Feasibility Study for Restoring the Beaudet Reservoir and Basin

To ensure a stable drinking water supply to meet its needs when the Bulstrode River is experiencing periods of minimum flow, the City of Victoriaville will conduct a feasibility study on restoring the Beaudet Reservoir and its drainage basin. Sediment and nutrients from the drainage basin are contributing to the reservoir’s eutrophication, resulting in an insufficient water supply during minimum-flow periods. The goal of this study is to reduce at source the amount of sediment being carried by the river, drifting and nutrients from agricultural runoff, as well as drifting from urban runoff into the reservoir. The study will determine what action to take to restore the environmental balance in the basin, as well its potential for recreational tourism. The study will consist of six phases, including developing the physical portrait of the Beaudet Reservoir and its drainage basin, developing an evaluation framework, and making recommendations. The city will create a page on its website for interested individuals and organizations to consult project reports, the study guide and other documents produced during the project. The erosion of agricultural land in Quebec and across Canada poses serious economic and environmental problems. This study will be of interest to other Canadian municipalities that could benefit from Victoriaville’s approach and the solutions it implements.

(Project description from original funding application)