AALM

Mandate

AALM’s Environment Committee (“EC”) will support the AALM mission by exploring current and future issues impacting the environment of Ivry-sur-le-lac area lands, waters, and air. This broad mandate will allow for an integrated medium- and long-term approach to selecting specific short-term prioritized foci. The EC will learn from the experiences of other lake associations as well as from outside experts, and provide information and guidance to the board on ways to protect, and promote the resilience of, various aspects of the environment to the community at large.  EC activities will include related fun events, lectures, information packs and, subject to AALM executive approval, the sharing of articles through Web and social media.  Where sensible, the EC will recommend to the board actions, guidelines and policies to improve the ecology, and to ensure the environment is protected and its resilience improved.  The EC will be the repository for environmental data on behalf of the AALM and municipality, coordinating, undertaking and documenting basic environmental measures and changes over time, including water quality.  Subject to board or Executive approval on a case by case basis,  he EC will liaise as appropriate with other AALM committees, with the Réseau de surveillance volontaire des lacs (RSVL) of the ministère de l’Environnement, as well as with other appropriate federal, provincial, or regional groups, such as Abrinord or the Conseil regional de l’environnement (CRE) des Laurentides.

What the EC will do

The EC will:

1. engage the community in/by:

   • leading fun nature-based activities (stargazing, field trips etc.)

   • sharing tips on ecological country living

   • developing a community culture of passion to protect the environment and promote its resilience.

   • Organizing and promoting learning how to do “citizen science”, that is, developing skills to observe and document such phenomena as invasive species, shoreline erosion or water quality (aiming at multi-generational involvement)

2. create and maintain an information base by:

   • ensuring annual documentation of results of annual water quality tests (fecal coliform, phosphorus, turbulence, and other tests as may be pertinent) for Lac Manitou, Lac Fer à Cheval, and Lac de la Grise

   • maintaining a database with RSVL of water quality test results for tracking changes over time (past years’ results will be included as available). Subject to Board or Executive approval on a case by case basis, liaising with RSVL, CRE Laurentides and other lake associations for regional data and data-collecting and documentation practices

   • preparing similar processes and practices for other priority measures, notably regarding invasive plant and animal species (e.g. milfoil, buckthorn), diseases, and shoreline erosion and lake bottom disturbance

3. develop priorities and policies regarding key environmental concerns for consideration by the AALM Board by:

   • proposing research, studies and surveys to ensure the committee is in tune with the community’s goals and concerns;

   • developing and regularly updating prioritized lists of key environmental concerns and prioritize resources and focus (e.g., focusing, for example, on shoreline protection; invasive species protection, water quality (for drinking, swimming and aquatic life), air quality, water drainage, fauna and flora protection, light pollution mitigation, noise management;

   • developing and recommending to the board practical and impactful actions and policies to address community environmental concerns according to these priorities;

   • Subject to Board or Executive approval on a case-by-case basis, developing connections with other lake associations, universities, research bodies and municipalities to share and learn best global practices and policies.

How the Environment Committee will deliver its mandate

• Gather a list of top environmental concerns and goals from the community (gleaned from the results of survey(s) to be conducted by the AALM), to help prioritize key environmental concerns;

• Maintain relevant databases, including raw data, analyses, relevant reports and bibliographies;

• Assign projects to members (or subcommittees) and find resources within the AALM or externally as required;

• Mobilize AALM members and the wider Ivry community to participate in specific activities and projects;

• Develop web communication tools to listen to the community and provide information (example historic water quality repository);

• Develop in-person and web-based lecture series related to prioritized issues;

• Prepare well researched papers with recommendations for distribution to the board and community;

• Provide relevant alerts to the AALM board as needed;

• Subject to Board or Executive approval on a case by case basis, liaise with federal, provincial and regional bodies as well as other lake associations;

• Collaborate with other AALM committees on specific projects; and

• Invite experts to provide information and training as appropriate.

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