What is happening to the Saint Lawrence River?
As a expert on two of the major pollutants in water, the parasites Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium, Professor Gaétan Faubert of the McGill University Institute of Parasitology knows the large river well. "Are the fluctuations in the level of the water in the Saint Lawrence natural and normal phenomena, or are the fluctuations due to climate change? It is because I ask myself questions like these that I have organized a symposium on management of the Saint Lawrence, together with my colleagues from the Brace Centre for Water Resources Management", he says. The Centre is part of the Faculty of Engineering at McGill.
Entitled Managing the Saint Lawrence River, the Brace Centre for Water Resources Management symposium will bring together five experts who have closely studied the possible consequences of recent variations in the water level of the Saint Lawrence. It will be held on Monday, September 16 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in room R2-046 of the Raymond Building on Macdonald Campus of McGill University. They will discuss the following issues: Will the water level variations in the Saint Lawrence affect the way of life of Quebeckers? How will lower water levels in the river affect our economy? What can we predict will be the effect of low water levels on the region's fauna and flora? Can we control the water level in the Saint Lawrence? The discussions and debates will take place in English and French. Members of the public and media are cordially invited to attend.
Program
13:10-13:40
Vers une gestion intégrée du Saint Laurent et des basins versants
Dr. Yvon Maranda, Conseiller scientifique
Ministère de l'Environnement du Québec
13:55-14:15
Water Management for Shipping and Navigation in the St. Lawrence Seaway System
Mr. Pat Vincelli, Director of Operations
St. Lawrence Seaway Corporation
14:30-14:50
The Hydrology of the St. Lawrence River Basin
Mr. Jean-François Cantin, Regional Hydrologist
Environment Canada
15:30-15:50
Protecting the Biodiversity of the St. Lawrence
Dr. Joe Rasmussen, Professor
Biology Department, McGill University
16:05-16:25
Traitement de l'eau dans un contexte de changement climatique
Mr. Daniel Babineau, Manager
Rosemere Water Treatment Plant
