The Gouin Reservoir () is a

man-made lake A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including control ...

, in

La Tuque La Tuque (; ) is a city located in north-central Quebec, Canada, on the Saint-Maurice River, between Trois-Rivières and Chambord. The population was 11,227 at the Canada 2011 Census, most of which live within the urban area. At over 28,000 ...

, in Mauricie, in the central portion of the Canadian province of

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

, fully within the boundaries of the City of La Tuque. It is not one contiguous body of water, but the collective name for a series of connected lakes separated by innumerable bays, peninsulas, and

island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

s with highly irregular shapes. It has therefore a relative long shoreline of over (excluding islands) compared to its surface area of . It is the source of the Saint-Maurice River. This large reservoir extends into the cantons of (in order, in row from north to south): * Mathieu, Verreau; * Lacasse, Toussaint, McSweeney, Magnan, Lindsay; * Hanotaux, Cremazie, Lemay, Marmette, Brochu, Déziel; * Poisson, Evanturel, Myrand, Chapman, Nevers, Aubin, Levasseur; * Achintre, Sulte, Huguenin, Delage, Leblanc, Bureau.

Recreational tourism activities

With a total of of waterways, this reservoir is a popular fishing destination with numerous commercial outfitters and private lodges along its shores. There are also a number of outfitters offering recreational tourism activities such hunting trips, fishing trips, excursions in all-terrain vehicles (ex.: snowmobiles, VTT), nautical expeditions, photographic hunting, lodging in cottages, in house-boat, in hostel (auberge)... Many of these outfitters also provide equipment supply and maintenance services related to recreational tourism activities. Generally, each outfitter is equipped with a marina offering various boating services.

History

The reservoir is named after Jean Lomer Gouin, who was

Premier of Quebec The premier of Quebec ( French: ''premier ministre du Québec'' (masculine) or ''première ministre du Québec'' (feminine)) is the head of government of the Canadian province of Quebec. The current premier of Quebec is François Legault of th ...

when, in 1918, the

Shawinigan Water & Power Company Established in 1898, the Shawinigan Water & Power Company was one of the dominant, privately owned hydroelectric companies in Canada until 1963, when it became a part of Hydro-Québec. History Shawinigan Water & Power Company was founded on Ja ...

impounded the reservoir for hydroelectric development. The Gouin Reservoir has a 600 MW station for local use, but is used to control the flow of the St-Maurice River for the stations down-stream (all operated now by Hydro-Québec). Initially, the "Commission des eaux courantes du Québec" (''English: Quebec Running Water Board'') wanted to facilitate the floating of wood that was routed via the Saint-Maurice River, to the paper mills of

Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières (, – 'Three Rivers') is a city in the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence rivers, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of ...

. The first work was built on La Loutre rapids in 1916-1917. The Shawinigan Water and Power Company decided to raise the level of the reservoir in 1948 and it was also decided to divert the headwaters of the

Mégiscane River The Mégiscane River is a tributary of Parent Lake (Abitibi). It flows in the Northwest of Quebec, in Canada, in the administrative regions of: *Mauricie: in the westernmost part of the town of La Tuque; *Abitibi-Témiscamingue: in the territory of ...

and the Suzie River, which flowed naturally to

James Bay James Bay (french: Baie James; cr, ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, Wînipekw, dirty water) is a large body of water located on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean, of which James Bay is the southernmost pa ...

via the

, the Bell River (Quebec) and the

Nottaway River The Nottaway River is a river in Quebec, Canada. The river drains Lake Matagami and travels north-west before emptying into Rupert Bay at the south end of James Bay. Its drainage basin is and has a mean discharge of 1190 m³/s (1556 yd³/s). I ...

; and to bring their waters to the

Saint Lawrence River The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connectin ...

by the Saint-Maurice River. A series of dikes and canals were needed to divert the water from these rivers and still today; these works are unknown to the general public.

Village of Obedjiwan

The small Atikamekw community of Obedjiwan is located on the reservoir's north shore. During the construction of the first Loutre dam (the name given to the dam prior to the Gouin name as it is known today), the Amerindians lived near Obedjiwan Lake, which was flooded when the reservoir was filled. At that time, the residents moved and rebuilt their village on the site of the present village of Obedjiwan, Quebec.

Village of Oskélanéo

The village of Oskélanéo is connected to Gouin Reservoir via

Oskélanéo Lake Oskélanéo Lake is a freshwater body linked to the southwestern part of the Gouin Reservoir (via Bureau Lake (Gouin Reservoir), in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Cana ...

and

Oskélanéo River The Oskélanéo River is a tributary of the South Bay of Bureau Lake (Gouin Reservoir), flowing into the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada. The Oskélanéo River runs successively in the cantons of ...

