Application for Funding for a Project
to Reduce Eurasian Water Milfoil in Lake Bernard
1. Introduction
Eurasian milfoil is a perennial aquatic plant that lives submerged between 0.5 and 7 m
(especially between 0.5 and 4.5 m) deep. The plant takes root and grows to the surface where it
branches and forms a carpet. Native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, it was accidentally
introduced in the 1940s in North America. It is an invasive species that adapts easily to a variety
of environments and competes aggressively with other indigenous plant species. The outcome is
a significant loss of biodiversity resulting in a significant deterioration in the quality of the lake
environment.
The peculiarity of this species is that it produces roots on the stems in the aerial part of the plant
which when detached with their roots as ‘cuttings’ will move with the current and waves and
quickly take root in other parts of the lake to create a new weed patch. Human activities such as
fishing, water sports, boating and boat transportation from one lake to another are major
contributors to the spread of milfoil.
Lake Bernard is one of many beautiful lakes in La Pêche. Four houndred (400) cottages line its
shores. It covers 647 hectares. Unfortunately, according to a survey last summer by ABV-7,
many parts of the lake that are between 6 and 20 feet deep (57 hectares or almost 10% of the
Lake) are now covered in Eurasian Water-Milfoil (see map at Attachment A). As experienced in
other lakes struggling to control this invasive species, the continual spread of milfoil threatens
the quality of the environment, reduces property values (and tax revenues), erodes tourism, and
undermines all the industries in La Pêche that support cottage life.
2. The Project
2.1 Goal

To reduce the impact of milfoil on Lake Bernard and control its spread.
2.2 Objectives

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

To assess the effectiveness of deploying ‘burlap’ as a solution to reducing and controlling
the spread of milfoil.
To provide the opportunity for cottagers to reduce the impact of milfoil in their own local
areas.
To enhance awareness of the members of the lake community about the characteristics of
milfoil, its negative impact on the environment and the quality of life on the lake, and
what they can do to help control its spread.
To assist the municipality in developing strategies for the control of milfoil and to
support the efforts of other lake associations attempting to deal with the issue.
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2.3 Method (Summary)
 Install an initial test in Sawmill Bay from the boat launch to the open lake.
 Install burlap in other selected high traffic areas of the lake where the impact of boats
cutting and spreading milfoil is greatest.
 Install burlap in local areas of the lake where cottagers or groups of cottagers have agreed
to work together to control infestations around their docks and other specific areas.
 Deploy buoys in high traffic areas and boat launches identifying to boaters where there
are milfoil infestations that should be avoided.
 Develop content, establish a schedule, and deliver communications messages to the
members of the lake community and, by extension, to the municipality and others.
 Use volunteers in planning, implementation, analysis and communications to the greatest
possible extent in order to minimize costs, and maximize the benefits of project for the
lake, the municipality and the province.
3. Method (Details)
3.1 Install burlap in a high traffic area
 Following a consultation with members of the lake association and with the advice and
expertise of ABV des 7, the decision concerning which areas of the lake will be the
targets for the deployment of burlap is complete. (As illustrated on Attachment A).
 Test area is to install two 3.8 m X 100m strips in the Sawmill Bay boat launch to provide
a path for boats to the open lake.
 Cost:
o Block-Aid, the company that has been working with ABV-7 on milfoil control
projects elsewhere in the region, will install sufficient burlap to cover a test area
(650 sq metres) in Sawmill Bay. This will be followed by the installation of
burlap approximately 10 other high traffic areas where the infestation of milfoil is
significant. The cost will be $2.00 sq. meter.
o Volunteers from the lake association will provide the labor required to assist
Block Aid in installing the burlap. “In kind” hourly rate for volunteer workers has
been set by BlockAid at $35.00.
3.2 Install burlap in local areas
 Install burlap in local areas of the lake where cottagers or groups of cottagers have agreed
to work together to control infestations around their docks and other specific areas.
 Distribute milfoil control kits to cottagers interested in tackling the milfoil issue in their
own local area. These kits are essentially mini-versions of what would be deployed in the
high traffic area. Funds collected from the sale of kits would be used as part of the
matching expenditure of the lake association.
 Offer training sessions for the cottage teams using the kits.
 Provide ongoing advice as the kits are being deployed.
 Monitor the progress, results, and outcome of these local initiatives and feed the results
into progress and final reports on the overall project.
3.3 Install buoys
 Construct and install buoys for deployment in high risk areas of the lake (i.e. milfoil
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
patches in high traffic areas) as identified on the map in Attachment A
Distribute maps of the milfoil infestation so that cottagers can use them to avoid milfoil
infested areas when boating or paddling on the lake.
3.4 Communications

