La Grande River
Encyclopedia
La Grande River is a river in northwestern Quebec
, Canada
, which rises in the highlands of north central Quebec and flows roughly 900 kilometres (559.2 mi) west to drain into James Bay
. It is the second largest river in Quebec, surpassed only by the Saint Lawrence River
.
Originally, the La Grande River drained an area of 97400 square kilometres (37,606.4 sq mi) and had a mean discharge of 1690 m³/s. Since the 1980s when hydroelectric development diverted the Eastmain
and Caniapiscau River
s into the La Grande, its total catchment area has increased to about 175000 square kilometres (67,567.9 sq mi)
, and its mean discharge increased to more than 3400 m³/s. In November 2009, the Rupert River
was also partially diverted, adding another 31430 square kilometres (12,135.2 sq mi) to the basin.
At one time, this river was known as the "Fort George River". The Hudson's Bay Company
operated a trading
post on the river at Big River House from 1803 to 1824. In 1837, a large trading post was established at Fort George on an island at the mouth of the river. In the early 20th century, this trading post became a village as the Cree
s of the James Bay region abandoned their nomadic way of life and settled nearby. The modern Cree village of Chisasibi
, which replaced Fort George in 1980, is situated on the southern shore of the La Grande River, several kilometers to the East.
, starting in 1974. An area of 9900 square kilometres (3,822.4 sq mi) was flooded and almost all of the flow of the Eastmain River and a large portion of the Rupert River were diverted into the La Grande watershed. The following generating stations are on the La Grande River and its tributaries in upstream order:
As a result of the development projects, the Cree
people of the region lost some parts of their traditional hunting and trapping territories (about 10% of the hunting and trapping territories used by the Cree of Chisasibi). Organic mercury
levels increased in the fish, which forms an important part of their diet, as the organic material trapped by the rising waters in the new reservoirs began to filter into the food chain. Careful follow-up by Cree health authorities since the 1980s have been largely successful and they continue to promote the regular consumption of fish, with the notable exception of the predatory species living in the reservoirs, which still show high levels of mercury.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which rises in the highlands of north central Quebec and flows roughly 900 kilometres (559.2 mi) west to drain into James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
. It is the second largest river in Quebec, surpassed only by the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
.
Originally, the La Grande River drained an area of 97400 square kilometres (37,606.4 sq mi) and had a mean discharge of 1690 m³/s. Since the 1980s when hydroelectric development diverted the Eastmain
Eastmain River
The Eastmain River is a river in northwestern Quebec which rises in north central Quebec and flows 800 km west to drain into James Bay. 'East Main' is an old name for the east side of James Bay. This river drains an area of 46,400 km²...
and Caniapiscau River
Caniapiscau River
The Caniapiscau River is a tributary of the Koksoak River in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. In Cree the name of the river means rocky point.Starting from Lac Sevestre on the Canadian Shield, the Caniapiscau River flows northward through a wide, timbered glacial valley until it makes a sharp turn at its...
s into the La Grande, its total catchment area has increased to about 175000 square kilometres (67,567.9 sq mi)
1 E11 m²
To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here surface areas between 100,000 km2 and 1,000,000 km2. See also areas of other orders of magnitude.* Areas smaller than 100,000 km2* 100,000 km2 is equal to:...
, and its mean discharge increased to more than 3400 m³/s. In November 2009, the Rupert River
Rupert River
The Rupert River is one of the largest rivers in Quebec, Canada. From its headwaters in Lake Mistassini, the largest natural lake in Québec, it flows west into Rupert Bay on James Bay. The Rupert drains an area of . There is some extremely large whitewater on the river, but paddlers can avoid...
was also partially diverted, adding another 31430 square kilometres (12,135.2 sq mi) to the basin.
At one time, this river was known as the "Fort George River". The Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
operated a trading
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
post on the river at Big River House from 1803 to 1824. In 1837, a large trading post was established at Fort George on an island at the mouth of the river. In the early 20th century, this trading post became a village as the Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
s of the James Bay region abandoned their nomadic way of life and settled nearby. The modern Cree village of Chisasibi
Chisasibi, Quebec
Chisasibi is a village on the eastern shore of James Bay, in the Eeyou Istchee territory in northern Quebec, Canada. It is situated on the south shore of La Grande River , less than from the river's mouth...
