Ashuapmushuan River
The Ashuapmushuan River is a river in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of the Canadian provinces of Quebec. It starts at the outlet of Lake Ashuapmushuan, and flows first in a north-easterly direction for about 30 kilometres (19 mi) whereafter it continues south-east to Saint-Félicien. There it drains into Lac Saint-Jean of which it is the third largest tributary after the Peribonka and Mistassini Rivers. The river is 181 kilometres (112 mi) long but its source is 266 kilometres (165 mi) from its mouth.
| Ashuapmushuan River | |
|---|---|
Michel Falls at Saint-Félicien | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Ashuapmushuan |
| • location | Lac-Ashuapmushuan Unorg. Terr. |
| • coordinates | 49°13′50″N 73°45′15″W |
| • elevation | 360 m (1,180 ft) |
| Mouth | Lac Saint-Jean |
• location | Pointe-Saint-Méthode (Saint-Félicien) |
• coordinates | 48°37′03″N 72°20′00″W |
• elevation | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Length | 181 km (112 mi) |
| Basin size | 15,746 km2 (6,080 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Chute aux Saumons |
| • average | 298 m3/s (10,500 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 75 m3/s (2,600 cu ft/s)March |
| • maximum | 1,050 m3/s (37,000 cu ft/s)May |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left |
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| • right |
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Typical median summer flow is between 200 and 300 cubic metres per second (7,100 and 10,600 cu ft/s), whereas during spring run-off, the median flow is 1,050 cubic metres per second (37,000 cu ft/s), but the river could swell anywhere from 400 to 2,400 cubic metres per second (14,000 to 85,000 cu ft/s). Lowest flow conditions occur in March with a median flow of 75 cubic metres per second (2,600 cu ft/s) and a minimum of 54 cubic metres per second (1,900 cu ft/s) to a maximum of 120 cubic metres per second (4,200 cu ft/s).
The Ashuapmushuan River forms the northern boundary of the Ashuapmushuan Wildlife Reserve for most of its length. As a wild undeveloped river, and accessible from Quebec Route 167 close to Lake Ashuapmushuan, it is a popular destination for canoe camping.
A new 276.6-square-kilometre (106.8 sq mi) aquatic reserve is being considered that would protect 126 kilometres (78 mi) of the Ashuapmushuan River, including its floodplain and valley slopes. The reserve prohibits logging, mining, and hydro-electric development, while protecting critical landlocked salmon habitats, biodiversity, and sites of archaeological interest.