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Nipigon River

Field	Value
name	Nipigon River
image	Nipigon River.jpg
image_caption	Nipigon River viewed to the south, with Nipigon Bay in the distance
image_alt	Nipigon River viewed to the south, with Nipigon Bay in the distance
map	Nipigon River basin map.png
map_size	250px
map_caption	Map of original Nipigon River basin, not including the diverted basin
pushpin_map	Ontario
subdivision_name1	Canada
subdivision_type2	Province
subdivision_name2	Ontario
subdivision_type3	District
subdivision_name3	Thunder Bay
length	48 km
discharge1_location	Alexander Generating Station
discharge1_avg	350 m3/s
source1	Lake Nipigon
source1_coordinates
source1_elevation	259 m
mouth	Nipigon Bay
mouth_location	Red Rock
mouth_coordinates
mouth_elevation	184 m
river_system	Great Lakes Basin
basin_size	25400 km2
waterbodies	Helen Lake
bridges	Nipigon River Bridge, CP Railway Bridge

The Nipigon River is located in Thunder Bay District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The river is about 48 km long

Since 1943, 5545 mi2 of the Ogoki River basin has been diverted to the headwaters of the Little Jackfish River, a tributary of Lake Nipigon. This diversion increases the size of the river's watershed by almost 60% to {{sum|25400|14360}} km2, and contributes an average of about 116 m3/s to the Nipigon River. This increased flow has caused significant erosion and landslides along the river.

History

The Nipigon River was formerly known for the size and quantity of the brook trout that were to be found there. However, four dams built on the Nipigon led to a major decline in their population. The four dams are as follows:

Cameron Falls Dam built in 1918
Virgin Falls Dam built in 1925
Alexander Dam built in 1930
Pine Portage Dam built in 1950

Modern uses

Three hydroelectric dams on the Nipigon, Cameron Falls Dam, Alexander Dam, and Pine Portage Dam (all operated by Ontario Power Generation), provided 2,144 gigawatt-hours in 2000. Resource Management Plan" This however effectively makes travel via boat between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior impossible. The river is also a popular fishing destination.

Installation
(in downstream order)	Capacity	Head	No. of
units	Year built
Pine Portage Generating Station	145 MW	105 ft	4	1950
Cameron Falls Generating Station	92 MW	72 ft	7	1920
Alexander Generating Station	69 MW	60 ft	5	1930

Fishing

46 fish species have been identified in the Nipigon River, including the rare sturgeon, cisco, and “coaster” brook trout.

Prince Edward, Prince of Wales]] talks with river guide Neil McDougall at their camp on the Nipigon River, 1919.

In 1915, Dr Cook caught the world record for the largest brook trout, also known as speckled trout or coaster trout. Four years later, Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor), spent time fishing on the Nipigon; a trout that he caught was mounted and today is displayed at the National Archives of Canada. The river also has a run of lake trout, rainbow trout and salmon during various times of the year. Fish that migrate up the river are able to get to the first dam which is located approximately 15 mi from the mouth of the river system. The reservoir between the dams are good fishery, especially for large speckled trout and lake trout.

Fishing starts the first of May until freeze up at the end of November. The river can be accessed from boat, or fished by shore from various strategic locations.

References

"Lake Nipigon - lake, Ontario, Canada". Encyclopaedia Britannica.
"ALEXANDER GS Watershed Conditions". Ontario Power Generation.
(2010-10-25). "The Atlas of Canada - Rivers". Natural Resources Canada.
"Nipigon River".
(October 2022). "Canada's Rivers at Risk". WWF-Canada.
(1974). "Great Lakes Basin Framework Study. [report] - Appendix". Public Information Office, Great Lakes Basin Commission.
"An Overview of Great Lakes Diversions".
"Hydroelectric power". Ontario Power Generation Inc..
(July 2003). "Chapter 2: Ecological Land Use and Resource Management Strategy". [[Ontario Parks]].
(1957). "Effect on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River of an Increase of 1000 Cubic Feet Per Second in the Diversion at Chicago". U.S. Army.
Whalen, James. "Royalty on the Nipigon". Brook Trout Heaven.

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

rivers-of-thunder-bay-district tributaries-of-lake-superior

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