, which replaced Fort George in 1980, is situated on the southern shore of the La Grande River, several kilometers to the East.
Tributaries
Significant tributaries of La Grande River include:- Kanaaupscow River
- Sakami River
- Eastmain RiverEastmain RiverThe Eastmain River is a river in northwestern Quebec which rises in north central Quebec and flows 800 km west to drain into James Bay. 'East Main' is an old name for the east side of James Bay. This river drains an area of 46,400 km²...
(diverted)- Opinaca River
- Rupert RiverRupert RiverThe Rupert River is one of the largest rivers in Quebec, Canada. From its headwaters in Lake Mistassini, the largest natural lake in Québec, it flows west into Rupert Bay on James Bay. The Rupert drains an area of . There is some extremely large whitewater on the river, but paddlers can avoid...
(diverted)
- Eastmain River
- Rivière de Pontois
- Rivière de la Corvette
- Laforge River
- Caniapiscau RiverCaniapiscau RiverThe Caniapiscau River is a tributary of the Koksoak River in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. In Cree the name of the river means rocky point.Starting from Lac Sevestre on the Canadian Shield, the Caniapiscau River flows northward through a wide, timbered glacial valley until it makes a sharp turn at its...
(diverted)
- Caniapiscau River
Hydro-electric development
The river has been extensively developed as a source of hydroelectric power by 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....
, starting in 1974. An area of 9900 square kilometres (3,822.4 sq mi) was flooded and almost all of the flow of the Eastmain River and a large portion of the Rupert River were diverted into the La Grande watershed. The following generating stations are on the La Grande River and its tributaries in upstream order:
- La-Grande-1La Grande-1 generating stationThe La Grande-1 is a hydroelectric power station on the La Grande River that is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project. The station can generate 1,436 MW and was commissioned in 1994–1995...
(LG-1) - Robert-BourassaRobert-Bourassa generating stationThe Robert-Bourassa generating station is a hydroelectric power station on the La Grande River that is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project in Canada...
- La Grande-2ALa Grande-2-A generating stationThe La Grande-2-A is a hydroelectric power station on the La Grande River that is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project. The station can generate 2,106 MW and was commissioned in 1991–1992. Together with the adjacent Robert-Bourassa generating station, it uses the reservoir and dam system...
(LG-2A) - La Grande-3La Grande-3 generating stationThe La Grande-3 or LG-3 is a hydroelectric dam on the La Grande River in northern Quebec, part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project. The station can generate 2,418 MW and was commissioned in 1982-1984. It generates electricity through the reservoir and dam system. The dam and reservoir both are...
(LG-3) - La Grande-4La Grande-4 generating stationThe La Grande-4 is a hydroelectric generating station on the La Grande River that is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project. The station can generate 2,779 MW and was commissioned in 1984–1986...
(LG-4) - Laforge-1Laforge-1 generating stationThe Laforge-1 is a hydroelectric power station on the Laforge River, a tributary of the La Grande River, and is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project. The station can generate 878 MW and was commissioned in 1993-1994. It generates electricity through the reservoir and dam system.- External links...
(LF-1) - Laforge-2Laforge-2 generating stationThe Laforge-2 is a hydroelectric generating station on the Laforge River, a tributary of the La Grande River, and is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project. The station can generate 319 MW and was commissioned in 1996. It is considered a "run of the river" generating station since the Laforge-2...
(LF-2) - BrisayBrisay generating stationThe Brisay hydroelectric power station is on the Caniapiscau Reservoir, in the Canadian province of Quebec. Part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project, the station can generate 469 MW and was commissioned in 1993. It generates electricity through the reservoir and dam system.- See also :* List of...
- Eastmain-1
As a result of the development projects, the Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
people of the region lost some parts of their traditional hunting and trapping territories (about 10% of the hunting and trapping territories used by the Cree of Chisasibi). Organic mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
levels increased in the fish, which forms an important part of their diet, as the organic material trapped by the rising waters in the new reservoirs began to filter into the food chain. Careful follow-up by Cree health authorities since the 1980s have been largely successful and they continue to promote the regular consumption of fish, with the notable exception of the predatory species living in the reservoirs, which still show high levels of mercury.