Kapuskasing River

Last updated
Kapuskasing River
Rivière de Kapuskasing
Kapuskasing 2009-07.JPG
Kapuskasing River in the town of Kapuskasing
Canada Ontario relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of the mouth of the Kapuskasing River in Ontario
Location
Country Canada
Ontario Ontario
Region Northeastern Ontario
Districts
Physical characteristics
Source Kapuskasing Lake
  locationKapuskasing Township, Algoma District
  coordinates 48°31′01″N82°53′51″W / 48.51694°N 82.89750°W / 48.51694; -82.89750
  elevation312 m (1,024 ft)
Mouth Mattagami River
  location
Clay Township, Cochrane District
  coordinates
49°48′31″N82°00′10″W / 49.80861°N 82.00278°W / 49.80861; -82.00278 Coordinates: 49°48′31″N82°00′10″W / 49.80861°N 82.00278°W / 49.80861; -82.00278
  elevation
195 m (640 ft)
Basin features
River system James Bay drainage basin
Tributaries 
  left Lost River, Dunrankin River
  right Remi River, Saganash River, Nemegosenda River

The Kapuskasing River is a river in the James Bay drainage basin in Cochrane District and Algoma District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. [1] [2] The river is a left tributary of the Mattagami River.

Contents

Course

The river begins at Kapuskasing Lake in geographic Kapuskasing Township, Algoma District, [3] near the railway point of Elsas, on the Canadian National Railway transcontinental main line and the location of Elsas railway station served by Via Rail Canadian trains. [2] It flows northeast under the mainline, takes in the right tributary Nemegosenda River, passes over the Jackpine Rapids (bypassed by the Jackpine Portage), the Loon Rapids, the Buchan Falls and the Clouston Rapids, and takes in the right tributary Dunrankin River. It heads north over the Cedar Rapids, heads over the Woman Falls and Old Woman Falls, and passes from geographic Shanly Township, Algoma District [4] into geographic Cargill Township in Cochrane District. [5]

The Kapuskasing River continues northeast over the White Otter Falls, the Bakatase Falls, the Camp Three Rapids and the Big Beaver Falls, takes in the right tributary Saganash River and reaches the town of Kapuskasing, where it is crossed by Ontario Highway 11 and the Ontario Northland Railway line (formerly Canadian National Railway, originally the National Transcontinental Railway). It passes over a hydro dam, the Spruce Falls, takes in the left tributary Lost River and right tributary Remi River, and reaches its mouth at the Mattagami River in geographic Clay Township, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of the community of Fraserdale. The Mattagami River flows via the Moose River to James Bay.

Tributaries

  • Tucker Creek (right)
  • Torrance Creek (right)
  • Hopkins Creek (left)
  • Remi River (right)
  • Lily Creek (right)
  • Lost River (left)
  • O'Brien Creek (right)
  • Teetzel Creek (left)
  • Gough Creek (right)
  • Saganash River (right)
  • Big Beaver Creek (left)
  • Alder Creek (right)
  • Pinette Creek (right)
  • Shanly Creek (right)
  • Graveyard Creek (left)
  • Moss Creek (left)
  • Oscar Creek (left)
  • Allenby Creek (right)
  • Wigwam Creek (left)
  • MacIntosh Creek (right)
  • Dunrankin River (left)
  • Nemegosenda River (right)
  • Kapuskasing Lake
    • Chapleau River

Recreation

The Kapuskasing River Walleye Tournament, part of the Northern Ontario Walleye Trail (NOWT), is held annually on the river on a 40-kilometre (25 mi) stretch of the river from its mouth upstream. [6] More than 20,000 pounds of wild rice was restored in the Kapuskasing River.

