BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND RESTORATION OF THE HAUT MARAIS AT SCIRPE DE MONTMAGNY
Rimouski, August 18, 2016 – The Sud-de-l’Estuaire ZIP Committee will perform a biophysical characterization and restoration of part of the Montmagny high marsh with funding of $ 257,735 which includes $ 175,110 from the Interactions program communities and $ 20,000 from the City of Montmagny. The financial package spread over 3 years also includes the contribution of the MRC de Montmagny, the Biopterre development center as well as the collaboration of Nature Quebec, the research chair in coastal geoscience and the geography department of UQAR.
The work begun this summer consists first of all in producing a portrait of the state of the high coastal marsh located west of the Rivière-du-Sud. Erosion by the St. Lawrence causes the retreat and disappearance of large areas of wet meadows of great ecological value in this location. We also note the strong presence of invasive alien species accidentally introduced such as the common reed and some anthropogenic developments which amplify the phenomenon. However, these marshes are unique in that they are composed of plants adapted to fresh to brackish tides and to the action of winter ice. Some of these plants are found exclusively in the region of the St. Lawrence Estuary. This is the case with an endangered species, Victorin’s gentian. A plantation of 1000 square meters of high marshes using native species (sedge, spartina seedlings, etc.) and plant engineering (shrub willow cuttings) will be carried out in 2017. Finally, during the third year, monitoring of the planting will be carried out. Awareness-raising activities focused on highlighting the rich flora and fauna of the coast will also be offered to residents.