Editing James Bay Project (section)

=== Exploration ===
[[File:La Grande Rivière2.jpg|thumb|right|La Grande River, near Radisson, Quebec]]

Between 1950 and 1959, a team led by H. M. Finlayson conducted water surveys of the [[Nottaway River|Nottaway]], [[Broadback River|Broadback]] and [[Rupert River]]s—collectively known by the abbreviation NBR—on behalf of the [[Shawinigan Water & Power Company]], a large investor-owned utility based in [[Shawinigan]], Quebec.<ref name= "Lacasse1983p34">{{harvnb|Lacasse|1983|pp=34–35}}</ref> Among options studied by Shawinigan's engineers was the possible diversion of these rivers to the [[Saint-Maurice River]] watershed in order to increase output at the company's 8 power stations.<ref>{{harvnb|Bellavance|1994|p=181}}</ref>

With the [[History of Hydro-Québec|nationalization of privately owned utilities in 1963]], Hydro-Québec inherited the preliminary studies conducted by Finlayson and his team on the hydroelectric potential of James Bay rivers.<ref name="Bourassa1985p26">{{harvnb|Bourassa|1985|p=26}}</ref><ref name="Siecle1989p257">{{harvnb|Bolduc|Hogue|Larouche|1989|pp=257–258}}</ref> However, other projects, such as the Manicouagan-Outardes project on the [[Côte-Nord|North Shore]] and the possibility of building a large power station at [[Churchill Falls Generating Station|Churchill Falls]] in Labrador proved easier and less expensive and the Crown corporation devoted only minimal resources to the vast potential of northern rivers. In 1965, Hydro-Québec survey program included exploration of the territory and hydrographic surveys of areas between the 52nd and 55th parallel.<ref name="Bolduc2000p112">{{harvnb|Bolduc|2000|p=112}}</ref>

In 1967, the company stepped up the work on the La Grande and [[Eastmain River|Eastmain rivers]]. Dozens, then hundreds of people were sent by helicopter and seaplanes in inaccessible areas of the [[taiga]] to perform surveys and geological studies to identify potential sites for hydropower development.<ref name="Lacasse1983p43">{{harvnb|Lacasse|1983|p=43}}</ref> Faced with budget concerns, Hydro-Québec did cut back exploration budgets between 1968 and 1970, but the company maintained planning and analysis work, since early data showed a large potential for development.<ref name= "Bourassa1985p26-27">{{harvnb|Bourassa|1985|pp=26–27}}</ref>