Madawaska River (Ontario)

This article is about the Madawaska River in Ontario. For other rivers named Madawaska, see Madawaska River (disambiguation).

The Madawaska River is a tributary of the Ottawa River in the St. Lawrence River drainage basin in Ontario, Canada.^[1][2] The river is 230 km (143 mi) long and drains an area of 8,470 km² (3,270 sq mi).^[3] Its name comes from an Algonquian band of the region known as "Matouweskarini", meaning "people of the shallows".

Madawaska River
Upper Madawaska River at Whitney
Location of the mouth of the Madawaska River in southern Ontario
Etymology	From name of Algonquian band "Matouweskarini" meaning "people of the shallows"
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Regions	Eastern Ontario Central Ontario Northeastern Ontario
County/District	Renfrew County Nipissing District
Physical characteristics
Source	Source Lake
• location	Canisbay Township, Unorganized South Part, Nipissing District
• coordinates	45°33′52″N 78°37′56″W
• elevation	450 m (1,480 ft)
Mouth	Ottawa River
• location	Arnprior, Renfrew County
• coordinates	45°26′35″N 76°20′56″W
• elevation	70 m (230 ft)
Length	230 km (140 mi)
Basin size	8,470 km2 (3,270 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	85 m3/s (3,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Ottawa River→ St. Lawrence River→ Gulf of St. Lawrence
River system	Ottawa River drainage basin
Tributaries
• left	Opeongo River
• right	York River

Geography

The Madawaska River rises at Source Lake in geographic Canisbay Township in the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District, in the highlands of southern Algonquin Park.^[2] It flows east, dropping 380 m (1,247 ft) before emptying into the Ottawa River at Arnprior.

Tributaries

• Opeongo River
• York River

Lakes and reservoirs

The lower portion of the Madawaska River supports several large lakes, including:

• Centennial Lake
• Black Donald Lake
• Calabogie Lake
• Madawaska Reservoir (Arnprior Head Pond)
• Kamaniskeg Lake

History

In the late 19th century, the river was used to transport logs from the forested areas surrounding the river. Beginning in the 1960s, the river was used to generate hydroelectric power. Undammed sections of the river are also used for canoeing, kayaking and recreational fishing.

Tom Thomson, The Drive, Winter 1916-17. University of Guelph Collection, Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph

Around 1916, artist Tom Thomson followed the log drive down the river, painting the subject in The Drive (1916-17).^[4]

Fauna

The most common species of game fish found in this river include walleye (yellow pickerel), northern pike, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass.^[5]

Hydroelectric Power

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has 5 stations on the Madawaska.^[6]

OPG Madawaska Stations

Station	Year	Capacity	Units
Mountain Chute	1967	170 MW	2
Barrett Chute	1942	176 MW	4
Calabogie	1917	5 MW	2
Stewartville	1948	182 MW	5
Arnprior	1976	82 MW	2

In June 2002 sluice gates at the Barrett Chute Generating Station were accidentally opened, killing two people, and injuring seven. OPG and two employees were charged with criminal negligence. Procedures at the plant were reviewed, and fencing added or repaired.^[7]

The Calabogie station is being upgraded in 2022 to double capacity from 5 MW to 10 MW.^[8] The original station was badly damaged by a tornado in September 2018. Clean up was completed in 2020. The project is expected to cost 100 million dollars. ^[9]

Provincial parks

Two sections of the river are designated and protected as provincial waterway parks:

• Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park, between Whitney and Madawaska; 10.85 km² (4.19 sq mi).^[10]
• Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park, between Latchford Bridge and Griffith; 12 km² (5 sq mi).^[11]

Both parks are administered by Ontario Parks but are non-operating, meaning there are no visitor facilities or services available. Both are ideal for whitewater canoeing.

See also

• Bonnechere River - nearby river with similar characteristics
• List of Ontario rivers