Fifty years after the Quebec government built the dam and pumping station on the La Guerre River, it has announced an $8 million project to restore the infrastructure which is critical to agriculture in Saint-Anicet.
The opening of the Beauharnois Canal in 1845 and the construction of the Beauharnois hydroelectric dam in 1930 caused water levels to rise significantly in Lake St. François, which impacted tributaries such as the La Guerre River. Attempts to divert water from the La Guerre to the St.-Louis were abandoned after this resulted in flooding in Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague. By the 1960s, farmers along the La Guerre River were unable to cultivate low-lying lands due to recurring flooding.
As a result, the ministry of agriculture decided to install a pumping station in 1972 at the mouth of the river where its waters empty into Saint-Anicet Bay on the lake. The pumping station was designed to manage the water from the La Guerre River watershed, while the dam was installed to maintain the lake’s water levels.
Due to the unique circumstances surrounding the construction of the dam and the pumping station, the government covers the maintenance and repair costs associated with this infrastructure. The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent is responsible for the operating and monitoring costs, while Hydro-Québec provides the electricity free of charge.
After five decades, upgrades were deemed necessary following a safety assessment that showed corrective measures were needed to guarantee the dam’s structural integrity. The work to rehabilitate the structure will ensure the facilities operate smoothly for several more decades to prevent flooding and preserve more than 900 hectares of farmland within the watershed.
The provincial funding was confirmed during a June 22 press conference in Saint-Anicet by Donald Martel, the minister of agriculture, fisheries, and food, as well as Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette.
“Our farmland is a collective asset that must be protected,” said Martel. “This is essential to support our farmers, strengthen our food self-sufficiency, and ensure the vitality of this agricultural region for future generations,” he added.
Martel’s announcement was made in the presence of MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent prefect Yves Métras, Saint-Ancient Mayor Sylvie Tourangeau, several members of the regional council and representatives from the MRC, as well as the regional president of the Fédération de l’Union des Producteurs Agricoles de la Montérégie, Jérémie Letellier; local president Éric Leboeuf and vice-president Josiane Carrière; and representatives from the Association des Producteurs Maraîchers du Québec.
“This announcement is the result of several years of meetings, efforts, and discussions, in which everyone contributed their share of diligence and goodwill,” said Métras, while highlighting the strategic importance of the infrastructure and the longstanding collaboration between the MRC and the agriculture ministry.
During the April 15 regional council meeting, the mayors unanimously approved a resolution allowing the MRC to sign a financial assistance agreement with the province totaling $8 million over three years, including $1.5 million in 2026-2027, $5.6 million in 2027-2028, and $900,000 in 2028-2029 to carry out this work.
Mallette explained that it was simply not possible to bring the aging infrastructure up to code for the new safety standards for dams. “We could not just make repairs,” she said, noting this was especially the case when it came to automation. The La Guerre River dam and pumping station are currently working on a manual model that relies on human observation.
“The site was being monitored constantly, so there wasn’t a safety issue. But we couldn’t afford to delay taking action either,” said Mallette, who suggested the rehabilitation plans are now on a very timely schedule.
She confirmed that once complete, piezometers – or specialized pressure sensors – will monitor and measure the water levels in the La Guerre River. These will send a signal when it is time to turn on the pumps. “Everything will be automated,” she maintained. “Once the project is completed in three years, we should see a significant difference in the management of the river.”
For Tourangeau, the significance of the pumping station and dam often goes unnoticed. “Water holds a special place in Saint-Anicet. It is part of our identity, our quality of life, and our economy,” she said, while pointing out that the quality of the water in both the lake and the river is of constant concern. “Protecting our farmland is important, but protecting the water quality of our lake is just as important,” she insisted.