Boat ramp and docks

Prepared by Argus Environment

The lack of access to the body of water and the need for accessibility to it by the population has been recognized by the provincial government, water resource users including the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen, the Quebec Watershed Organizations and, for the Pontiac region, by the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais, the Agence de bassin versant des 7 and the Municipality of Pontiac. In Pontiac itself, requests from citizens have been forwarded to the Municipality to open a second boat ramp for motorized boats in the eastern sector of the Municipality. This document addresses the opportunities and costs for the implementation of a boat ramp for fishing boats in the eastern portion of the Municipality according to recognized criteria and standards: analysis of potential sites; selection of a preferred site; description of the preferred site; design concepts for the boat launch, parking spaces and turning areas; and budgetary estimate of costs.

Three potential sites were identified based on public ownership and accessibility by a municipal public road: Terry Fox, Sapinière and Trembly Roads. These sites were analyzed according to recognized technical, environmental and social criteria for a boat ramp. The Terry Fox Road site does not appear to be appropriate for technical and social reasons for a boat ramp, as does the Sapinière Road site, in this case for technical and environmental reasons. The Tremblay Road site has no environmental or wildlife constraints and appears to be technically and socially adequate. This gives it a development potential.

After analysis of the Tremblay Road site, there are three possibilities for the issue of parking on the north side: on the edge of the road, on the shoulder of the road by channelling the ditch and on private land. The turnaround area for launching can be located near the intersection of Tourterelles Avenue and Tremblay Road, and once launched, the turnaround area for turning the vehicle and trailer around to the launch site can be located at the end of Julie Road. For the boat ramp, the bathymetric surveys indicate a slight slope of 2-3%, which does not meet the recognized slope criteria of approximately 12%. To meet this criterion, the engineering design must include a raised boat launch near the shoreline. The total budget estimate to implement the project varies depending on the parking option selected. The least expensive option without a dock is the parking lot on Tremblay Road with an estimate of $364,100. The option with a dock is in the order of $408,600. If a ramp design that follows the river bed is considered, then the cost will be reduced by approximately $66,000 without a dock and $75,000 with a dock.

The boat launch project must, before its realization, obtain the authorizations of the MDDELCC and the MFFP. This requires the preparation of an application for authorization and a certificate of authorization including the preparation of plans and specifications. Also, the Municipality must apply to obtain a lease of the state water domain to perform the work. The delay is approximately 6 months.