| Broadback River | |
| Map: | Broadback map.png |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Quebec |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Jamésie |
| Length: | 450km (280miles)[1] |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 350m3/s |
| Source1: | Lac Frotet |
| Source1 Location: | 95 km north of Chibougamau, Nord-du-Québec |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 50.7667°N -74.6556°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 380m (1,250feet) |
| Mouth: | Rupert Bay off James Bay |
| Mouth Location: | 17 km south of Waskaganish, Nord-du-Québec |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 51.3556°N -78.8667°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
| Basin Size: | 20800km2 |
The Broadback River (French: Rivière Broadback) (In Cree: Chistamiskau Sipi) is a river in northern Quebec, Canada. It drains into Rupert Bay (a smaller bay at the south end of James Bay), just south of the Rupert River and Cree community Waskaganish. The major lake on the river's course is Lake Evans.
The river is a popular canoe-tripping destination.[2]
The hydrographic basins adjacent to the Broadback River are:
The Broadback River originates at Frotet Lake, located west of grand Mistassini Lake. From the mouth of Frotet Lake (located north of the lake), this river winds the Jamésie on 451 kilometers to finally reach the Rupert Bay close to the mouth of the Nottaway River.
In its course, the river crosses several lakes, including: Troilus Lake, Quenonisca Lake, Evans Lake (the largest) and Giffard Lake. It flows between the Rupert River rivers to the north and the Nottaway River to the south.
At the end of the route, the river crosses marsh areas for to the west.
The Broadback, together with the Nottaway and Rupert rivers, was initially considered to be dammed and diverted as part of the James Bay Project. However, in 1972 hydro-electric development began on the more northerly La Grande and Eastmain Rivers, and the NBR Project was shelved. With the decision to divert the Rupert River to the La Grande, it is not likely that the Broadback will be developed in the foreseeable future.
Since the Broadback River flows relatively close to the northern edge of its basin, most of its major tributaries are left tributaries. Major tributaries in downstream order include:
Tributaries above Lake Evans:
Tributaries below Lake Evans: