Lac Saint-François National Wildlife Area
Description | Management | Public Services
Map of the Area | Summary Table | Contact Information
Lac Saint-François National Wildlife Area, marsh © Léo-Guy de Repentigny, Environment Canada
Description
The Lac Saint-François National Wildlife Area (NWA) is made up of a collection of wetland and upland habitats located on the south shore of Lac Saint-François, a natural widening of the St. Lawrence River in southwestern Quebec. Established in 1978 by Environment Canada, its purpose is to protect migratory birds and important wetlands; this has led to its being recognized as a Wetland of International Significance under the Ramsar Convention.
The wildlife area is made up mainly of swamps and marshes consisting of Carex and Typha plant communities as well as wooded wetlands populated by Red Maple stands and well-drained dry woods featuring communities dominated by hawthorn, hickory and maple. The biodiversity of the area is among the most remarkable in Quebec, as it is home to more than 287 animal species and 547 plant species, many of which are at risk.
Some 13 species of waterfowl, including the Canada Goose, the Mallard, the American Black Duck, the Wood Duck, and the Lesser Scaup, nest in the wildlife area. More than 5000 ducks in the spring, and more than 8000 in the fall during migration, use the marshes and adjoining open water. Of the 237 listed bird species, many landbirds and waterbirds nest in the area, including the Northern Waterthrush, the Veery, and the Sandhill Crane. The wildlife area is also home to one of the largest Sedge Wren populations in Canada. The four-toed salamander, blanding's turtle, and snapping turtle are among the amphibians and reptiles observed here. The muskrat, meadow jumping mouse, big brown bat, beaver, white-tailed deer, and coyote are some of the mammal species present. The site is also an important habitat for the species at risk present in the region such as the Butternut, Yellow Rail, and Least Bittern.
The wildlife area is exposed to substantial threats and management challenges relating to its proximity to a large city, as well as current and past human activities. The main challenges are nonpoint-source pollution, poaching, conservation of species at risk, and the presence of invasive alien species.
More information on Lac Saint-François NWA is provided in the summary table below.
Management
National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) are protected and managed according to the Wildlife Area Regulations under the Canada Wildlife Act. The primary purpose of NWAs is the protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitat. For this purpose, and according to the legislation, Environment Canada can prohibit all activities in a NWA that could interfere with the conservation of wildlife. Consequently, most NWAs are not accessible to the public and all activities are prohibited. Nonetheless, Environment Canada has the ability to authorize some activities, whether through public notice or the issuance of permits, as long as these are consistent with the management plan goals for the NWA. For more information, consult the NWAs Management and Activities section.
Access to the Lac Saint-François NWA is restricted to designated areas and times of the year. Some activities may be permitted in accordance with the conservation objectives of the NWA management plan. Public notices listing the authorized activities within the wildlife area are posted at access points and include: hiking; nature observation, and photography on the trails; guided canoeing and kayaking; and, only in an area to the west of the main entrance, migratory bird hunting. Migratory bird hunting is no longer authorized in the area of the Fraser I and II developments or on either side of Fraser Creek.
Permits may be issued for research activities in keeping with the priorities set out in the management plan for the wildlife area. Permits may also be issued for other conservation activities such as surveys, or the enhancement or restoration of habitat.
Priority will be given to collaborative activities with local agencies and organizations to promote the protection and the conservation of wildlife species and their habitat in the NWA. For example, initiatives could be launched or continued with the following entities: universities or research centers to address gaps in scientific knowledge; the province to implement recovery measures for species at risk (particularly those falling under provincial jurisdiction); or non-governmental organizations or municipal authorities to build public awareness of the wildlife area's objectives.
More information on access and permitting for Lac Saint-François NWA can be obtained by contacting the Environment Canada regional office.
Notice from Environment Canada
Download PDF version – Notice from Environment Canada [Lac Saint-François] (PDF; 161 KB)
Environment Canada wishes to inform the public that the Lac Saint-François National Wildlife Area (NWA), located in the municipality of Dundee, is a protected area. Since its creation in 1978, the NWA has aimed to protect migratory birds, wildlife and wetland habitats, as well as several species at risk that are found within its boundaries.
To protect this area, the Department also advises all persons using the NWA of their obligation to comply with a number of rules stemming from the Canada Wildlife Act and ensuing regulations. Persons failing to comply with these rules or with applicable legislation are subject to fines and prosecution.
The following activities are authorized in designated areas: hiking; nature watching; photography; picnicking; and canoeing and kayaking on Fraser, Therrien and aux Gouins creeks.
