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About five months ago, the President of the United States raised the proposition that Lake Champlain in upstate New York should be recognized as the sixth Great Lake. While the suggestion received polite acknowledgement, it really didn't last as a viable idea for more than a few weeks. The idea, however, does raise an alternative proposition. May we say (tongue and cheek) that a more suitable candidate for the status of the next Great Lake is located in the Atlantic Region of Canada. The Bras d'Or Lake - Eastern Canada's foremost inland seaway with three navigable outlets to the Atlantic as well as other significant attributes - would be the most logical of most candidates for admission to this elite club of major North American inland waterways. Overtime, the idea of North America's sixth member of the Great Lakes Club can well be advanced by visionary people capable of envisaging how such a path can be established through earning various designations and presenting all of the qualities of the Bras d'Or to the international community. Let's compare Lake Bras d'Or to Lake Erie.

The comparison to the experiences with Lake Erie on factors other than size is useful. For those whose geographical knowledge is a little foggy, it is one of the five great lakes that boarders on the industrial areas of Toledo, Cleveland, and Buffalo and has been exposed to industrial pollutants, particularly phosphorous, during much of this century, giving rise to the phrase "Lake Erie is Dead". The Lake is by and large restored today after considerable costs and the establishment of new regulatory regimes. There is a flourishing fresh water fishery and a level of confidence that the harsh lessons of the past have been learned. An imprice but approximate idea of size might help. For example, Lake Erie would be about 250 miles between the farthest points. By comparison, Lake Bras d'Or would be approximately 70 miles from West Bay to Cape Douphine or Table Head. So in a rough approximation Bras d'Or is about one-fifth the size of Erie.

Fortunately, we can benefit from the expensive lessons learned by others. To this extent we have been assisted by some very good earlier work concerning the Bras d'Or Watershed. For example, the Bras d'Or Lake Watershed study conducted by the U.M.A. Group and released in 1990 outlines the value of a management plan for the watershed and provides a very good framework to balance environment safeguards with responsible economic development. Also, the University College of Cape Breton co-ordinated work that led to the 1995 Report "Taking Care of the Bras d'Or, A New Approach to Stewardship of the Bras d'Or Watershed". Again, through public consultation, a set of proposals were provided and if implemented could lead to the protective management of the Bras d'Or over the long term.

People familiar with international experience will be aware of the costly mistakes made by countries such as Germany,France, and Japan where rivers and lakes were left unprotected for too long bringing about costly remedial measures to restore important water bodies to a healthy condition. Of the many factors contributing to damaged waterways, the loss of oxygen is common in near all instances.

In future newsletters and bulletins, the Society plans to feature a series of articles outlining some of the technical factors impacting the water quality and overall environment of the Bras d'Or Lake Watershed. In the meantime, a work plan designed to be carried out over the next eighteen months has been launched and progress is being made. The initial ten elements of the plan responds to the following areas of interest:

1. The design of Lake water quality assessment survey.

2. Proposal for a comprehensive set of zoning by-laws and regulations for the Bras d'Or Lake Watershed.

3. Detailed proposal for procedures monitoring and enforcement of sewage from live on board pleasure and commercial craft on the Lake.

4. Review of existing regulations in respect to septic tank and sewage disposal systems in the watershed and in particular respect to near Lake side.

5. Status report on fishery stocks within the Lake system with provision for regular updates.

6. Drafting and executing Pubic Affairs/Media Relations Program.

7. Education: publishing of existing and newly created research data for public benefit.

8. Research - Partnering with educational and public policy institutes to conduct focuses research on issues impacting Bras d'Or Watershed. Support and assistance to students participating in research as part of a diploma or degree from recognized schools.

9. Determination of current status of shellfish beds and prospects for re-opening closed areas.

10. Designation of Bras d'Or Lakes a National Heritage Site.

Upon completion of the work findings and actions recommended or taken will be published in future newsletters and through the media. Society members will be kept up to date, and your views and opinions are always welcomed and encouraged. Have a good summer.

Pat Bates

Chairman