Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux) Explained
Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux), Teyaiar River (Huron Wendat), rivière Sainte-Anne (French), flows from north to south on the north shore in the estuary section of the St. Lawrence River, in Les Chenaux, Portneuf and La Jacques-Cartier RCM, Mauricie and National Capital regions, Quebec, Canada.[2] [3]
Toponymy
The Sainte-Anne River has its source in the Laurentides Wildlife reserve, in Lake Sainte-Anne. The river, approximately 120 km long, flows from north to south, crossing the municipalities of Saint-Alban and Saint-Casimir to end its course at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, on the north shore of the estuarine section. of the St. Lawrence River.[4]
1894 Landslide
In terms of surface area, the 1894 landslide in Saint-Alban would be the largest in the known history of Quebec.[5]
During the night of April 27 to 28, 25 km from the mouth of the Sainte-Anne River, in Saint-Alban, 600 ha of soil slid into the bed of the Noire River, the large quantity of displaced soil modified the geography of several secondary watercourses which feed the Sainte-Anne River. The moving sediments block the channel of the Charest River and change the course of the Gendron stream. At 4 km upstream from Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, soil begins to be deposited, creating silting, islands, islets, channels, up to the mouth of the river in the St. Lawrence River.
The landslide of 1894 killed 4 people, upset 8 properties, uprooted bridges and docks, slowed down the transport of wood by floating, affected sawmills and put an end to commercial navigation upstream of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade.
The landslide eroded the banks of the Saint-Anne River, caused numerous secondary landslides and carried earth, sand and gravel. This geological movement modify the watercourses over nearly 25 km. The Sainte-Anne becomes wider and shallower, this new hydrography creates an exceptional aquatic environment for the reproduction of the Tommy cod. Until April 1894, the Sainte-Anne River was a salmon river.[6]
Geography
In Portneuf RCM, the Sainte-Anne River region has an area of approximately 185 km2 (110 square miles). In the North/South axis, the territory goes from Saint-Alban to the St. Lawrence River. From East to West, it stretches between longitudes 72° and 72°15'.
Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, Saint-Alban, Saint-Casimir, Grondines and Saint-Thuribe are the main municipalities of Portneuf RCM bathed by the Sainte-Anne River. The mouth of the river, at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, is part of Les Chenaux RCM.[7] [8]
Water Quality
The population of the Sainte-Anne River watershed is very concerned about its aquatic ecosystem. On the main course, due to the high water flow, the water quality is good or satisfactory.
In the northern part, sparsely populated and largely dominated by forest, the water of the river and its tributaries is of very good quality.
In St. Lawrence Lowlands, the southern part of the watershed is used for agricultural purposes and is more densely populated, the waters are of poor quality. Agricultural activities are responsible for a large part of the phosphorus loads measured in the sub-basins of the Blanche, Charest, Niagarette rivers and the Gendron Creek.
Drainage Basin
The 2,717.47 km² of the territory of the Sainte-Anne River drainage basin, and its sub-drainage-basin, include the Tourilli, Chézine, Talayarde, Bras-du-Nord and Jacquot rivers to the north and the Noire, Niagarette and Charest to the south. We must add the Lacoursière and Grimard streams and 204 km² of marshes and natural peat bogs.[9]
The forest environment and its lakes cover 79% of the territory of the Sainte-Anne River region, mainly in the southern Laurentians Mountains. Agricultural and urban environments occupy 21% of the land located in the St. Lawrence Lowlands.[10] It is estimated that there were 17 769 people who lived in the Sainte-Anne basin in 2004-2006. The town of Saint-Raymond alone has half the population of the basin. Four other villages are located on the course of the river, namely Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne, Saint-Alban, Saint-Casimir and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade.
The Sainte-Anne River watershed has a little more than 840 lakes, 758 of which have a surface area greater than one hectare. Mainly located on public land, the sector includes several spaces dedicated to the conservation and development of the territory, including the Parc naturel régional de Portneuf, 10 white-tailed deer containment areas and two Controlled Exploitation Zones (ZEC).
Fauna
Fishing is an activity accessible to everyone in Quebec, it allows the discovery of fish species. It is important to know the rules that govern activity in lakes or rivers, in the wilderness as well as in an urban environment.
Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate publishes a new regulation every two years.[11]
Fish Species Present in Sainte-Anne River
Among the 27 species of fish mentioned in the list below, Cottus ricei Nelson, Cottus bairdii Girard and Margariscus margarita Cope were sampled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife between 2003 and 2006, the others by the Sainte-Anne Development and Protection Corporation (CAPSA), in 2002.[12] [13] [14]
- Alosa sapidissima. —Alose savoureuse. — (American Shad).
- Ambloplites rupestris Rafinesque. — Crapet de roche. — (Rock Bass).
- Ameiurus nebulosus Lesueur. — Barbotte brune. — (Brown catfish, Brown bullhead, Bullhead, Catfish, Common bullhead, Common catfish).
- Catostomus catostomus Forster. — Meunier rouge — (Longnose Sucker).
- Catostomus commersoni Lacepède. — Meunier noir — (White sucker).
- Cottus bairdii Girard. —Chabot tacheté. — (Mottled Sculpin.
- Cottus ricei Nelson. — Chabot à tête plate. — (Spoonhead sculpin).
- Culaea inconstans Kirtland. — Épinoche à cinq épines. — (Brook stickleback)
- Etheostoma flabellare Rafinesque — Dard barré. — (Fantail darter).
- Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesque— Raseux-de-terre noir — (Johnny Darter).
- Fundulus diaphanus Lesueur. — Fondule barré. — (Banded killifish).
- Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus. — Épinoche à trois épines. — (Three-spined stickleback).
- Lampetra lamottei Lesueur. — Lamproie de l'Est — (American Brook Lamprey).
- Lepomis gibbosus Linnaeus. — Crapet soleil, Crapet jaune, Perche-soleil, Montre d’or. — (Pumpkinseed, Pumpkinseed sunfish, Yellow sunfish, Common sunfish, Sun bass).
- Luxilus cornutus Rafinesque — Méné à nageoires rouges — (Common shiner).
- Margariscus margarita Cope. — Mulet perlé. — (Allegheny Pearl Dace).
- Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede. — Achigan à petite bouche. — (Smallmouth bass, Bronzeback, Brown bass, Brownie, Smallie, Bronze bass, and Bareback bass).
- Percina caprodes Rafinesque. — Fouille-roche zébré, Dard-perche. —(Logperch).
- Percopsis omiscomaycus Walbaum. — Omisco — (Trout-perch, Grounder, Sand minnow).
- Petromyzon marinus Linneaus — Lamproie marine — (Sea lamprey).
- Pimephales notatus Rafinesque. — Méné à museau arrondi — (Bluntnose minnow).
- Rhinichthys atratulus Herman. — Naseux noir de l'Est — (Eastern blacknose dace).
- Rhinichthys cataractae Valenciennes. — Naseux des rapides — (Longnose dace).
- Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill. — Omble de fontaine — (Brook trout).
- Semotilus atromaculatus Mitchill. — Mulet à cornes. — (Creek chub).
- Semotilus corporalis Mitchill. — Ouitouche, Poisson blanc, Mulet. — (Fallfish, American Chub, Chivin, Corporal, Dace, Mohawk, Pennsylvania Giant Chub, Rough-nosed Chub, Shining Dace, Silver Chub, Windfish).
- Stizostedion vitreum Mittchill. — Doré jaune. — (Walleye).
Winter visitor, the Atlantic tomcod spawns between mid-December and the end of January mainly up to the Sainte-Anne and Batiscan rivers, in the Estuary of St. Lawrence River.
- Microgadus tomcod Walbaum. — Poulamon atlantique, Petit poisson des chenaux, poulamon, petite morue, loche. — (Atlantic tomcod, Tomcod, Frostfish, Tommycod).[15] [16]
Tommy Cod Fishing
Tommy cod fishing is a traditional activity in the Mauricie region practiced for several centuries, the Iroquois were already fishing for Tommy cod fish in the year 1000 AD.[17] In Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, in 1938, Eugène Mailhot, busy cutting blocks of ice for the family cooler, discovered that fish were spawning in the Sainte-Anne River.[18]
The tourist vocation of small fish fishing developed in the 1940s, when visitors arrived by train to take advantage of this Christmas gift, suppliers transported travelers from the train station to the river in their dog sleds.
