The blue-green algae monitoring program, coordinated by the Regroupement des Organismes de Bassins Versants du Québec (ROBVQ), was develop to fight against cyanobacteria and eutrophication. The COBAVER-VS was the organisation dedicated to water system health in Vaudreuil-Soulanges RCM.
The ROBVQ was appointed by the Quebec Government to coordinate the financial program to face the cyanobacteria problem. Consequently, the COBAVER-VS set up concrete actions in Vaudreuil-Soulanges area in line with these three components:
- Information, education and awareness;
- Knowledge acquisition and monitoring;
- Field interventions and action support
Kiosks were presented during the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) open day, the 50th anniversary of Cramer Nursery, the « Fleurissons ensemble » event of Rigaud and the green day of Saint-Clet. These kiosks were a good opportunity to exchange with people on water usage best practices. Factsheets and sometimes shrubs were offered during these activities.
The educational program “J’adopte un cours d’eau” benefited of this financial program as well. Collège Bourget students were educated on the global state of waterways by analysing physicochemical and bacteriological parameters, identifying macroinvertebrates and characterizing the sites. This financial program also facilitated acquisition of water quality data of the Réseau-Rivières program and partnership with the MDDELCC.