Lake Fortin is located 2.5 km south of Saint-Victor. It is 2.2 km long and 1.5 km-wide. It is a mostly shallow lake, with a greater depth of 13.2 meters. This lake feeds the water intake of Beauceville, located on the Moulin River. Fish species found in the lake and popular with anglers are walleye, small-mouth bass and perch. Approximately 200 houses are built along its shoreline, mainly cottages used in summer. The lake water quality greatly deteriorated over the past 30 years. Numerous aquatic plants started growing, resulting from polluant inputs such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Water clarity also decreased. The Lake Fortin Protection Association (Association pour la protection du lac Fortin or APELF) was created as a result of this water clarity decrease. Residents created this association to slow down the deterioration of the lake. APELF's mission is to educate residents about pollution, to work with them and the municipalities of Saint-Victor and Saint-Alfred, since part of the lake (about 25%) is located in Saint-Alfred, to find solutions to address pollution. For example, in 2014, APELF provided residents with over 12,000 plants to reforest the shores. In cooperation with APELF, Saint-Victor adopted a by-law forbidding the use of fertilizers and pesticides on the shoreline and requiring residents to reforest their lake front properties. Studies and other work to know and protect the lake are undertaken by APELF, with consistent and key support from Saint-Victor. APELF's Board of Directors consists of 7 members elected by members who own properties on Lake Fortin's shores.
In 2013, a new dam was built downstream of Lake Fortin. Lake Fortin's water pool provides for the vast majority of Beauceville's drinking water.
Source: http://www.enbeauce.com/actualites/societe/96991/nouveau-barrage-au-lac-fortin-dissiper-les-craintes, Bastien Thibodeau