Adapting to hydroclimatic changes
Climate projections for southern Quebec predict an increase in extreme weather events, more intense flooding and more severe low-water periods in summer. These variations can exacerbate bank erosion and affect water quality and availability. Municipalities must therefore adopt tools to better manage stormwater and limit its impact.
Since 2017, a community of practice, made up of the OBV SCABRIC, the municipalities and MRCs in the St-Régis River watershed, as well as experts such as the École de technologie supérieure and Lasalle | NHC, has been developing a hydroclimatic change adaptation plan. The group has identified areas at risk of erosion, flooding and drought, and has proposed a dozen green and grey infrastructures to remedy the situation. A multi-criteria analysis showed that decentralized bioretention was the most effective, economical and easy-to-implement option, which could also be applied to neighboring municipalities.
What is decentralized bioretention?
Decentralized bioretention involves building small, shallow, vegetated basins, like rain gardens, on numerous properties. This method captures runoff water and gradually infiltrates it into the soil, reducing erosion. It also helps recharge the water table.
Large-scale implementation of bioretention
The approach calls for the implementation of thousands of decentralized bioretention facilities over the next decade. To enable large-scale implementation, it is essential to empower municipalities and local organizations to become agents of change. This means providing well-supported experiments and access to professional expertise, enabling them to mobilize citizens to implement decentralized bioretention structures in sufficient quantity, neighborhood by neighborhood. The organizations involved in the Rivière Saint-Régis watershed want to be leaders of change to better adapt to climate change and reduce the problems associated with erosion, flooding and water scarcity.
Training courses to equip municipal organizations
The first phase of the project is underway! For the year 2024-2025, the partners are in action, thanks to financial support from the MELCCFP via the Programme de soutien régional aux enjeux de l’eau (PSREE). From September 12 to November 12, experts are providing a series of 7 theoretical training sessions (32 h) to equip the 4 participating municipalities – MRC de Roussillon, MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville, Ville de Sainte-Catherine and Ville de Saint-Constant – as well as the 3 accompanying organizations, Comité ZIP du Haut-Saint-Laurent, OBV SCABRIC and Vigile verte.
OBV SCABRIC is already preparing a second series of training courses to enable as many organizations as possible to become self-sufficient in bioretention. Let us know of your interest today!
An upcoming pilot project
Following this theoretical training, non-profit organizations (NPOs) will be paired with municipalities to develop a pilot project in each participating municipality. These projects will serve as demonstration sites open to citizens in each locality.
Financial partners
This project is made possible by a contribution from the Programme de soutien régional aux enjeux de l’eau, linked to the action plan of the Stratégie québécoise de l’eau, which deploys concrete measures to protect, use and manage water and aquatic environments in a responsible, integrated and sustainable way.
Les formations théoriques ont été développées grâce à une collaboration avec de nombreux partenaires :
- ÉTS
- Lasalle | NHC
- Les ateliers Ublo
- Centre d’écologie urbaine de Montréal
- Conseil régionale de l’environnement de la Montérégie
Les évaluations sont sous la responsabilité de la Maison de l’innovation sociale (MIS).
Find out more!
Contact our project managers at projet@scabric.ca.
