Artelia awarded contract to restore the ecological functions of the John Sauro marsh

The John Sauro Marsh, located in Venise-en-Québec, is an ecologically important site recognized for its rich biodiversity and its role in wetland conservation. This area, covering approximately 20 hectares, was originally developed in 1983 with the aim of promoting wildlife habitat. The hydraulic structures (dikes and water level control structures) were refurbished in 2021 to restore their functionality.

Despite these recent restoration efforts, the active presence of beavers on the site leads to frequent blockages of the control structures, causing an unwanted rise in water levels. This situation leads to overflowing, affecting the free flow of water and increasing the flow to an adjacent residential neighborhood to the south. These impacts highlight the need for targeted technical intervention to ensure a balance between wetland conservation and water management.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has therefore commissioned Artelia to propose a concept to maintain the desired operational water levels while ensuring the ecological sustainability of the marsh and taking into account the natural dynamics imposed by local wildlife, particularly beavers. The mandate includes, among other things, the design of hydraulic structures with the preparation of plans and specifications and the supervision of works.

 This mandate highlights our expertise in wetland restoration and demonstrates our ability to intervene in sensitive natural environments while balancing conservation imperatives and technical issues.