Protecting our delicate lake 

Wake boats are a new threat to Brome Lake. These powerful boats produce a wake or wave behind the boat that allows a person to surf without being attached by a line to the boat. If they are used in a shallow area of the lake—say below seven metres (23 feet) they stir up the sediment on the bottom of the lake. Phosphates have fallen into the sediment and once disturbed, rise to the top, where they encourage algae growth. There are deep areas of the lake where these boats can go, but the question is whether all the operators know the rules. Regular motorboats can cause similar damage in water only three meters (ten feet) deep. Speed is also a factor in not only disturbing the sediment but also damaging the shoreline. The shoreline itself needs to be protected. As noted in a letter to the editor this month, many people cut their lawns to the edge of the lake, destroying the natural protective filter. Renaissance Lac Brome reports there are more than 500 motorized boats with access to the lake; some days, another 50 are launched by visitors. The more people are aware of our delicate lake, the better it can be protected. 

Thanksgiving 

We live in a peaceful place in turbulent times. This page does not usually deal with matters outside the confines of the towns we cover. But we are all aware of the war in Ukraine, the accompanying food crisis in Africa and the energy crisis in Europe, where some of the richest people in the world face an energy crisis and a cold winter. Many Europeans will have to face a choice between food and heat. Some African countries face the real prospect of famine. Thanksgiving is October 10. We can truly be thankful this year that we live in a peaceful and plentiful corner of an angry world. Our squabbles seem minor by comparison.