Dumoine River Reserve

Overview

The Dumoine river watershed in western Quebec encompasses over 4400 square kilometers of land, including large areas of mature and old-growth forests as well as one of the last undammed major rivers in southern Quebec running through it’s heart. The Dumoine is one of the Three Sisters (with the Noire and the Coulonge), a renowned canoe-camping trio which ranks among the best whitewater river trips in eastern North America. Conserving the Dumoine’s landscapes was deemed essential to protect the many species of wildlife that call it home as well as to maintain a high-quality experience for visitors.

In the early 2000s, work began with CPAWS-OV leading the community-based efforts to protect the Dumoine River which, after years of campaigning, culminated in 1776 square kilometers being officially designated as a protected area in 2023. The new reserves official name being Réserve aquatique de la Rivière-Dumoine. 

The Dumoine watershed is located in western Quebec on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation. It has long been under the stewardship of the families who belong to the Wolf Lake First Nation.

Achieving protection for the Dumoine

Since shortly after World War II, proposals to protect the Dumoine River have been put forward in some form or another, recognizing the river’s rich natural, cultural and recreational heritage and potential.

CPAWS Ottawa Valley stepped up to lead the community-based efforts starting in the early 2000’s where we:

  • Convened Indigenous and Crown governments, local communities, industry and stakeholders to explore ways to protect the river and its watershed without negatively impacting other uses.
  • Found an ally in the MRC Pontiac which saw an opportunity to diversify an economy reeling from several mill closures.
  • Collected and sent over 15,000 postcards to the Minister of the Environment, engaged media and built relationships with the paddling community.
  • Partnered with others to form the Friends of Dumoine and together we restored an 1840s era logging road into a 26 km hiking trail.
  • Brought together a group of artists to create works inspired by the river to fundraise for the campaign (An initiative which continues today as DRAW)

Our vision for the Dumoine watershed is one where traditional Indigenous activities and other non-industrial harvesting  could continue, while highly extractive or damaging activities, like logging, mining or hydro-electric development would be prohibited.

Staying involved - A love for the Dumoine

Despite the Dumoine being protected, CPAWS-OV remains very engaged in the region.

  • We are working to connect the Dumoine watershed to Algonquin Park  through the creation of a wildlife corridor.
  • We are also a proud founding member and supporter of Friends of Dumoine (FOD) and work closely with them and other partners in developing sustainable recreational activities along the river.
  • We host the annual artists retreat (DRAW) along the Dumoine every August where some 20 artists of various mediums gather to create art inspired by the unspoiled nature of the Dumoine watershed to help CPAWS-OV raise much needed funds and awareness to support our other conservation projects across the region. 

We hope you will join us in celebrating this fantastic reserve by joining us at this year’s DRAW, by donating to support our continued work or simply by spending time walking, camping and canoeing among it’s beauty.