Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade

(Cadastral map of site also available: 61 K)

Situated a little west of the mouth of the St. Anne River, at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, this nature reserve features an extensive treed swamp. It is located in a poorly drained former channel of the St. Anne delta. The swamp vegetation includes a large silver maple stand, a rare and threatened ecosystem of the freshwater estuary of the St. Lawrence. The site also protects a community of annual wildrice (Zizania aquatica var. brevis), a plant on the list of species at risk.

Channel of the Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade site. Photo: Alain Gouge, SCMHQ

This new protected site also provides suitable habitat for wildlife. The treed swamps are good nesting areas for Black Ducks and Wood Ducks. A channel that traverses the protected region is used as a spawning area by numerous fish species, including northern pike and walleye. Furthermore, this natural environment is contiguous to the main migratory corridor used by Atlantic tomcod in the St. Lawrence.

Through funding provided by various partners, such as St. Lawrence Vision 2000, the Société de conservation des milieux humides du Québec (SCMHQ), a non-profit land trust has undertaken to preserve this natural environment associated with the St. Lawrence floodplain. A total of 47.48 hectares of habitat has been brought under protection by this non-governmental organization. Although most of the land has been acquired from individual landowners, part of the site is governed by private stewardship: a 20-year conservation easement has been established which covers a tract of land belonging to the municipality of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade.

With a view to long-term protection, the SCMHQ is continuing its negotiations with the local community to consolidate the nature reserve.