Having become a tradition, as soon as the ice permits, in December, the mouth of the Sainte-Anne comes alive to create what will become the world capital of Tommy Cod fishing. During the season, officially from December 26 to February 14, thousands of tourists arrive from all over the world to fish in this fishing village built on the frozen waters of the Sainte-Anne.
The fishing cabins are rented day from 08:00 to 18:00 and night 20:00 to 06:00, they are heated by wood or electricity, a table, benches, chairs, sometimes a couch, a radio and even a television set constitute the furniture.Fishing is done in holes drilled in the floor and in the ice below. Lines suspended above the hole have a weight and two hooks. Raw shrimp or frozen cubes of porc liver serve as bait. Catches are between 150 and 200 fish, per cabin, per rental period.
This temporary village, crisscrossed by a few roads, is lively day and night with outdoor activities, fishing, ice skating, tobogganing, little train rides, snowmobile, restaurants and others.[19]
See Also
External Links
- Quebec Speleology Society 2024, Devil's Hole, details of the adventure course
- Emmanuelle Bouchard-Bastien 2023, Amphibian spaces, power and memory: the fluctuations of the Sainte-Anne River, Laval University, pp. 435 (French)
- Paul Hinse 2012, Inventory of Portneuvois built heritage, Patri-Arch, pp 248 (French)
- Yvon Codère 1992 Archaeological inventory Highway 40-Route Gravel interchange, Pointe-aux-Trembles Ste-Anne River West Road, St-Casimir Rang St-Joseph, St-Thuribe Ministère des Transport Québec, pp 71 (French)
- Portneuf Regional Natural Park 2016, Sainte-Anne River gorges sector, table of hiking trails, Maps, pp 4 (French)
- Ohdio Radio Canada 08-09-2020 Remnants of the log drive increase the risk of flooding in Saint-Raymond on Sainte-Anne River. (French listen)
- Duchesne, Raymond. “1863. William Logan (1798-1875) The Geology of Canada.” In Monuments Intellectuels de La Nouvelle-France et Du Québec Ancien, Les Presses de l’Université Montréal, 2014. (French)
- Municipality of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade 2024, Poulamon Interpretation Center (French)
- Portait, diagnostic et plan d’action des bassins versants des rivières Sainte-Anne, Grimard, et Lacoursière, CAPSA 2012, pp. 3, PDF (French)
- Let's go fishing, map (French)
- When to fish: the fishing season in Quebec, explained and simplified, Quebec outfitters, May 2024 (French)
- Québec Fishing: The Complete Guide, Fishng Booker, April 2024
- Web site: CAPSA: Organisme des bassins versants des rivières Sainte-Anne, Portneuf, La Chevrotière.
- Alain Cloutier, July 1982, Characteristics and dynamics of the stock of Atlantic tomcod Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum) of the Sainte-Anne River, La Pérade, Quebec, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Library service, pp 138
Notes and References
- Web site: Sainte-Anne Lake, Laurentides wildlife reserve, toponymy . Gouvernement of Quebec . Commission de Toponymy Quebec . fr . 5 December 1968 . With a length of approximately 120 km, the Sainte-Anne River has its source in the Laurentides wildlife reserve, more precisely in Lac Sainte-Anne..
- Web site: Sainte-Anne, Teyaiar River, toponymy . Gouvernement of Quebec . Commission de Toponymy Quebec . 20 October 2024 . 5 December 1968 . With a length of approximately 120 km, the Sainte-Anne River has its source in the Laurentides wildlife reserve, more precisely in Lac Sainte-Anne..
- Web site: Serge Hébert . Martine Gélineau . Francine Matte-Savard . Nathalie Milhomme . Serge Poirier . State of the aquatic ecosystem of the Sainte-Anne River watershed 2004-2006 . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks . 20 October 2024 . fr . 4 September 2007 . The southern portion of the watershed, which rests on the St. Lawrence Lowlands, is used for agricultural purposes and is more densely populated..
- Web site: List of rivers in Quebec in alphabetical order . Office of public hearings on the environment: BAPE . 7 November 2024 . 10 . fr . 30 October 2008 . Hydroelectric complex development project on the Romaine River.
