Opawica River

Opawica
Watershed of Nottaway River
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Nord-du-Québec
Physical characteristics
Source	Gabriel Lake
• location	Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec
• coordinates	49°40′42″N 74°29′22″W / 49.67833°N 74.48944°W / 49.67833; -74.48944
• elevation	390 m (1,280 ft)
Mouth	Waswanipi River
• location	Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec
• coordinates	49°41′07″N 75°57′49″W / 49.68528°N 75.96361°W / 49.68528; -75.96361
• elevation	280 m (920 ft)
Length	225.1 km (139.9 mi)[1]
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	(upstream) Little Waswanipi River Nicobi River (via Lichen Lake) Margry stream Germain stream La Ronde stream Aigle River (via Doda Lake) Saint-Cyr River (via Doda Lake) Yvonne River (via Surprise Lake) Évrey stream (via Surprise Lake) Roy River (via Caopatina Lake) Cawcot River (via Gabriel Lake) Queue de Castor River (via Gabriel Lake).
• right	(upstream) Dalime stream (via Opawica Lake) Rachel stream (via La Ronde Lake) Paul stream (via Doda Lake) Irène River.

The Opawica River is a tributary of the Waswanipi River, which is a tributary of Matagami Lake which in turn flows into the Nottaway River which flows into the south of James Bay. The Opawica River flows in the municipality of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality), in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in Quebec, the Canada.

Forestry is the main economic activity of the sector. Recreational tourism activities come second, thanks to this large navigable waterway.

The northern and western portions of the Lake Opawica watershed are accessible via the forest road route 113 linking Chibougamau to Lebel-sur-Quévillon. A forest road serving the southern, eastern and northern shores of Opawica and Wachigabau lakes connects via the north to route 113. The western side of the slope is also accessible through the Canadian National Railway passing between these two lakes. The intermediate part of the slope is accessible by the forest road R1051 (coming from the North). The upper part of the river is mostly accessible by the road R1032 (coming from the South).

The surface of the Opawica River is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice movement is generally from mid-November to mid-April.