Memphrémagog Conservation inc.

Situated in the southern part of the Eastern Townships and crossed by the Canadian-American border, Lake Memphremagog is the largest body of water in the region. More than 170, 000 people, representing more than 90% of the population of Sherbrooke, Magog, Omerville, Deauville, Ste-Elie and Lennoxville, get their drinking water from the lake. The wide range of recreational activities available attracts a large number of tourists and locals alike every year, making it a major tourist draw in the Eastern Townships.

Unfortunately, the signs of deterioration of Lake Memphremagog are clear: cyanobacteria blooms since 2006, the proliferation of aquatic plants and algae, the decline in water quality evidenced by a reduction in water clarity, a decline in the amount of oxygen in the water and an increase in sediments. The major cause of the deterioration of the lake is without a doubt excessive phosphorus loading. There are many sources of phosphorus, primarily resulting from human activities, of which agriculture, forestry and urbanization are the main culprits.