Unless specifically authorized by a permit issued by the Minister, the following activities are prohibited within the NWA:
- hunting, with the exception of migratory birds if in accordance with authorized periods, conditions and locations, and using an authorized hunting instrument (see subsection 3(1) of the Regulations Respecting the Management of Wildlife Areas and the Control Thereof)
- fishing
- destroying or removing a plant
- allowing any domestic animal to run at large
- swimming, camping or lighting a fire
- operating a conveyance
- dumping or depositing any waste
For complete information on applicable regulations, please refer to the Canada Wildlife Act, the Wildlife Area Regulations, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Species at Risk Act at www.ec.gc.ca.
To file a complaint or to report illegal activity, please contact Environment Canada by telephone at 1-800-668-6767 or by email at enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca.
Nothing in this notice shall be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from any existing Aboriginal rights or treaty rights.
Public Services
Activities and services at the Lac Saint-François NWA are currently offered by the Association des membres et amis pour la protection de la réserve nationale de faune du lac Saint-François (AMAPRE). Services offered to the public include a welcome area and outreach activities relating to habitat conservation for wildlife species. Please contact AMAPRE for additional information.
Activities and Services
- Welcome area and interpretation centre
- Guided tours
- Special programs: Guided tour in Rabaska canoe (4-20 persons), birdwatching
- Other: Controlled trapping of muskrat and beaver (special permit) and waterfowl hunting
Special warnings
Biting insects in summer; camping prohibited; waterfowl hunting in the fall.
Location of wildlife area (access)
50 km south of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
Contact information for AMAPRE
AMAPRE
7600 Pointe-Fraser Road
Dundee, Québec
J0S 1L0
Phione nimber: (450) 264-5908
Email: info@amisrnflacstfrancois.com
More information on services offered to public can be obtained by contacting the Environment Canada regional office.
Map of Lac Saint-François National Wildlife Area
Summary Table for the Lac Saint-François NWA
| Protected Area designation | National Wildlife Area |
| Province/territory | Québec |
| Latitude/longitude | 45°02’N 74°29’O |
| Size in hectares (ha) | 1313 hectares (ha) adjacent to an additional 152 ha of federal lands not classified as a national wildlife area. |
| Reason for Creation of protected area | Historical: to protect exceptional wetlands because of their southernmost localization in edge of the lake Saint-François, attended by a wide variety of water birds and sheltering rare plants. |
| Date created (Gazetted) | 1978 – Legal description |
| International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Management Category | III - Natural Monument or Feature: protected area set aside to protect a specific natural monument.
|
| Additional designations | |
| Keystone or flagship species | Sandhill Crane, Sedge Wren, Great Egret, Redhead, tall milkweed, aquatic and lake carex. |
| Listed Species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) | More than 20 species including under the SARA, including the Butternut, the Northern Map Turtle, the Blanding's Turtle, the Eastern Sand Darter, the Canada Warbler, the Yellow Rail and the Least Bittern. More than 37 species under the Quebec's Act Respecting Threatened or Vulnerable Species. |
| Main habitat type | Marshes and swamps made up of Carex and Typha plant communities. Wooded wetlands populated by Red Maple stands and well-drained dry woods featuring communities dominated by hawthorn, hickory and maple. |
| Faunistic and floristic importance | The wetlands and adjoining drier land serve as important breeding grounds and a staging area popular among migratory birds and also provide habitats for animal and plant species at risk. |
| Invasive species | The Common Reed, European Frogbit, Flowering Rush, Reed Canarygrass and Purple Loosestrife all grow within the wildlife area. Zebra and Quagga mussels live in the nearby waters. |
| Additional links | Birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, American Black Duck, Wood Duck, and Northern Waterthrush. Mammals: Muskrat, Meadow Jumping Mouse, Big Brown Bat, Beaver, White-tailed Deer, and Coyote. Reptiles and Amphibians: Four-toed Salamander. |
| Main threats and challenges | Nonpoint-source pollution, poaching, conservation of species at risk, and the presence of invasive exotic species. |
| Management Agency | Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) |
| Public access and usage | Access restricted to designated areas and at certain times of the year. Activities permitted: hiking; nature observation and photography on the trails; guided canoeing and kayaking; and, in the area west of the main entrance, migratory bird hunting. |
Note: If there is a discrepancy between the information presented on this web page and any notice posted at the NWA site, the notice prevails as it is the legal instrument authorizing the activity.
Environment Canada – Quebec Region
Canadian Wildlife Service
Ecosystem Conservation
801-1550, avenue d’Estimauville
Québec, Québec
G1J 0C3
Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only)
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
- Date Modified: