Off-roading in Gaspé rivers harming salmon habitats, prompts calls for action

Trucks, ATVs and large off-road vehicles through salmon habitat in Quebec’s Gaspé region are angering environmental organizations fighting to protect the fragile species.

On some days, dozens of vehicles travel across the Petit Pabos River for more than three kilometers to access a popular swimming spot, according to local advocates.

Quebec’s federation for Atlantic Salmon is calling for a ban on vehicles in the riverbeds. But without proper enforcement, the group’s director Charles Cusson worries “nothing’s going to change.”

“It’s basically the wild west,” said Cusson, who has seen social media posts of people boasting about driving through rivers, prompting others to want to do it, too.

“Other people with the right type of vehicles say, ‘See that? Wow, cool, let’s go do that, too. Let’s go make an F-150 commercial,'” he said.

Millions of dollars in public money have been invested over the years to protect the critical salmon habitats the trucks are driving through, Cusson added.

Pickup stuck for 3 days

Low water levels have only increased the harmful trend over the past 10 years, said René Giroux, operations co-ordinator with Regroupement pour la restoration des Trois Rivières Pabosan organization for the protection of the Pabos network of three rivers located near the small city of Chandler on the Gaspé Peninsula.

Giroux said the group has taken photographs of up to 50 vehicles driving in the rivers.

“It’s unimaginable. It’s become a quasi tourist attraction to drive through wildlife habitats,” said Giroux.

A dozen cars were photographed traveling across the banks of the Petit Pabos River to access a popular swimming spot. (Regroupement pour la restoration des Trois Rivières Pabos)

In June, a pickup truck attempting to cross the river got stuck and was trapped in the water for three days, before provincial workers towed it away.

“There was oil and Prestone (coolant) running down the river,” said Giroux.

Pierre-Olivier Fortin, assistant director for Quebec’s federation for Atlantic salmon, said rainbow smelt are also at risk of being harmed by the vehicles.

There are many ways the practice of driving in the rivers can harm fish habitats, Fortin said, including stirred-up sediment clogging salmon spawning grounds.

“This fish has a vulnerable status in Quebec. It’s clear that this is directly damaging their habitat.”

Fortin says vehicle traffic also causes young fish to be displaced from areas where they can grow.

Raising awareness no longer enough

A petition launched by the Regroupement pour la restoration des Trois Rivières Pabos that you have garnered over 500 signatures is urging the nearby City of Chandler to take action.

Although Quebec already bans motorized vehicle traffic in waterways, organizations say provincial and federal legislations are difficult to enforce.

To impose a fine, Fortin says there has to be proof of clear environmental damage linked to the individual.

“It’s very long and complex. You have to bring in biologists and it’s often difficult to attribute damage to a single passage,” he said.

Fortin believes a municipal by-law would be more effective in penalizing offenders.

Organizations say the circulation of vehicles in and along the river has an impact on multiple species of fish. (Regroupement pour la restoration des Trois Rivières Pabos)

A committee, which included the City of Chandler, was established in 2021 to try to resolve the problem.

But after several unsuccessful awareness campaigns, the committee determined two years later that the most effective solution would be for Chandler to prohibit vehicle traffic on the banks and in the beds of the Pabos rivers.

“Raising awareness seems to have reached its limit,” said Fortin.

Giroux said Chandler already prohibits vehicles from beaches, and would only need to add the rivers themselves to their by-law. He says Quebec provincial police could enforce a municipal ban.

The City of Chandler did not respond to CBC News’s request for comment.