Pipmuacan Reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Pipmuacan Reservoir is a man-made lake on the boundary of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord
regions of Quebec, Canada, about 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) north of Chicoutimi. It is used to control the flow for downstream hydro-electric generating stations on the Betsiamites River
and, through Lake Pamouscachiou, also on the Shipshaw River. It has a total surface area of 978 square kilometres (377.6 sq mi) and a net area (water only) of 802 square kilometres (309.7 sq mi).
The reservoir is shaped highly irregularly, with many deep bays, dotted with islands in its western section, and characterized by a large rounded peninsula in the centre. Primary tributaries are the Betsiamites, Sylvestre, Hirondelles, and Pipmuacan Rivers.
The reservoir is named after Lake Pipmuacan that was flooded during the formation of the reservoir. The name is of Innu
origin, that may mean "arrow". The Geographic Board reported in 1960 that "according to the missionaries of the Côte-Nord, the Innu
had given this name to the lake in remembrance of their last fight with the Iroquois
on Mount Pigmaugan (Pipmuacan) that overlooks the water." Other spelling variations before standardization include Pipmuakan, Pipmaugan, and Pipmakan.
The sport fish found in Pipmuacan Reservoir are northern pike
, lake trout
, brook trout
, speckled trout
, and lake whitefish
. Outfitter
s provide fishing excursions and accommodations at the reservoir.
began construction on the dams and power plant of Bersimis-1
. The first dam, 674 m (2,211.3 ft) long and 74 m (242.8 ft) high, was built between two mountains surrounding Lake Cassé, and the second, 315 m (1,033.5 ft) long, curtailed the release of water into the Desroches River. The reservoir's spillway was cut through a mountain between the two dams. By 1956, the construction work was completed.
In 2002, Hydro-Québec diverted part of the Portneuf River to the north into the Pipmuacan Reservoir to increase the capacity of the Bersimis power stations. The partial diversion of the Sault aux Cochons River is being studied to further optimize the operation of the existing stations.
Côte-Nord
Côte-Nord is the second largest administrative region by land area in Quebec, Canada, after Nord-du-Québec...
regions of Quebec, Canada, about 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) north of Chicoutimi. It is used to control the flow for downstream hydro-electric generating stations on the Betsiamites River
Betsiamites River
The Betsiamites is a river of Côte-Nord, Quebec, Canada, which joins the Saint Lawrence River.The Pipmuacan Reservoir, impounded by the Bersimis-1 Dam, is roughly halfway down its course.-Hydro-electric facilities:...
and, through Lake Pamouscachiou, also on the Shipshaw River. It has a total surface area of 978 square kilometres (377.6 sq mi) and a net area (water only) of 802 square kilometres (309.7 sq mi).
The reservoir is shaped highly irregularly, with many deep bays, dotted with islands in its western section, and characterized by a large rounded peninsula in the centre. Primary tributaries are the Betsiamites, Sylvestre, Hirondelles, and Pipmuacan Rivers.
The reservoir is named after Lake Pipmuacan that was flooded during the formation of the reservoir. The name is of Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
origin, that may mean "arrow". The Geographic Board reported in 1960 that "according to the missionaries of the Côte-Nord, the Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
had given this name to the lake in remembrance of their last fight with the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
on Mount Pigmaugan (Pipmuacan) that overlooks the water." Other spelling variations before standardization include Pipmuakan, Pipmaugan, and Pipmakan.
The sport fish found in Pipmuacan Reservoir are northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, lake trout
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
, brook trout
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
, speckled trout
Speckled Trout
Speckled trout may refer to:* Brook trout , a freshwater fish in the Salmonidae family* Spotted seatrout , a coastal saltwater or brackish water fish in the Sciaenidae family...
, and lake whitefish
Lake whitefish
The lake whitefish , also called the Sault whitefish or gizzard fish, is a species of freshwater whitefish from North America. Lake whitefish are found throughout much of Canada and parts of the northern United States, including all of the Great Lakes. A valuable commercial fish, they are also...
. Outfitter
Outfitter
An outfitter is a shop or person that sells men's clothes . More specifically, it is a company or individual who provides or deals in equipment and supplies for the pursuit of certain activities. The term is most closely associated with outdoor activities such as rafting, hunting, fishing,...
s provide fishing excursions and accommodations at the reservoir.
History
The Pipmuacan Reservoir was formed in October 1953 when Hydro-QuébecHydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
began construction on the dams and power plant of Bersimis-1
Bersimis-1 generating station
The Bersimis-1 generating station is a dam and a hydroelectric power station built by Hydro-Québec on the Betsiamites River, in Lac-au-Brochet, north of the town of Forestville, Quebec...
. The first dam, 674 m (2,211.3 ft) long and 74 m (242.8 ft) high, was built between two mountains surrounding Lake Cassé, and the second, 315 m (1,033.5 ft) long, curtailed the release of water into the Desroches River. The reservoir's spillway was cut through a mountain between the two dams. By 1956, the construction work was completed.
In 2002, Hydro-Québec diverted part of the Portneuf River to the north into the Pipmuacan Reservoir to increase the capacity of the Bersimis power stations. The partial diversion of the Sault aux Cochons River is being studied to further optimize the operation of the existing stations.
External Links
- "Giant of the North" Popular Mechanics, December 1943, article on the crash program to create the Shipshaw hydroelectric project