It’s the funnel principle; i.e. the area draining naturally to a water stream, a lake or an artificial basin.
The International Organization for Standardization defines the equivalent term “catchment area” as “the area draining naturally to a water course or to a given point.”
Therefore, soil, vegetation, animals and human beings affect watersheds.
There are four watersheds in Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs:
- The Ouimet watershed
- The Marois watershed
- The Castor and Massé watershed (formerly Parent and Olier)
- The Blondin watershed (formerly Sainte-Anne)
Water quality is everyone’s concern because water is not only streams and lakes, but also the wetlands and the water table that supply the domestic rainwater.
Unhealthy water can cause:
- Knock-on effects on wildlife and plants as well as the health and well-being of humans
- A decline in property values
- The loss of recreational use of water
Here is a presentation on « The Health of Our Lakes and Waterways: Why Should We Care?” » created by Mathieu Madison, president of ABRINORD: