Matapedia River

Template:Infobox river The Matapedia River (Template:Langx, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a river in the Matapedia Valley in the province of Quebec, Canada. It runs on Template:Convert from Matapedia Lake down to the village of Matapédia where it empties into the left bank of Restigouche River on the provincial border of New Brunswick.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

This freshwater course forms a natural border between the administrative regions of Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The river is a North South divide in the Notre Dame Mountains that characterize the relief of the Gaspé Peninsula. The Matapedia River basin drains an area of about Template:Convert. Matapedia River is often called the Salmon Capital .

From the South side of Matapedia Lake and going to the South, the route 132 along the river goes on its entire length by the East bank.

The Canadian National Railway passes South of Matapedia Lake continues on the West bank of the river in Causapscal where the bridge at South of the village made the railway cross on the East bank. The track then continues South on Template:Convert; then passes again in the West Bank via the railway bridge located at Template:Convert North of the confluence of the creek Doyle. The railway then rest on the West bank up to the railway bridge at the confluence of the Template:Ill. From there, the last railway segment passes through the Eastern shore, up to the confluence of the Matapedia River.

CourseEdit

Matapedia Lake becomes Matapedia River at Amqui, where it is a meander river for a distance of approximately Template:Convert. It widens into an elongated lake 1 kilometre wide and Template:Convert long at Lac-au-Saumon before narrowing back to a river below the dam in the village of Causapscal. There, it joins with a major tributary, the Causapscal River, forming a pool that is renowned for its Atlantic salmon. From there, the river continues on until the New Brunswick border, where it empties into the Restigouche River.<ref>Template:Toponymie</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Lake Matapedia (length: Template:Convert; height: Template:Convert) is the head of water of the Matapedia River. This water plan Template:Convert is located in the municipality Matapedia Lake, in Notre Dame Mountains. Its mouth is located in the Southeast to the height of a covered bridge.

The mouth of the Lake Matapedia is located at:

Template:Convert Northwest from the confluence of the Matapedia River;
Template:Convert Southeast of South Coastal Gulf of Saint Lawrence;
Template:Convert South of the bridge route 132 that spans on the Matane River.

From the mouth of the Matapedia Lake, Matapedia River flows over Template:Convert as follow:

Higher Courses of the river(segment of Template:Convert)

Template:Convert to the Southeast, up to the bridge of the city of Amqui of route 195;
Template:Convert to the Southeast, up to the highway bridge;
Template:Convert to the Southeast, with a detour to the Northeast to the Northwest shore of Salmon Lake (Matapédia);
Template:Convert to the Southeast, crossing the Salmon Lake (Matapédia) on its full length;
Template:Convert to the Southeast, to the confluence of the Causapscal River (from the Northeast) which is located on the South side of the village of Causapscal.

Lower course of the river (segment of Template:Convert)

Template:Convert to the South, up to the highway bridge;
Template:Convert to the South, up to the highway bridge from the village of Sainte-Florence;
Template:Convert Southward up to the boundary of the Assemetquagan (township);
Template:Convert to the south in Assemetquagan (township), up to the highway bridge from the village of Routhierville;
Template:Convert Southward, up to the confluence of the Milnikek River (from the West);
Template:Convert to the Southeast, up to the limit of the Restigouche (township) (East side of the Matapedia River);
Template:Convert to the South, up to the confluence of the Assemetquagan River and the boundary of the Matapedia (township);
Template:Convert to the South, up to the confluence of the Rivière du Moulin (Matapedia River) (from the West);
Template:Convert to the Southeast, up to the confluence of the Clark Creek (from the North);
Template:Convert to the Southeast, up to the bridge of the village of Saint-Alexis-de-Matapédia;
Template:Convert to the Southeast, up to the confluence of the river<ref>Segments of the river measured from the Atlas of Canada (posted on Internet), Department of Resources Natural Canada</ref>

The confluence of the Matapedia River flows on the north bank of the Restigouche River. This confluence is located at:

Template:Convert West of the bridge in Campbellton, New Brunswick, at the confluence of the Restigouche River;
Template:Convert Northeast of the confluence of the Patapédia River.

EtymologyEdit

Its name may derive from the Mi'kmaq word matapegiag, meaning "river junction", from the parts mata (junction) and pegiag (river), referring to the Matapédia River that crosses the town just before its confluence with the Restigouche River.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Another source from the late nineteenth century indicates that the Mi'kmaq named the area Magabegeak which means "roughly flowing".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It has also been spelled many different ways over time such as Matapediach,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Madapeguia<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>, Matapeguia<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>, Matapediac,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Matakpediack,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> Madapeguia,<ref name=":0" /> Metapedia,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> or Matapediac.<ref name="toponymie">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

During the river's most productive and fertile years (generally considered to be between 1890 and 1960), it was a destination for the wealthy and famous from around the world, including Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> American presidents Nixon and Carter,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> British royalty, and numerous Hollywood stars.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

EconomyEdit

The Matapedia is a world-renowned Atlantic salmon fishing river and was given the title "The Fishing Capital of the World" due to the abundance of large, healthy, bright salmon. The Atlantic salmon is mainly a fly fishing only, "catch and release" species; and salmon fishing in this area is highly regulated by the Province of Quebec, with special daily permits and licenses required.<ref>http://o249-saumon-b4h1.demo.lanec.com/en/regulations/catch-limits-and-catch-and-release Template:Dead link</ref> It is recommended to inquire in the village of Matapedia for information on permits and guides. Public waters are available to anglers in the upper portions of the river. Limited-access salmon fishing, generally with outfitters or guides to the most productive salmon pools is made available to the public via a special annual lottery. There are still many private fishing camps on the banks of the lower river, such as Cold Springs, Glen Emma, Runnymeade Lodge, Restigouche Salmon Club and the Tobique, most of them owned by businessmen and large corporations.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Municipalities on watercourseEdit

Matapédia River crosses the territory of these Quebec municipalities:

Amqui (taking his source in Matapédia Lake)
Lac-au-Saumon (where the river crosses lac au Saumon (Matapédia))
Causapscal
Sainte-Florence
Routhierville
Saint-Alexis-de-Matapédia
Matapédia (where the river empties in Restigouche River)

List of salmon poolsEdit

The river exceeded its target for salmon management in 2018, and in July 2018 the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks announced that in August anglers could keep their catch of one large salmon Template:Convert or longer in the Gros Mécatina, Napetipi, Saint-Paul, Vieux Fort and Matapedia rivers.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

From downstream to upstream, from the Restigouche River to Lac au Saumon (Matapédia).

Area 1:

Lower Lawlor: also called simply Lawlor. His name has existed since at least 1978 and is in honour of Jack Lawlor and his family who lived before the pit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Du Pont
Delaney: this name which is existing at least since 1982, is in honour of the Delaney family which includes Jim Delaney, who was a guard at Restigouche Salmon Fishing Club.<ref>Fosse Delaney on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
The Islands: this name is existing since at least 1982 because the salmon pit is located in the middle of three islands.<ref>"Fosse Islands" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Duncan Hole: This name is used since at least 1978. The English term Hole means that the pit has a significant depth.<ref>"Fosse Duncan Hole" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Haley's: Haley also called in French. This name has been used since at least 1982 and is in honor of the Haley family.<ref>"Fosse Haley" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Lawlor's Rock: Rock literally Lawlor. His name is from the time of Bard fishing camp in the years 1940 and is in honor of the family of Jack Lawlor who lived on the Matapedia River.<ref>"Fosse Lawlor's Rock" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Cheuter's
Pot Hole: this name existed since at least 1982. The English term jar means that the pit is small.<ref>"Pit Pot Hole" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Ryan's: Ryan is a French patronym. This name has been used since at least 1978 and is due to the fact that the pit is located just upstream of the Ryan Creek.<ref>"Fosse Ryan" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Home
Railroad: literally rail, this existing name exist since at least 1978 due to the presence of a railway bridge over the river at this point.<ref>"Railroad tank" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Lower Alexander
Indian Brook
Gilmour Creek
Ted's Rock
Prentise
Lyons
Mann's
Gulch
Habersham
McKiel's
Clark's Brook
Home Pool
Bowl
Three Islands: also known in French "Les Trois Iles". This name existed since at least 1978 and is due to the fact that the pit is in the middle of three islands.<ref>"Three Islands tank" on Commission de toponymie du Québec (Geographical Names Board of Quebec)</ref>
Jim's Rock
Millstream
Station
Foot of Island
Lower Fraser
Home Fraser Pool
Upper Fraser
Mirror
Glover's Rock
Gates of Hell
Rock Angus
Assemetquagan
Railroad