The
37 protected sites of Saint-Laurent Vision 2000:
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| Conservation
of 7000 hectares |
Côte-de-Beaupré
Located
to the west of the mouth of the St. Anne River, on the Côte-de-Beaupré,
this site straddles the boundary between the municipalities
of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and Beaupré. As a result of the unbridled
development and encroachment of shoreline areas that have occurred
in this region, the residual natural habitats, which are still
declining in number, are highly valuable for flora and fauna.
The sector lost 400 hectares to encroachment between 1964 and
1985, leaving only about 160 hectares of swamp and wet meadow
along the 27 kilometers of shoreline. Businesses and residences
have sprung up on the banks, encroaching on wetlands and in
some cases reaching right into the marsh zone. Since the high
water line has not yet been determined, there are no regulations
in effect at present which would protect the banks. Residential
and commercial development thus remain a real threat to the
integrity of these habitats.
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Aerial
view of the marsh located at the mouth of the St. Anne River.
Photo: Daniel Bergeron |
The
site has a typical vegetation toposequence, with treed and shrub
swamp giving way to wet meadow and American bulrush marsh, and
an unvegetated mudflat that is exposed at low tide. Since American
bulrush marsh has a fairly restricted distribution in the St.
Lawrence system, preserving this type of habitat is of paramount
importance.
The site is frequented to a great extent by waterfowl. The American
bulrush community attracts Greater Snow Geese in large numbers
during their migrations. In addition, seven dabbling duck species
nest there, with Black Ducks and Northern Pintails being the
most numerous. The mouth of the St. Anne River is also a highly
popular area for shorebirds, which stop over there during their
fall migrations. More than 6,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers have
been observed foraging there at times. Although no precise surveys
have been conducted at the site, other birds most likely use
this habitat, which is also suitable for amphibians, reptiles
and a few small mammals. The bulrush marsh is believed to serve
as a spawning and nursery area for numerous fish species. Finally,
four vascular plant species that are likely to be designated
as threatened or vulnerable were identified at the site in 1995.
The land, acquired in part by the Fondation de la faune du Québec
(FFQ), will be transferred to the town of Beaupré, which already
owns another portion of the targeted site. A conservation agreement
has been signed between this municipality, FFQ and Ducks Unlimited
Canada to protect the site for 99 years.
In addition to guaranteeing the conservation of 69.08 hectares
of natural habitat, this site will eventually be developed through
wildlife enhancements and public river access for local residents.
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