.m. Mark your calendars! Our agenda will focus on our activities for 2023 and 2024, a financial report, and the election of Board members. A reminder that while all are welcome to attend, membership is required to vote. Membership is automatically offered to those who donate at least $50 annually. Click here to donate and become a member.

Special General Meeting – Exceptionally, a Special General Meeting will precede this AGM, to allow the Board to present a special resolution for the purposes of amending the By-Laws. The intent isto allow CPSLL to extend its mandate so that land surrounding PSLL can also be targeted. The proposal reads as follows: That the Perkins-sur-le-Lac Bylaws (June 2022) be amended at article 2.1, by adding after the words “Perkins-sur-leLac” the following: “and surrounding area”. If adopted, the new article 2.1 would read: “The mandate of the Organization is to promote the protection of the environment and ecological integrity of Perkins-sur-le-Lac and surrounding area, which includes:”. Here is a link to our current Bylaws.

Thank you again for your interest. Please feel free to reach out at conservation.perkins.sur.le.lac@gmail.com should you have any questions or concerns.