Quebec plans to invest $44 million over five years to restore the Lac Saint-Pierre ecosystem. Situated on the Saint-Laurent River between the towns of Sorel-Tracy and Trois-Rivières, this 500-square-kilometre lake has been designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. However, its ecosystem has been weakened over time. On Friday, the Fréchette government unveiled its 2026–2030 action plan for Lac Saint-Pierre. The plan includes, in particular, financial support for farmers to help them adopt sustainable agri-environmental practices. The establishment of permanent grassland, as well as the creation of wildlife habitats and wetlands, are also part of the strategy. In 2024, the Multidisciplinary Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Management of the Lac Saint-Pierre Shoreline sounded the alarm about the state of the area. Its report demonstrated that the increase in the area used for annual crops, mainly corn and soya, in the shoreline zone has been detrimental to the environment. In particular, it has contributed to the decline of yellow perch and meadow birds. Yet the production of annual crops has been rising sharply for decades. The report states that 3,800 hectares of wildlife habitat have been altered since 1950. In 1950, perennial crops accounted for 80 per cent of cultivated land. This proportion fell to less than 10 per cent in 2016. Lac Saint-Pierre is home to several species, including 288 species of birds and 79 species of fish. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 26, 2026.