. This river flows on the south shore of

Bureau Lake (Gouin Reservoir) The Lac Bureau is a vast freshwater body of the southwestern part of the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in Haute-Mauricie, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake exten ...

. The village of Oskélanéo was formed following the arrival in 1910 of the

transcontinental railway A transcontinental railroad or transcontinental railway is contiguous railroad trackage, that crosses a continental land mass and has terminals at different oceans or continental borders. Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single ...

; the station was designated "Oskélanéo River". Through the railway, the village became a supply depot and access point to the

Rupert River The Rupert River is one of the largest rivers in Quebec, Canada. From its headwaters in Lake Mistassini, the largest natural lake in Quebec, it flows west into Rupert Bay on James Bay. The Rupert drains an area of . There is some extremely la ...

Mistassini Lake Lake Mistassini () is the largest natural lake by surface area in the province of Quebec, Canada, with a total surface area of approximately and a net area (water surface area only) of . It is located in the Jamésie region of the province, appro ...

and other areas of northern

. It also became a starting point for hunting and fishing expeditions in the region, as well as for forestry projects.

Geography

Road accesses

Although no paved road leads to the Gouin Reservoir, it is nevertheless accessible by several forested pathways, snowmobile trails and by air. The hydrographic slope of the Gouin Reservoir is accessible by: * North side: route 212 from the village of Obedjiwan, Quebec and heading northeasterly following more or less the north shore of the Gouin reservoir, to the Normandin Lake (Normandin River) area. From Obedjiwan, Quebec, the forested road R1045 and R2046 are serving the North-West area of the reservoir; * East side: the forest road 451 connecting

Gouin Dam Gouin or Goüin may refer to: Places * Barrage Gouin Water Aerodrome, airport in Quebec * Gouin-Gouin, town in Burkina Faso * Gouin (electoral district), provincial electoral district * Gouin Boulevard, longest street on the island of Montreal * ...

, the village of Wemotaci and

to the south; this road section serves in particular the valley of the Wapous River and Berlinguet Lake; * South side: the forest road 400 serves the south-east part of the reservoir by passing to the

; Forest Road 404 serves the southwestern portion between the villages of Clova, Quebec and

Parent A parent is a caregiver of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is the caretaker of a child (where "child" refers to offspring, not necessarily age). A ''biological parent'' is a person whose gamete resulted in a child, a male t ...

; * West side: the forested road R1009 (North-South direction) located west of the

Pascagama River The Pascagama River is a tributary of Pascagama Lake. It flows in the Northwest of Quebec, in Canada, in the administrative regions of: * Mauricie: in the extreme west of the territory of the town of La Tuque (canton of Deschamps); * Abitibi-Témi ...

is serving the West coast of Gouin Reservoir.

Access by waterway from the railway

Outdoor enthusiasts can reach the Gouin Reservoir by canoe waterway from the

Canadian National The Canadian National Railway Company (french: Compagnie des chemins de fer nationaux du Canada) is a Canadian Class I freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States. CN ...

line connecting

Senneterre Senneterre is a town in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of northwestern Quebec, Canada. It is in the Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality. The town's territory includes a vast undeveloped area stretching from the Bell River to the Mau ...

, passing to the south of the reservoir (railway stops in order from west to east): ;West part of the reservoir *

Kekek River The Kekek River is a tributary of the Mégiscane River, flowing into the Senneterre area of La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in Quebec, Canada. The Kekek River is located no ...

: ride from "Rouleau Siding" downstream to the confluence of the

; path with R1 and R1-2 level rapids and some thresholds. Note: as a variant, the hobbyists may also take the Trévet River course (tributary of the

); * Suzie River: to Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) with some obstacles. Note: Brécourt Lake and Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) are diverted to the Gouin Reservoir via the

Adolphe-Poisson Bay The Adolphe-Poisson Bay is a freshwater body located south of the southwestern part of the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake exte ...

; *

: to reach the Mégiscane dam on the Lac du Poète; route with some rapids that are generally easy to cross; *

Flapjack River The Flapjack River is a tributary of the Mattawa Bay of the Southwest of Gouin Reservoir, flowing into the town of La Tuque, into the administrative area of the Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada. The Flapjack River flows successively into the townsh ...

: to reach

Mattawa Bay Mattawa Bay is a freshwater body of the southwestern part of the Gouin Reservoir in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in the Mauricie administrative region, in the provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake ...

