Sharing INRAE’s French know-how and expertise

The Canadian province of Quebec, which is twice the size of France and has a population of 7.5 million, has a moderate level of anthropogenic pressure on its natural environments, and its surface waters are generally well preserved, with many wild rivers that are little used or frequented.

However, the pressure, which is concentrated in an urbanised strip to the south, along the banks of the Saint Lawrence, is not negligible, with proven points of disturbance (mines, paper mills, hydroelectric plants, etc.).

The expertise requested by the Quebec Ministry of the Environment (MELCC) concerned methodological issues: how has France implemented the requirements of the European Water Directive in its policies and regulations? How do we move from purely chemical and physico-chemical monitoring to hydrobiological assessment? How can the requirements for reducing impacts be made binding? How can restoration operations be integrated into the policy to improve the state of aquatic environments?

The Quebec government has embarked on an ambitious policy to monitor and improve the quality of rivers and lakes affected by discharges, uses or developments. The American example is taken into account, but the European experience is considered very interesting. As part of its Environmental Science Forum, the Ministry wanted a French-speaking European expert to present the methodology and strategy for implementing the WFD in France.

This type of expert mission on a specific theme can be very profitable, as INRAE is in a leading position on this subject.

Christian Chauvin, coordinator in France of the Aquaref consortium, gave a talk on these subjects, then led four workshops the following day for the ministry’s departments. The issue of bio-indicators came up regularly, as did the introduction of regulations and permanent monitoring networks. Many other ideas were discussed, including the prescription of compulsory restoration or mitigation, as well as the introduction of a quality approach and operator training. Many questions remain to be explored in greater depth in the event of a subsequent mission.