- Web site: Emmanuelle Bouchard-Bastien . Amphibian spaces, power and memory: the fluctuations of the Sainte-Anne River . 10 November 2024 . 129, 366 of 435 . fr . 2023 . ... end of commercial navigation in the sector downstream of Saint-Casimir, as recalled by a resident of the “Rapide” sector in Tessier’s collection of memories (1974).
- Web site: Map of 111 salmon rivers in Quebec . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change . 6 November 2024 . fr . 2023 . Salmon rivers located on the North Shore, the Lower North Shore, Gaspésie, Anticosti Island and Ungava Bay.
- Web site: J.-W. Laverdiére, abbe . Sainte-Anne River region, Portneuf County . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests . 3 November 2024 . 16 . fr . 1935 . Two railway lines, the Canadian Pacific and the Canadian National, cross this territory from East to West..
- Web site: J. W. Laverdière, Abbé . Annual report of the Quebec Bureau of Mines . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests . 3 November 2024 . 33 . 1936 . The country in the vicinity of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, and stretching east and west of the Sainte-Anne river, is a clay plain, well suited for agriculture..
- Web site: Jean-François Ricard . Plan zone water director Sainte-Anne, Portneuf and La Chevrotière sector . Corporation d'aménagement et de protection de la rivière Sainte-Anne (CAPSA) . 23 October 2024 . 40 . fr . 28 June 2024 . One of the most important wetlands in the territory is the Chute-Panet peat bog. Of an area of 250 hectares, it constitutes a remarkable ecological site, particularly for its concentration of plants likely to be designated threatened or vulnerable..
- Web site: Yvon Globensky . Geology of the Lowlands of the Saint Lawrence . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources . 9 November 2024 . 72 . fr . 1987 . ... a compilation and update of the mapping work carried out in the St. Lawrence Lowlands over the last thirty years..
- Web site: Fishing in Québec . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks . 22 October 2024 . 5 June 2024 . Land that is not privately-owned belongs to the domain of the State. You may access it freely, except for certain special areas (zecs, wildlife reserves, etc.) where access fees and special rules may apply..
- Web site: CAPSA, Watershed organization for the Sainte-Anne, Portneuf and La Chevrotière rivers . Government of Quebec . 21 October 2024 . 2024 . ... one of the 40 watershed organizations recognized by the Quebec government..
- Web site: Fish species present in the Sainte-Anne River . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks . 20 October 2024 . fr . 2024 . The majority of fish species were sampled by the Sainte-Anne Development and Protection Corporation in 2002..
- Web site: Fish in pictures, Fish species present in the Sainte-Anne River . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks . 20 October 2024 . fr . 2024 . The diversity of fish Fish species present in the Sainte-Anne River.
- Web site: Poulamon atlantique, Atlantic tomcod . Gouvernement of Quebec . Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks . 22 October 2024 . fr . October 2024 . The Atlantic tomcod spawns between mid-December and the end of January. Reproduction takes place in fresh water, under the ice. Spawning takes place on sand or gravel bottoms, at the foot of rapids or in gaps in the frazil ice..
- Web site: Ice fishing in Mauricie: Places to ice fish in winter . Mauricie tourism . 29 October 2024 . fr . ... the fish (tomcod) are always there and in large numbers day and night! Fishing for small fish in the Chenaux is a family event not to be missed in winter, with a host of free activities surrounding fishing such as sliding, the ice rink and tram rides..
- Web site: Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - 2. Iroquoians and Iroquois . Indian and Northern Affairs Canada . 31 October 2024 . 1005 . fr . November 1996 . The Iroquoian peoples encountered at the time of the very first contacts with Europeans were made up of many nations speaking languages of the same family and occupying neighboring territories..
- Web site: Guy-Paul Brouillette (1933-2018) . Association of Outfitters of the Sainte-Anne River Inc. . Inventory of ethnological resources of intangible heritage Quebec . 31 October 2024 . fr . 16 July 2004 . Fishing for small channel fish, also called tomcod, is a traditional activity in the Mauricie region practiced for several centuries by the Iroquois and the inhabitants of the French colony. In Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, it began in February 1938..
- Web site: Pourvoirie des Chenaux de la Pérade . 22 October 2024 . fr . 2024 . Whether you are retirees, snowmobilers, tourists, group of friends, work group, school group or children's party, contact us to tell us about your specific needs and your personalized schedule..