; navigable at all times and in both directions; * Lacs Arcand and Tessier: to reach the

Saraana Bay Saraana Bay is a freshwater body of the southwestern part of Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This bay extends into the townships of Créma ...

, with some rapids. This route is navigable at all times in both directions. ;Centre part of the reservoir *

: to reach the South Bay

. This route is the busiest, being navigable at all times with river boats and easily in reverse. The village of

and the village of Clova, Quebec, both now part of the City of La Tuque. These villages are located approximately south of the reservoir and are accessible by a forested road and by train with

Via Rail Via Rail Canada Inc. (), operating as Via Rail or Via, is a Canadian Crown corporation that is mandated to operate intercity passenger rail service in Canada. It receives an annual subsidy from Transport Canada to offset the cost of operating ...

. A seaplane base is located at the top of the Gouin dam.

Main tributaries

The main rivers flowing into the Gouin reservoir are (clockwise from the Gouin dam): ;South Shore * Jean-Pierre River (Gouin Reservoir) * Atimokateiw River * De La Galette River (Gouin Reservoir) ** Leblanc River (Gouin Reservoir) * Wacekamiw River (via Mikisiw Armirikana Lake) *

Nemio River The Nemio River is a tributary of the south shore of the Gouin Reservoir, flowing in the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada. The Nemio River flows successively into the townships of Tassé, Huguenin, ...

(via

Bureau Lake The Lac Bureau is a vast freshwater body of the southwestern part of the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in Haute-Mauricie, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake exten ...

) *

(via

) **

Mistatikamekw River The Mistatikamekw River is a tributary of the Oskélanéo River which flows into the South Bay of Bureau Lake (Gouin Reservoir), flowing into the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada. The Mistatikamekw ...

* outlet of

Tessier Lake (Gouin Reservoir) The Tessier Lake is a freshwater body located on the south side of the southwestern part of the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in the region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake straddles the ...

(via

) **

Faucher River The Faucher River is a tributary of Tessier Lake (Gouin Reservoir) located on the southwestern side of the Gouin Reservoir. This river runs in the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada. The Faucher ...

(via

) * Bignell Creek (via

) ;West Shore *

(upper part deviated by the dam of Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) to

) * Suzie River (course deviated by the dam of Du Poète Lake (Mégiscane River) to

) * Plamondon Creek (Gouin Reservoir) (via Plamondon Bay) * Piponisiw River (via Simard Lake (Gouin Reservoir) and Du Mâle Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) ;North Shore * De la Rencontre Creek (via Du Mâle Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) * Toussaint River (via Kamitcikamak Lake) * Mathieu River * Kakospictikweak River (via Omina Lake) ** Pokotciminikew River ** Wawackeciw River * Kakiskeaskoparinaniwok River (linking Omina Lake and Verreau Bay) * Eau Claire Creek (Gouin Reservoir) (via Verreau Bay) ** Ohomisiw River (via Eau Claire Creek) ;East Shore * Verreau Creek (linked to Verreau Bay) * Sakiciw River (linked to Magnan Lake) * Barras Creek (linked to Magnan Lake) ** Oskatcickic Brook * Papactwe Creek (linked to Magnan Lake) * Kiackw River (linked to Magnan Lake) * Wapous River (via Déziel Lake) * Au Vison River (via Au Vison Bay) * Au Vison River West (via Au Vison Bay)

Main bays

This large reservoir has many bays and islands making navigation complex. Before the existence of geolocation systems that developed in the 2000s, many navigators lost their way on the water. (Clockwise, from the mouth) ;South Shore ;West Shore * Hanotaux Bay (linked to Du Mâle Lake) * Wacapiskitek Bay (linked to Du Mâle Lake) ;North Shore ;East Shore ;Bays of Islands

Main islands

(Clockwise, from the mouth) ;South area ;North area ;East area * Tciman Island (in Magnan Lake) * Amérique Island (in

Brochu Lake The Lake Brochu is a vast expanse of freshwater in the south-eastern part of the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake extends into t ...

) * Oasis Island (forming the boundary between Marmette Bay South and Nevers Lake (Gouin Reservoir))

Main lakes

The main lakes included in the reservoir or related are: Toussaint, Magnan, McSweeney and Du Mâle Lake. (Clockwise, from the mouth) ;South area * Nevers Lake (linking

Chapman Lake (Gouin Reservoir) The Chapman Lake is a vast expanse of freshwater in the central part of the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the town of La Tuque, in Haute-Mauricie, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This bay ...

and

) *

(linking Du Mâle Lake) * Kaackakwakamak Lake (linked to Magnan Lake) * Mikisiw Amirikanan Lake (linked to Ganipi Bay) *

(linked on North to Toussaint Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) ;West area *

Saveney Lake The Saveney Lake is a freshwater body attached to the Adolphe-Poisson Bay, located in the western part of the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of the City of La Tuque, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canad ...