Economy

Hydroelectric generating stations with a combined capacity of 22 MW were proposed at four sites south of the town of Kapuskasing: Big Beaver Falls, Camp Three Rapids, White Otter Falls and Old Woman Falls. Each site features would have had an identical arrangement: location on the left bank of the river; two 2-metre (6 ft 7 in) diameter and 45-metre (148 ft) long inflatable diversion floodgates in the river; excavated approach channels and tail races; twin intakes, penstocks and identical 2.75 MW bulb turbines. The sites were expected to be in operation by 2012, but FIT Contracts were terminated in 2015.[ needs update ] [7]

In addition, hydroelectric generating stations with a combined capacity of 19.45 MW were proposed for four sites on the river between its source and to the south of the town of Kapuskasing. [8]

Update: Actions taken by the Ontario Rivers Alliance and its members led to the termination of 19 Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) Contracts. Four sets of rapids on the Kapuskasing River were protected from development. 10 Ontario rivers were protected in all: Matawin, Vermilion, Petawawa, Wanapitei, Blanche, Ivanhoe, Frederick House, Kapuskasing, Larder, and Serpent Rivers. [9]

See also

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The Groundhog River is a river in Cochrane District and Sudbury District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The river is in the James Bay drainage basin and is a left tributary of the Mattagami River.

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Kapuskasing Lake is a lake in Algoma District and Sudbury District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin and is the source of the Kapuskasing River. The majority of the lake is in geographic Kapuskasing Township, Algoma District, with just the southern tip in geographic Sherlock Township, Sudbury District.

The Chapleau River is a river in Algoma District and Sudbury District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, begins at Chapleau Lake and is the main tributary of Kapuskasing Lake.

Agate is an unincorporated place and railway point in geographic Kapuskasing Township, in the Unorganized North part of Algoma District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is on the Canadian National Railway transcontinental railway main line between the railway points of Dunrankin to the west and Elsas to the east, has a passing track, and is passed but not served by Via Rail transcontinental Canadian trains. The place is just northwest of Kapuskasing Lake, the source of the Kapuskasing River.

The Dunrankin River is a river in Algoma District and Sudbury District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, begins at Upper Dunrankin Lake and is a left tributary of the Kapuskasing River.

The East Dunrankin River is a river in Algoma District and Sudbury District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, and is a right tributary of the Dunrankin River.

The Kirkwall River is a river in Algoma District and Sudbury District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, and is a right tributary of the Dunrankin River.

The Nemegosenda River is a river in Algoma District and Sudbury District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, and is a right tributary of the Kapuskasing River.

The Borden River is a river in Sudbury District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, and is a left tributary of the Nemegosenda River.

The Saganash River is a river in Cochrane District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, and is a right tributary of the Kapuskasing River.

The Little Saganash River is a river in Cochrane District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin, and is a right tributary of the Saganash River.

Haggart Creek is a creek in geographic Haggart Township, Cochrane District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin and is a right tributary of the Poplar Rapids River.

The Poplar Rapids River is a river in the municipality of Fauquier-Strickland and Unorganized North Cochrane District, Cochrane District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the James Bay drainage basin and is a left tributary of the Mattagami River.

References

  1. "Kapuskasing River". Geographical Names Data Base . Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  2. 1 2 "Kapuskasing River". Atlas of Canada . Natural Resources Canada. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2011-08-21. Shows the river course.
  3. "Kapuskasing" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  4. "Shanly" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry . Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  5. "Cargill" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry . Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  6. "Home page". Kapuskasing River Walleye Tournament. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  7. "01 Accueil" [01 Welcome]. Kapuskasing North Waterpower Project (in French). Hydromega services. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  8. "Kapuskasing River:Middle Twp. Buchan, Lapinigam Rapids, Near North Boundary, Outlet Kapuskasing Lake". Xeneca Power Development. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  9. 10 Ontario Rivers Protected from 19 Hydroelectric Projects, http://www.ontarioriversalliance.ca/10-ontario-rivers-protected-19-hydroelectric-projects/

Other map sources:

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Kapuskasing River at Wikimedia Commons