From Laniel, the 16-km long Kipawa River flows down from Lake Kipawa to Lake Temiscaming on the upper Ottawa River in north-western Québec. It is both beautiful and virtually pristine, with many sets of rapids, and a 90-foot waterfall, in an area which is steeped in history and rich natural heritage. Its mixed-wood forested banks are beautiful, particularly on the lower half where stands of big red and white pine tower over the shoreline cedars.
This is the traditional territory of the Algonquin First Nations. Early explorers and fur traders camped at the mouth of the Kipawa River as far back as the 1690s. Its colourful modern history grew out of the virgin timber logging operations of the latter half of the 19th century when lumbermen drove their logs down to the markets in the south.
The first exploratory whitewater paddling on the Kipawa was done in 1971 by Jose Mediavilla and Joseph Jacob, both from Rouyn. The rapids, once a barrier to exploration and public use, have become an attraction. Now, the Kipawa River Rally is held every year, introducing hundreds of paddlers from Quebec, Ontario and parts of the U.S. to the Kipawa River.
In July 2000, Federal Trail Project Funding was secured to upgrade and develop new portions of the 7-km, Kipawa River Trail. The Trail exemplifies positive development and natural resource usage that is possible for the Kipawa River. The river has been very popular with paddlers since 1970, and its recreational value is growing. Today – the Kipawa River is also used by commercial white water outfitters and has the full potential to be one of the cornerstones of a regional tourism development strategy that could provide economic benefits for area communities far into the future.
The Kipawa River, while short, is particularly valuable and should be protected and developed for its tourism and recreation potential. The Kipawa River marks the northern end of a particularly beautiful natural area. The town of Temiscaming Sud marks the southern end. The area is forested and undeveloped. The shoreline of Lake Temiscaming along this stretch is incredibly beautiful, rugged and historic, with towering cliffs.
With the exception of one spot where the Kipawa winds out close to Hwy. 101 past a small cottage north of Laniel, and one logging access bridge, there is no development, no other cottages, and no buildings on the Kipawa River’s entire 16 km length. Paddlers commonly see loons, ducks, and osprey along the river, which is an indication of the good health of the aquatic ecosystem. Moose, bear, and deer are also occasionally spotted.
Locals say the Kipawa River used to have a brook trout population. The mouth of the Kipawa River remains one of the most popular sport fishing locations on Lake Temiscaming. Fishers come from 60 km up and down the lake to fish there. The area around the mouth of the Kipawa River is one of the best and few locations on Lake Temiscaming where lake trout can be caught.
The Tabaret project is a proposal to dig a completely new outflow from Lake Kipawa, build a 132 mw generating station and feed it by diverting the 16-km section of the Kipawa River from its natural streambed. If this project goes ahead, the Kipawa River as it has been known, and as it has been for the past 12,000 years, will be eliminated.
Hydro-Québec is studying the feasibility of building a new hydropower plant, presumptuously referring to Lac Kipawa as a “reservoir” located in the Temiscaming region. Lake Kipawa covers a surface area of 284 km². The proposed generating station would be located some 40 km northwest of Temiscaming Sud, between the two existing outlets the Kipawa river (Laniel dam) and Gordon Brook (Kipawa dam). Those dams were built between 1909 and 1911 to control flooding along the Ottawa River but releases have sufficiently mimicked natural patterns to maintain a functional riverine ecosystem.
The Kipawa is the only natural outflow from Lake Kipawa while the 14-km Gordon Brook outlet runs through an urban landscape (4,000 inhabitants), the later portion running through an artificial channel with industrial and residential water intakes located on the brook.
Les Amis de la Riviere Kipawa has stepped in, as advocate, to speak for the Kipawa River. Registered as non-profit, based in Temiscaming, it was founded in 1998 in response to Tabaret. It serves to co-ordinate strategic responses from the paddling community, and other marginalized groups, to Tabaret. It is an affiliation of provincial federations and local and regional paddling clubs in Quebec and Ontario, including Federation Quebecois Canot/Kayak, the Federation Quebecois Canot/Kayak D’Eau Vive, the Ontario Wild Water Affiliation, H2ORadical (the Temiscaming Kayak Club), the Sudbury Canoe Club, etc.
Peter Karwacki
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Website: www.kipawariver.ca