The Madawaska River and Lac Témiscouata Lac Témiscouata and the Madawaska River and the entire drainage basin have shaped the lives of the people living there. Today, these waters are facing fresh challenges and pressures. The Lac Témiscouata-Madawaska River drainage basin (3000km2) empties into the Saint John River, which in turn empties into the great Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine marine ecosystem. The drainage basin has a population of some 33000 persons - 95% of them Francophones - more or less evenly distributed on both sides of the boundary. Edmondson, at the mouth of the Madawaska River, is the main urban center, with some 10000 inhabitants. The Société d'aménagement de la rivière Madawaska et du lac Témiscouata (Madawaska River and Lac Témiscouata Development Corporation) (SARMLT) was incorporated in 1991 by a group of partners who believed in the potential of the region. In 1992, the corporation became associated with the Atlantic Coastal Action Plan (ACAP) through a five-year letter of understanding. The SARMLT includes partners from both Quebec and New Brunswick. From the outset, the rule has been to operate with a board of directors with equal representation from both provinces (four members from New Brunswick and four from Quebec) and a joint chair (one co-chairperson from New Brunswick and one from Quebec). The SARMLT has worked closely with the various partners in the Madawaska/Témiscouata basin. They have come to realize that to ensure the sustainability of the benefits they derive from their river and lake, they must advocate a sustainable form of development, one that is compatible with the environment. While carrying out long-term planning, the SARMLT has also implemented projects such as tree planting, stream cleanup, shoreline stabilization and creation of a linear park between Cabano and Edmundston. The partners, through the SARMLT, have produced a comprehensive environmental management plan (CEMP) which recognizes the link between the environment and socioeconomic development. The process followed in establishing the plan has included four essential elements: each partner is part of the process; the environmental problems are identified and prioritized; a common overall vision is developed and possible solutions to the problems are identified; an action plan incorporating the solutions selected is developed and approved by the partners. The chief problems which were identified during preparation of the CEMP and which hinder realization of the overall vision of a clean, healthy community are the following: direct and indirect discharge of sewage; management of water levels in the Madawaska River; conflicts relating to utilization of the Madawaska River for recreational purposes; shoreline erosion; water quality; a need to sensitize partners and improve their knowledge of their environment; a need to better disseminate environmental information; management of the sport fishery; a need for better cooperation among partners; the granting of environmental permits and environmental analyses are not effective; a need for better protection and management of the wildlife population. To make this vision a reality, the community has set four major objectives and priority actions in 1997-1998 in order to help meet these objectives: Objective 1: To improve our knowledge of the environment Publish a newspaper on the environment Create activities of an environmental nature Distribute the Madawaska River users' guide Organize thematic workshops (e.g. shoreline erosion) Create experimental sites for testing and demonstrating different shoreline stabilization methods. Objective 2: To aim for optimum utilization of resources Provide information on utilization of the waters from different access points Ensure better surveillance of the waters Display and circulate boat-operation and boating-safety standards Sensitize users (of the river) to mutual respect Set up a buoyage system (on the river) Obtain community consensus on types of utilization (of the river) Disseminate information on the zebra mussel and prevent it from becoming established Identify zones according to their potential for fauna and flora. Objective 3: To enhance the environment Evaluate the type of erosion and determine the appropriate method of stabilization Promote tertiary treatment of wastewater by developing filtering marshes Study the impact of the future route of the Trans-Canada Highway Establish partnerships in the form of environmental social contracts with industries. Objective 4: To make the community responsible for managing and protecting its environment. Form an association of riparian owners Create a foundation for protecting and enhancing sensitive sites Provide the necessary forums for involving the community in decision making Encourage partners to take the objectives of the CEMP in hand Ensure the short- and long-term survival of the SARMLT Lobby for environmental permits to be awarded locally by specialists having a good knowledge of the area Lobby for creation of a single wicket for obtaining an environmental permit Operate the visitor kiosks and collect revenue for reinvestment in the community. For more information contact: Louise Gagnon Société d'aménagement de la rivière Madawaska et du lac Témiscouata inc. 116 Victoria Street Edmundston, New Brunswick E3V 2H6 Phone: (506) 739-1992 Fax: (506) 739-1988 E-mail: sarmlt@nbnet.nb.ca