| Mégiscane | |
| Map: | Nottaway map.png |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Quebec |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Nord-du-Québec |
| Length: | 249.6km (155.1miles)[1] |
| Source1: | Françoise Lake (Mégiscane River) |
| Source1 Location: | Senneterre, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 48.1208°N -75.6639°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 470m (1,540feet) |
| Mouth: | Parent Lake (Abitibi), Bell River |
| Mouth Location: | Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality),, Quebec |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 48.4833°N -77.1333°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 301m (988feet) |
The Mégiscane River is a tributary of Parent Lake (Abitibi). It flows in the Northwest of Quebec, in Canada, in the administrative regions of:
in the westernmost part of the town of La Tuque;
in the territory of Senneterre (parish), in Abitibi Regional County Municipality. Its mouth is located in the unorganized territory of Lac-Despinassy, Quebec.
The Mégiscane River is one of the most important rivers in the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. It has the reputation of being a privileged place to fish for sturgeon.
Forestry is the main economic activity of this watershed; recreational tourism activities come second. The surface of the river is generally frozen from mid-December to the end of April.
The Mégiscane River rises at the mouth of Lac Françoise (length: ; elevation:). This lake is located on the east side of Barrot Lake (which is the head lake of the Chênevert River), at:
In its upper part, this river first runs in Senneterre, then in La Tuque, along the northern boundary of the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where it crosses the lakes of Poète, Rivas and Tête. The current of this river then returns in Senneterre and crosses in particular the lakes Pascagama, Canusio, Mégiscane Lake, Berthelot and Faillon. This river ends in Parent Lake not far from Senneterre. In total, it travels with an average flow of 392 m³/s.
Upper Mégiscane River (segment of)
From the mouth of Lake Francoise, the Mégiscane River flows over:
Intermediate course of the Mégiscane River (downstream of Du Poète Lake and upstream from Mégiscane Lake) (segment of)
From the mouth of "Lac du poète" (English: "Lake of the Poet"), the Mégiscane River flows over:
Intermediate course of the Mégiscane River (downstream from Lake Mégiscane) (segment of)
From the mouth of Mégiscane Lake, the Mégiscane River flows over:
Lower Mégiscane River (segment of)From the mouth of Faillon Lake, the Mégiscane River flows over:
The Mégiscane River flows on the east shore of Parent Lake (Abitibi) between two strips of land that extend westward into the lake at:
Its name, like that of the lake, derives from the Algonquin metshishkan or mesiskine and means hook, with reference to its quality as a fishing spot.
An 1898 map of the province of Quebec mentions the "Mekiskan River" to designate this watercourse. A geological map dated 1935 refers rather to the name "Monet River".
The toponym "Mégiscane River" was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.[3]
During the 1940s and 1950s, the Shawinigan Water & Power Company, which held the water power concession of the Saint-Maurice River, conducted several studies to evaluate the potential diversion of rivers to its rivers with hydroelectric plants. After several hesitations, the Government of Quebec authorizes the partial diversion of the Mégiscane to the Saint-Maurice River basin in 1951.
The dam was built in 1954 in the municipality of La Tuque, in Mauricie. A second dam and a canal sometimes serve to partially divert the flow of the river to feed the Gouin reservoir and the hydroelectric dams of the Saint-Maurice River.
This project was carried out in parallel with the installation of additional turbines at the Rapide-Blanc, Trenche and La Tuque. The total cost of the project, which has increased the company's installed capacity of 150000hp, is estimated to $14 million.