On March 26, 2002, the Minister of Environment signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Haut-Richelieu for the delimitation of the water of the state and management of the floodplain of the Richelieu River and Bay Missisquoi Lake Champlain. Under this protocol, the parties agreed initially to produce a detailed map of the territory in order to obtain an accurate and current of the river and the floodplain.

Based on this mapping and information gathered, the parties agreed to propose solutions regarding:

• Regularization of land titles in certain sectors
• Ecological protection of the environment
• The development and appropriate use of water bodies and floodplain of the Richelieu River and Missisquoi Bay.

Between 2002 and 2009, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, theEnvironment and Parks (MDDEP) conducted several studies to lead to the production of new maps are:

• field surveys
• tracking and validation of scores interval flood 2, 20 and 100 years
• study of natural interest for the conservation and stakeholder consultation
• Detailed examination of rights previously granted on the domain of the State
• inventory of structures and embankments in the flood zone posterior to 1978

To this end, the Government of Quebec adopted the Act to define the domain of the State and to protect wetlands along part of the Richelieu River (Bill 28) was adopted at the unanimously by the AssemblyNational e June 18, 2009.

This law protects 865 hectares of permanent wetlands property, which are among the richest in terms of biodiversity. It clarifies the property rights of about 1,300 residents of this part of the Richelieu River.

For more information:

• Sheet on the bill concerning the delimitation of the water of the state and the protection of wetlands along part of the Richelieu River
• Memorandum of Understanding concerning the delimitation of the waters of the State and management of the floodplain of the Upper Richelieu