Adopt a river – Rivière du Petit Mécatina

River of Petit Mécatina

Photo credit: Serge Théorêt

Adopt the Petit Mécatina river to:

Your contribution allows our team to continue to protect Quebec's rivers.

The Petit Mécatina river is nothing small: it’s a big challenge. Steep mountains, falls, potholes and dizzying canyons follow one another to the rhythm of class IV and V rapids, some of which are impassable. Little known because it is extremely difficult to access, this gigantic river on the North Shore flows about 200 km beyond the end of Route 138, between Tête-à-la-Baleine and Aylmer Sound. The Petit Mécatina River has until now been preserved from industrial activities, making it one of the last great wild rivers in Quebec… for how long?

Do you know the Petit Mécatina river?

Name :

Innu name: Mécatina comes from Makatinau (“it’s a big mountain”). Nataukamiu Hipu is used to describe the river as a whole (“river of broken waters”). In Naskapi, the language of an indigenous people of Quebec and Labrador, it is rather Kuekuatsheunekap Shipu (“wolverine river”).

Length

More than 545 km

Source

Labrador Plateau

Average flow

465 m3/s at hydrometric station 075705

Watershed ⓘ

19,630 km2

Region

North Coast

Photo credit: Christian Hudon

The grand canyon of Quebec!

The Petit Mécatina River flows through the heart of a 15 km canyon that is “very dangerous, even impassable” according to a report from an overview carried out by Parks Canada in 1972. Few have ventured there, but those who have admired it or who have paddled some of its sections testify to a breathtaking panorama, an impressive flow… and an experience far from easy. In 1977, the first canoeists to have traveled the Petit Mécatina from one end to the other designate the required portage of infernal! Thanks to this group, a survey of the rapids in this canyon now allows thrill seekers to better know what they are getting into...

Traditional Innu burial site

On the right bank of the Petit Mécatina River, south of the mouth of the Mongeaux River which flows into it, is Nakashkuana Kaiakuteti, which in Innu means “where there were graves”. Nakashkuana Kaiakuteti is in fact a traditional burial place for the Innu of Unamen Shipu, according to the Quebec Toponymy Commission.

Photo credit: Serge Théorêt

What are the environmental issues?

River harnessing - Hydroelectric dam construction

In April 2023, Hydro-Québec announced it was carrying out preliminary studies on the hydroelectric potential of the Petit Mécatina River. This announcement comes in a context where the Legault government considers that it is necessary to build new dams to increase electricity production at the rate of “half Hydro-Québec” to meet the projected needs resulting from Quebec's energy transition. Hydro-Québec recently sided with the government stating that new power plants were needed even if many experts say the opposite.

Hydro-Québec's ambitions to harness a river like the Petit Mécatina are not new. In his strategic plans 2004-2008 and 2006-2010, Hydro-Québec mentioned that a large project of 1,500 MW could be carried out on this river. THE 2009-2013 plan instead reports a potential of 1,200 MW thanks to two power plants (Petit-Mécatina-3 and Petit-Mécatina-4). The state company mentioned starting pre-project studies to determine the final configuration, characteristics as well as the cost of the developments and to carry out an assessment of the environmental impacts. The latest 2022-2026 plan does not provide for any construction of new dams before 2050.

How many hydroelectric dams in Quebec?

On the data found on the website from Hydro Quebec, There is 681 dams and 61 hydroelectric power stations in Quebec.

Fondation Rivières reacted to the announcement of preliminary studies on the hydroelectric potential of the Petit Mécatina river by Hydro-Québec, encouraging Hydro-Québec to explore other avenues, such as wind power, and the optimization of its existing power stations. and energy efficiency.

Following the release of the documentary After the Roman, Fondation Rivières and collaborators united to encourage the government to achieve the energy transition while respecting the last wild rivers, including the Petit Mécatina.

Can you swim in the Petit Mécatina river?

The Petit Mécatina River, like the Magpie River, is a wild river, far from cities and their sewer networks. The risk of contaminationE.coli is tiny, despite the presence of certain birds.

Help us by adopting the Petit Mécatina river

The Fondation Rivières is mobilizing on this river to:

Donate and join an important mobilization movement!

Charity receipt

Fondation Rivières issues tax-deductible donation receipts, regardless of the amount. A receipt will be sent to you by email at the beginning of the year following the year of your adoption.