Lac Bowker
News
Environmental spill
In the event of an environmental emergency (major spill)
An environmental emergency is a sudden situation that requires immediate action because it threatens, affects or is about to deteriorate the quality of water, air, soil, wildlife, wildlife habitats or the environment inhabited by humans.
The Urgence-Environnement team of Québec’s Ministère de l’Environnement intervenes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—throughout Québec—and does everything possible to minimize the environmental impacts of spills.
To contact Urgence-Environnement, please dial 1-866-694-5454.
In the event of a minor spill
To limit the impacts of a potential spill on our lake, the ANPPLB has available two sets of products necessary to absorb and neutralize contaminants.
Please note that these emergency spill response kits have minimal absorbent-neutralizing capacity.
If necessary (in the event of a minor spill), please contact Mr. Richard Jutras (819-823-4742) or Mr. Claude Richer (819-570-3336).
Spotlight on 2026!
The time to renew your association membership will come in early 2026. Stay tuned for a renewal communication from us. Your dynamic association now represents some 200 members—an unprecedented number!
As was the case last year, one membership will cover two members. All members registered in 2025 will automatically receive an email. REMINDER: Only one of the two members needs to renew.
How to renew
Renewing your membership couldn’t be easier: simply go to sur WWW.LACBOWKER.COM, then click on the “Become a member” red rectangular button in the upper right corner of the home page.
- The basic membership fee ($25) entitles you to register up to two (2) members.
- You can become an Ambassador member by paying a special membership fee of $250. This fee, which includes the $25 basic membership fee (for 2 members), helps us stock Bowker Lake in fish year after year.
- You also have the option of making a voluntary donation of any amount you wish if you would like to contribute to the cost of our fish stocking initiative.
COMMUNICATIONS AND REPRESENTATION
Your association is in constant communication with the administrations of the municipality of Orford and the Memphremagog RCM regarding potential regulatory changes that could affect boating on our lake. We must remain vigilant, as this is a matter of utmost importance. We are committed to keeping you informed of any developments.
“A healthy association is an association that can count of the engagement of its members.”
YOUR ASSOCIATION WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026!
Founded in 1991, your association will be celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2026! Your board of directors is currently considering how to mark this milestone. We’ll keep you informed!
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND ROAST (MÉCHOUI)
IN 2026, WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR FLAGSHIP EVENT ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 15. Further details will be provided later in the season. The 2025 edition was a resounding success!
As for the next AGM, it will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, August 15, 2026 (before the start of the roast). You’ll be sent an email in due time with the details regarding the AGM.
Updates are also published here on our website as well as on our Facebook page (Association de Nautisme, de pêche et de protection du Lac Bowker). We therefore invite you to subscribe to our page if you haven’t already done so!
IN CLOSING
The ANPPLB counts on your active participation—particularly through the annual renewal of your membership—to continue to defend your interests with respect to the recreational use of the lake and to ensure the protection of our magnificent body of water.
Rest assured that the members of your association’s board of directors are firmly committed to their work to preserve the natural gem that is Bowker Lake. We thank you for your support and trust in choosing to renew your ANPPLB membership year after year.
The members of your board of directors,
Sylvain Laporte, president
Frédéric Laguë, secretary
Claudine Binette, treasurer
Gilles Blais, Michaël Brillon, Richard Jutras, Claude Richer, Sébastien St-François et Daniel Vandenberg, directors
Gérald Pepin, honorary member of the board of directors (former president)
You enjoy fishing? Become an ambassador!
NEARLY $67,000 WORTH OF FISH IN 10 YEARS!
Over the past ten years, the ANPPLB has seen to stocking the lake in fish on an annual basis for the benefit of the lakeside residents who enjoy fishiing and the maintenance of the ecosystem of Bowker Lake.
- 2025: $9,000
- 2024: $8,250
- 2023: $7,500
- 2022: $7,500
- 2021: $5,000
- 2020: $5,000
- 2019: $9,300
- 2018: $8,250
- 2017: $1,000
- 2016: $6,000
DO YOU FISH? WE NEED YOU!
Your annual contribution as an ANPPLB ambassador ($250) is important because it helps us stock Bowker Lake year after year.