Throughout the project, the project team and the Association will communicate with the
members of the lake community on:
o the characteristics of milfoil (as distinct from other weeds)
o impact of milfoil on the lake environment
o regulations concerning the control of milfoil (e.g. the no cutting rule)
o their role in controlling milfoil
o their role in controlling milfoil, notably the importance of not causing cuttings
and picking up any cuttings they may see
o progress reports on the conduct of the project
o the results of the project including the preparation of a ‘Project Book’
The “Project Book” will comprise of written and photographic documentation of the steps taken
to implement and evaluate the project. Specifically, it will:
 Document on a regular basis the progress of the project
 Document the results of the formal assessment that will be undertaken at the conclusion
of the project
 Document the steps taken to engage volunteers
 Provide graphic and quantitative data on the extent of the clean-up which will be made
available to the municipality and other Lake Associations in Quebec who face similar
problems. In will be made available in both French and English.
A publicly accessible area will be created on the Association web site containing the information
in the “Project Book”. The aim is to use this and other communications tools, including an email list, to help other owners and lake associations seeking to address a similar problem.
Recommendations will be provided to regional and provincial governments on how to address
this problem. The recommendations will be based not only on our assessment of the burlap
installation in the high traffic area but also on the efforts by individual cottagers and groups of
cottagers to reduce/control milfoil in their local areas.
4. Costs and Timetable
We expect the total cost of the project will be $30,000. Of this total we propose that $15,000 be
in the form of contribution from the municipality and that the remaining $15,000 be in the form
of cash and an ‘in kind’ contributions from the Lake Bernard Association. The Association’s
Executive has already committed $7,000 and has been receiving pledges for more contributions;
it has also defined how the ‘in kind’ contribution would be apportioned through the participation
of volunteers from the lake community and through other means. “In Kind” hourly rate for
volunteers working in communications and the building and installation of buoys is set at $25.00.
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The project would commence as soon as funding is approved (no later than middle of August)
and conclude by October, 2016.
Attachment B describes the detailed budget for the project.
5. Governance
The Executive of the Lake Bernard Owners’ and Residents’ Association has established a Milfoil
Project Team to undertake the project. Given the high priority being assigned to this project, the
lead for the Project Team will liaise with the Chair of the Environment Committee (who is also a
member of the Project Team) but report directly to the President of the Association. The
Association Executive has already approved the plan and budget for the project subject to
funding being secured from the Municipality.
All expenditures, as described in the approved budget, will be submitted by the Head of the
Project team to the Executive for payment in accordance with the Association’s financial
procedures. The Executive will review regular progress reports and approve the final products of
the project. The membership of the Association will be kept abreast of the progress of the project
as well as its results in accordance with the communications plan. The Head of the Project Team
and the President will maintain liaison with the Municipality on a regular basis and in
accordance with the project plan.
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Attachment A
Extent of Milfoil on Lake Bernard
Controlling Milfoil: Potential Burlap Locations
500
All marked areas are
1,000 m2 unless
marked otherwise
500
5000
TOTAL: 15,500+ m2
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Attachment B
Budget for the Project to Reduce Eurasian Water Milfoil in Lac Bernard
This budget is based on a $15,000 contribution from the municipality and matching contributions
from the Owners and Residents’ Association of Lake Bernard totalling $15,000. The Association
contribution consists of a financial contribution of at least $7,000, with the remaining funds to be
derived from fundraising, and contributions of in-kind volunteer time. Volunteer hourly rate is
set at $25.00 except for volunteers working with BlockAid when the hourly rate will be $35.00.
The budget is described on the following page:
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Owners and Residents of Lac Bernard Association
Special Budget for the control of Eurasian Milfoil 2016
Revenues
Municipality Grant for Eurasian Milfoil Control
$15.000.00
Lac Bernard Association Matching Contribution
$15,000.00
[Association’s contribution consists of fundraising, burlap kit
sales and in-kind labour (volunteer work at $25.00 per hour unless
working with BlockAid when the rate is $35.00 per hour) ]
$30,000.00
Expenses
Burlap installation (large scale plus kits)
Fee for ABV-7 preparation for Certificate of
Authorisation (plus taxes)
Building and placement of buoys (20 hrs x $25.00)
Implement Communication Plan (50 x $25.00)
$26,525.00 (see Note 1)
$ 1,725.00
$ 500.00
$ 1250.00
$30,000.00
Note 1: Up to $2,000 of this amount will be volunteer labour. This contribution is valued at
$35.00 per hour, given the need to undergo training, which will not be counted in the volunteer
hours.
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