President’s Newsletter

Invasives, invasives, and invasives. This Autumn, the AALM needs volunteers, ideas and information to help us with control and keep out plants that damage homes and the broader environment. We also need help with our communications and trail clearing this Fall.

 

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Exotic Invasives 

Eurasian Milfoil

Eurasian milfoil remains a top priority issue for the AALM. No one wants to rake weeds before swimming and boating. The presence of milfoil can lower property values by 15% or more.

Disturbingly, the AALM has received reports of small boats entering the water through and around City facilities without being washed. We wrote a LETTER to the City about it.

The AALM has worked hard over the last decade to keep milfoil out of our lake, including promoting boat washing. Learn more about Eurasian milfoil HERE and the City’s boat washing HERE.
As the City explores options, the AALM needs to also determine our wants and possible actions. Email us at info@aalm.ca to volunteer your ideas, information, or time to help the AALM protect our lake from milfoil. Or email us if you have more information about boats coming onto the lake without washing.

Japanese Knotweed and Shiny Leaf Buckthorn

The image to your left shows an example of Japanese Knotweed growing through cracks in a brick wall. It can also grow through your foundation and floors (see HERE). Shiny Leaf Buckthorn fills the spaces between trees in forests, clogging our trails and eliminating other native plants.

Also, ongoing surveys by our Environment and Trails Committees together with Conservation Manitou are mapping out where these invasives are found. The Environment Committee is also preparing and updating educational material on these invasives, which can be found HERE and HERE. They also have a brochure and info sheet on Japanese Knotweed HERE. 

CALL FOR EXOTIC VOLUNTEERS
The Environment Committee is organizing a team with Conservation Manitou to clear one section of Shiny Leaf Buckthorn this Autumn and need volunteers. Lunch will be provided. Learn more about volunteering HERE.

 

Annual Trail Clearing

The Trails Committee is organizing its annual trail clearing at 10am on Saturday, October 26, 2024. For more information, see the notice HERE.

 

Communications Committee needs support

There are currently several Lac Manitou Facebook pages. Some have members who are not on the lake and who might, for example, attend a concert by launching their unwashed boats. The AALM’s Communications Committee also needs a volunteer to spend a few hours per month helping with managing our social media presence and Google Workspace. To help out, please contact us at info@aalm.ca.

 

Mining Responsibly… and hopefully somewhere else

The AALM is part of the Coalition QLAIM (see HERE). Together with them, we work to promote more local decision-making in mining decisions as the Government of Quebec updates its mining policy. The AALM has written memos and recently donated $250 to the Coalition to support its lobbying efforts. In the long term, the AALM will continue to monitor this issue closely. 

 

Our Water is still clean

The Environment Committee continued the AALM’s annual water quality testing. Our lake waters are, thankfully, still wonderful. To learn more, click HERE.

 

Administration Updates

  • For dues, billing, and other financial matters, contact the Treasurer at treasurer@aalm.ca.

  • For other AALM matters, you can still contact info@aalm.ca. Your email will then be directed to the appropriate person.

 

Other Activities

This summer was a busy one and this newsletter does not capture everything. Future newsletters will cover topics as they are timely. In the meantime, here are a few highlights. 

  1. In case you missed it, we had an ELECTION. Turnout was high and some people even lined up 30 minutes before the election started.

  2. The Manitou Arts & Culture Committee organized a number of concerts, a vernissage, and other events. 

  3. The Water Safety & Education Committee held two meetups on the lake, one for sailing and the other for canoeing and kayaking. 

  4. The Trails Committee organized several hikes this summer that many people attended. They are also working with the Environment Committee to help identify areas where invasives are spreading. 

Go to our website for more information about past and future NEWS and EVENTS.