Ashuapmushuan River

Ashuapmushuan River
Michel Falls at Saint-Félicien
Ashuapmushuan River basin map
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 / 49.23056°N 73.75417°W / 49.23056; -73.75417
• 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 / 48.61750°N 72.33333°W / 48.61750; -72.33333
• elevation	100 m (330 ft)
Length	181 km (112 mi)[1]
Basin size	15,746 km2 (6,080 sq mi)[1]
Discharge
• location	Chute aux Saumons[2]
• average	298 m3/s (10,500 cu ft/s)[2]
• 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	(Upstream) rivière à la Loutre Petite rivière aux Saumons discharge of Perron lake Moncou Creek discharge of a set of lake rivière aux Brochets discharge of a set of lakes such as Porc-Épic lake Desaultels Creek rivière Du Chef Mazarin River discharge of some lakes such as Rougear and Perineau La Loche River.
• right	(Upstream) rivière à l'Ours Petite rivière Eusèbe rivière aux Saumons Pémonca River rivière du Cran discharge of Lac du Cran discharge of Lac de la Savane Chigoubiche River Kanishushteu River discharge of a set of lakes such as Lac du Carvi and lake Lantenay discharge of lakes Drôle, Grillon and en Dentelle discharge of a set of lakes such as Birau, Lerner and Soyer discharge of lakes Morange and Pigeau discharge of lake Camille discharge of lake Siligny discharge of lakes Angely and Dutiné discharge of lake Lévesque.

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.^[3]

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).^[2]

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.^[1]