Become an ambassador to support our fish-stocking initiative:
FISH STOCKING IN 2025
For example, in 2025, our $9,000 investment enabled us to add to the lake:
- 711 rainbow trout measuring 14 inches or more in length
- 271 brown trout
OBJECTIVE FOR 2026
Thanks to your contributions as ambassadors and donors, we will be able to invest more than $8,000 in fish stocking.
Happy fishing everyone!
ABOUT THE ANPPLB
Founded in 1991, the ANPPLB (Association de nautisme, pêche et protection du lac Bowker) is a non-profit organization whose board of directors is made up of volunteers who are lakeside property owners. The members of the ANPPLB are committed to protecting and preserving the natural treasure that is Bowker Lake.
The sustainability of Bowker Lake’s ecosystem—an environment of exceptional quality that we collectively have a responsibility to protect so that future generations can in turn fully thrive in it—is at the core of the vision of the ANPPLB.
To fulfil its vision, the ANPPLB relies on its engaged members. With regards to the lakeside residents of Bowker Lake, it namely advocates for the right to engage in activities such as boating and fishing in a civic-minded and environmentally responsible manner, as well as the right to enjoy a safe, respectful and harmonious environment where it is great to live.
THE LAKE’S FISH
FISH STOCKING
Ambassador program:
The ANPPLB established its ambassador program several years ago. Through their special financial contributions, our ambassadors make a tangible contribution to the fish stocking of Bowker Lake (rainbow trout, brown trout, etc.).
Indeed, year after year, hundreds of fish are added to the lake’s ecosystem on the initiative of the ANPPLB—much to the delight of the lakeside residents who enjoy fishing on beautiful Bowker Lake.
Year in, year out, the ANPPLB can count on some 25 or so ambassadors to carry on this tradition. Many thanks to our generous donors!
If you would like to become one of our ambassadors, when you renew your membership, simply select “Become an ambassador” from the PAYMENT TYPE drop-down menu on our online membership form. To make a donation to our annual fish stocking program, select “Make a donation” from the same drop-down menu. Thanks in advance!
SAFETY ON THE LAKE
BUOYS, NAVIGATION AND PREVENTION
Buoys:
Following a collaborative effort with the municipality of Orford, the ANPPLB was able to finalize the buoy project, and it’s in 2016–2017 that buoys were installed on the lake for the very first time. Every year since then, our valiant team of volunteers sees to installing them in the spring and removing them in the fall.
An investment of $7,200 made it possible for the association to purchase an anchoring system and winter buoys. The new anchors and GPS tracking allow us to better monitor the location of the buoys year after year.
Safe and respectful navigation:
- Observe the speed limit of 10 km/h within 75 m of the shore (delimited by the buoys). The speed limit on the lake is set at 55 km/h. Maintain a minimum distance of 50 m from swimmers, people fishing and non-motorized watercraft.
- Avoid circling and creating waves, and drive at low speeds perpendicular to the shore to reduce erosion.
- Wakeboarders are asked to use the central part of the lake as much as possible to practise their activity. Drivers of boats with a strong wake (wakeboats) are asked to avoid always turning in the same section of the lake out of respect for local residents.
- Have life jackets and all safety equipment required by federal law (Small Vessel Regulations) on board. According to the law, there must be a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board a vessel (motorized or human-powered).
- Adapt your driving to the traffic on the water and be courteous and cautious at all times. Give priority to swimmers and non-motorized watercraft: slow down and maneuver to avoid creating dangerous situations.
Prevention of invasive species:
Any watercraft launched at Bowker Lake that comes from another body of water must be washed and left out of the water for a minimum of seven days before being launched. This applies to trailers as well as non-motorized watercraft (e.g., rowboats, kayaks, paddleboards, etc.), the goal being to prevent contamination of the lake by invasive species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil.
It is up to each and every one of us to apply these rules of civility and safety and to remind anyone who may forget them. Together, let’s continue to promote nautical safety and good relations between residents. Together, let’s respect wildlife and protect the environment!
Orford, Quebec
Become a member
Payment of your contribution entitles you to two registrations (spouse, child/parent, etc.)