Wetlands (marshes, ponds, bogs, and flood plains) act as natural filters and biodiversity reservoirs. They retain water, reduce flooding, improve water quality, and harbour a wide variety of animal and plant species.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Within the watershed, the majority of wetlands are located in the south, where development pressure is strongest. For several decades, many of these environments have been drained, filled, or fragmented, resulting in a significant reduction in their surface area and ecological functions. This degradation may manifest in particular through:<\/p>\n
More than 80% of the wetlands located in urbanized areas have disappeared since the beginning of the 20th century.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
In the Rivi\u00e8re du Nord Integrated Water Management Zone (ZGIE), there are 16 169 wetlands, 3 354 lakes, and 5 258 kilometres of watercourses. It is estimated that approximately 11% of the wetlands on the territory are protected, while only 1% of the lakes and 1.7% of the watercourses in the ZGIE are located in protected areas.<\/p>\n
Consult the interactive portrait and browse through the different layers of the Physical Characteristics (Caract\u00e9ristiques physiques) tab. Select the options to view the wetlands (milieux humides), lakes (lacs), and watercourses (cours d\u2019eau) in the watershed.<\/p>\n<\/div>