(linked to

) * Miller Lake (linked to Du Mâle Lake (Gouin Reservoir)) ** Simard Lake (linked to Miller Lake) ** Lacasse Lake (linked to Miller Lake) * Du Mâle Lake (linked to Plamondon Creek and De la Rencontre Creek) ;North area ;East area *

(linked to

Kikendatch Bay The Kikendatch Bay is a freshwater body that leads to the Gouin Reservoir, in the territory of La Tuque, in Haute-Mauricie, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This bay is mainly located in the towns ...

, which is related to

) * Little Brochu Lake * Déziel Lake (Gouin Reservoir) (linking Wapous River to Gouin Reservoir) ** Du Déserteur Lake (Gouin Reservoir) * Minikanakik Lake (linked to Déziel Lake) * Duchet Lake (on an island of Center-East part of the reservoir) * Kamoskosoweskak Lake (on an island of Center-East part of the reservoir)

Main passes

The many passes between the islands or peninsulas facilitate navigation on the reservoir.(Clockwise, from the mouth)

Fauna

Fish

Fish species present include the

walleye The walleye (''Sander vitreus'', synonym ''Stizostedion vitreum''), also called the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the Northern United States. It is a North American close relat ...

northern pike The northern pike (''Esox lucius'') is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus ''Esox'' (the pikes). They are typical of brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (''i.e.'' holarctic in distribution). They are known simply as a p ...

, and

sauger The sauger (''Sander canadensis'') is a freshwater perciform fish of the family Percidae that resembles its close relative, the walleye. The species is a member of the largest vertebrate order, the Perciformes.Jaeger, Matthew. 2004. Montana's ...

. Fishers sometimes catch lake trout and brook trout, but these species are more marginal because this vast body of water is the ideal reference point for pike, which is very fond of small fish.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which i ...

present in the region include the

American black duck The American black duck (''Anas rubripes'') is a large dabbling duck in the family Anatidae. It was described by William Brewster in 1902. It is the heaviest species in the genus ''Anas'', weighing on average and measuring in length with an ...

(''Anas rubripes''), mallard (''Anas platyrhynchos''),

green-winged teal The green-winged teal (''Anas carolinensis'') is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered conspecific with the Eurasian teal (''A. crecca'') for some time, ...

(''Anas crecca''),

ring-necked duck The ring-necked duck (''Aythya collaris'') is a diving duck from North America commonly found in freshwater ponds and lakes. The scientific name is derived from Greek , an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Arist ...

(''Aythya collaris''),

common merganser The common merganser (North American) or goosander (Eurasian) (''Mergus merganser'') is a large seaduck of rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, Asia, and North America. The common merganser eats mainly fish. It nests in holes in trees. ...

(''Mergus merganser''),

hooded merganser The hooded merganser (''Lophodytes cucullatus'') is a species of merganser. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Lophodytes''. The genus name derives from the Greek language: ''lophos'' meaning 'crest', and ''dutes'' meaning 'diver'. The ...

(''Lophodytes cucullatus''),

common goldeneye The common goldeneye or simply goldeneye (''Bucephala clangula'') is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus ''Bucephala'', the goldeneyes. Its closest relative is the similar Barrow's goldeneye. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek ...

(''Bucephala clangula''), bufflehead (''Bucephala albeola''),

common loon The common loon or great northern diver (''Gavia immer'') is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. Breeding adults have a plumage that includes a broad black head and neck with a greenish, purplish, or bluish sheen, blackish ...

(''Gavia immer''), Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'').

Mammals

The main mammals in Haute-Mauricie are: moose, white-tailed deer, bears, hares, red foxes, muskrats, skunks and raccoons. The fishermen are required to comply with the regulations, especially when the number of catch. Depending on the season, hunting is also regulated by territory, type of game and type of weapon.

Gouin Reservoir Community Wildlife Area

The "Gouin Reservoir Community Wildlife Area" works to preserve the diversity of wildlife, improve the quality of fishing and protect it. In its role of surveillance of the territory, this non-profit organization collaborates with the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) to maintain a good management of the fish resource.Gouin Community Wildlife Area
/ref>

References

External links

* {{Authority control Lakes of Mauricie Reservoirs in Quebec Hydro-Québec Tourist attractions in Mauricie Landforms of La Tuque, Quebec Hydrological system of Saint-Maurice