The protection works for the Îles-de-la-Paix

Since 1991, the Société d'aménagement du Parc des Îles-de-la-Paix has tried various ways to raise money to protect the islands; it also works with the various government departments concerned, taking an active role in consultations, awareness-raising efforts, and the coordination of work.

Since 2001, seven major phases of work have been carried out, including four under the direct coordination of the Société. For the work coordinated by the Société in 2001, 2009, 2011, and 2013, the financial package largely consisted of an environmental protection subsidy and was supplemented by financial support from one or several companies that had to compensate for the loss of natural environments due to work on the river. In fact, the federal Fisheries Act prohibits the harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat. This means that any work or undertaking that results in HADD is a violation of Section 35 of the Act and that compensation must be made for any subsequent losses or disruptions.

The three other major projects, which were fully funded, were managed by companies following work that caused disruptions in the St. Lawrence River. In 2012, following the construction of Autoroute 30, the NA-30 Consortium built three levees and three rocky islets opposite Chenal du Diable, in the municipality of Beauharnois.

In 2020, following the construction of the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge, Infrastructure Canada (INFC) coordinated the construction of two breakwaters, two stone recharge areas as well as the planting of seagrass in front of Île aux Plaines over a total distance of 680 meters.

In 2023, Signature on the Saint-Laurent completed the construction of a dike of approximately 150 meters separated into three blocks to allow the entry of water into the fish spawning ground to develop at the rear. This work compensates for an environmental loss following the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge Corridor Project. This dike is located very close to the 2001 dike and protects a magnificent heronry located on Thomas Island.

With this latest project, we estimate that around 80% of the Iles-de-la-Paix are protected from erosion. There are still important steps to be taken and we are actively working on them.

Here is a video of the projects, filmed in September 2020 by EvDrone.

The video starts in front of Île aux Faubert, in Beauharnois, where a levee was built in 2009; it then shows the various protective structures built over the years and ends with the work carried out in 2020 in front of Île aux Plaines, in Léry. However, the work of 2023 is not shown.