Every single testing point in the Gatineau River is showing either “good” or “excellent” results, according to Friends of the Gatineau River’s (FOG) latest water quality report. 

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t environmental perils that threaten the quality of the river. 

Just ask FOG President Stephen Ferguson and he’ll tell you that one of the greatest threats to our river is milfoil – one of the dominant invasive plant species in the water. 

“Milfoil is one of the worst,” said Ferguson. “It’s spreading – there’s some lakes around that are really bad, like Lac Gauvreau. It’s a plant, an aquatic plant, and it’s basically one of the most invasive species. It basically eliminates other plants. It’s so dominant that it doesn’t allow the normal vegetation to grow.”

Ferguson said there are places in the Gatineau River that have high traces of Milfoil, most notably around Blackburn Creek near the yacht club in Chelsea. 

According to Health Canada, Eurasian Water-Milfoil is an invasive plant that grows and spreads rapidly. It forms large, dense colonies that modify phytoplankton communities – the base of aquatic food webs –  and replaces native aquatic plants. This reduces environmental biodiversity, makes beaches less attractive, and adversely affects swimming, fishing, and boating.

One thing that would combat this spreading threat, according to FOG, is a boat-washing station where boaters could rinse off their boats before launching in the Gatineau River. There was some discussion about building a boat launch in Farm Point years ago, and in 2021 Chelsea funded a mobile boat-washing station as a pilot project for one weekend through its green fund program. 

“It was designed as a pilot — to test demand, logistics and cost before committing to anything permanent,” said Chelsea Director-general Claudine Lacasse. “The funding wasn’t renewed in the budgets that followed, as there wasn’t a steady funding mechanism for the Green Fund at the time, so the pilot wasn’t repeated.” 

Lacasse told the Low Down that Chelsea is currently conducting a study for a permanent boat launch that meets provincial standards, and a permanent boat-washing station is part of that study. 

“So, yes, still on the books — as part of that file rather than as a standalone project,” she added. “We are hoping to make the study public in the near future.”

Reconsider swimming after storms

Ferguson told the Low Down that residents had been asking FOG to do testing of the river following major storms in the area. So they did. What they unsurprisingly discovered was high counts of e-coli in the river. Ferguson said that after a storm, runoff from nearby farms, properties and roads – especially gravel roads – routes directly into the Gatineau River and he said while it’s not unsafe to swim after a storm, he urged swimmers not to swallow water. 

“Right after a big storm, when it’s really sedimented, when it takes a while for it to come down, you might hold off a day or two – it’s your own judgment,” he said. “Definitely don’t take in any water when it’s like that, but I don’t think it’s a big risk. With kids, it might be a bit different because they’re sort of splashing around more. They may take in more water, and you might have to consider your kids rather than yourself.”

Shoreline protection a big deal

While many residents use the river to swim, paddle, motorboat or canoe, only a few have the luxury of owning waterfront and FOG says that waterfront residents have a responsibility to ensure they are doing what they can to protect shorelines. 

According to the river stewardship organization, natural shorelines that feature plants, shrubs and trees are less impactful on the shoreline than clean yards with mowed grass up to the water mark. 

“A natural shoreline provides shade and a habitat for diverse flora and fauna. It also filters polluting runoff and prevents toxic blue-green algae growth, making it safer for us to swim, fish, boat, and enjoy other activities,” according to FOG’s website. 

According to municipal bylaws in Chelsea, La Pêche and Cantley, waterfront residents must maintain a one-metre buffer zone of native vegetation. However, according to FOG, these regulations are rarely enforced. 

“Shoreline protection and so on and so forth is much less on people’s radar, but it is a big… issue for sure, and especially in places like Cantley, where they seem to have very little pursuance of the regulations because there are several people who have built roads and boat ramps right down to the river.”