Fryer Island Habitat Restoration

Parks Canada and Nature-Action Québec (in french only) are working together to protect the biodiversity of Fryer Island, located within the Chambly Canal National Historic Site. This collaboration is specifically aimed at restoring the island's riparian and aquatic habitats, thus providing a favorable environment for herpetofauna, including amphibians and reptiles, as well as the aquatic fauna that resides there.

Nesting sites and floating basking platforms

Several nesting sites have been set up so that the Fryer Island painted and snapping turtles can lay their eggs. These sites are important for the reproduction and survival of these species. Installing and protecting these sites will help ensure the turtles' long-term existence.

As well as improving nesting success and turtle quality of life on Fryer Island, these sites can also serve as a launch point to educate the public about the importance of preserving natural habitats and biodiversity. It is important to never go near these sites to avoid disturbing the ecosystem and harming the turtles that depend on them.

What is a floating basking platform?

Turtles are ectothermic animals, meaning they depend on external heat to maintain their body temperature. Therefore they need to get out into the sun to absorb its heat. We call this behavior "basking". Normally, they use tree trunks that have fallen into the water, or rocks that emerge when the water level drops in summer, to warm themselves in the rays of the sun. However, turtles are having increased difficulty finding such places due to the many changes taking place on the shores; by developing basking platforms, our teams are responding to an essential need.

Limiting the spread of invasive alien plant species

To limit the spread of invasive alien plant species such as Phragmites and Common Buckthorn, and thus increase the biodiversity of flora and fauna, invasive exotic plant species have been eliminated and native plants planted.

2026: a new stage for the restoration of natural habitats

In 2026, a second phase of work will be implemented at the Chambly Canal National Historic Site to continue efforts to protect herpetofauna at risk. This new phase is a continuation of the interventions carried out between 2021 and 2024 by Nature-Action Québec, focusing on concrete actions to restore and improve the quality of the aquatic and riparian habitats of Fryer Island. 

Restoring riparian environments and improving water quality

The purpose of the project was to strengthen the resilience of riparian ecosystems through landscaping and revegetation work. The planting of native vegetation and the continued revegetation of riprap shorelines have helped stabilize the shoreline, improve water quality and provide suitable habitat for a wide variety of plant and wildlife species.

Combating invasive species

The protection of biodiversity also involves the fight against invasive alien plant species. In this phase, targeted interventions made it possible to control at least two new colonies of European European Common Reeds, a particularly invasive species. These efforts were aimed at limiting their spread and preserving the integrity of natural habitats.

Develop wildlife habitats

Several structures have been carried out to directly support wildlife, particularly herpetofauna and aquatic species. The project included the creation of four turtle nesting sites, the development of a floating vegetation island and the addition of an additional vegetated island. These facilities now provide breeding and feeding environments for various species.

Ensure the follow-up and sustainability of developments

The efforts do not stop with the implementation of facilities. Strict monitoring of egg-laying and maintenance of the sites created during Phase I, in 2022, have been carried out to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability. These actions have made it possible to adjust interventions and maximize benefits for biodiversity.

Raising public awareness

Visitor awareness is an integral part of the project. Two interpretive panels were designed and installed to raise awareness of restoration activities, issues related to species at risk and the importance of preserving natural environments. These tools will help strengthen public commitment to environmental protection.