Dumoine, Noire and Coulonge rivers watersheds
Overview
The Dumoine, Noire and Coulonge rivers watersheds are among the last wild and intact watersheds anywhere in Southern Canada. Our vision for Western Quebec is bold and inspiring – an interconnected network of protected areas centered around the Dumoine, Noire and Coulonge watersheds that fully protect the richness of the landscape, that provide connections between the forests of the Ottawa Valley and the Boreal forest to the north and that provide meaningful jobs and investment to local communities based on ecotourism and sustainable development.
Noire-Coulonge Protected Area Project
From 2019 to 2023, CPAWS-OV and CREDDO worked together to create a protected area of approximately 1,150 km² in the watershed of the Noire and Coulonge Rivers. This initiative would protect about 3% of the Outaouais region. As of August 30, 2023, the MELCCFP has reserved 852.6 km² of the proposed territory.
Since then, SNAP-VO has continued its efforts by gathering field data in potential expansion areas, working with regional biologists and the Kitigan Zibi guardians.
The intended protection status is a biodiversity reserve, which would prevent any form of industrial exploitation (forestry, mining, real estate development) but would allow and even encourage existing recreational and tourism activities (hiking, hunting and fishing, canoeing-kayaking, off-road vehicle rides, etc.).
A harmonization table was set up in 2023 where Indigenous communities and stakeholders were able to meet monthly to discuss local issues and concerns related to the creation of this protected area. From these discussions, various studies were initiated by different parties to explore, among other things, the impact of a protected area on tourism traffic potential in the region and its effects on the road network.
Now, at the conclusion, the harmonization table has been fruitful and allowed SNAP-VO and CREDDO to send recommendations reflecting the community’s needs to the government.
In the fall of 2024, a management committee was formed, with one representative from each sector. This committee, which refers to the Kitigan Zibi community and MELCCFP, is responsible for ensuring local governance of the territory, drafting a master plan, and adhering to the conservation plan once it is written.
According to government estimates, public consultations by the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) will take place in 2026, and the official status will be granted in 2027.
A large-scale network of protected areas
In June 2024, the MELCCFP launched a call for projects to the public. The goal was to receive proposals for protected areas on public land from citizens and environmental organizations in order to achieve the target of protecting 30% of Quebec’s territory by 2030. SNAP-VO took advantage of this initiative by reaching out to many land users in the Outaouais River watershed. After several discussions with local stakeholders and field outings, SNAP-VO submitted 14 proposals for protected areas, covering more than 5,600 km².
These proposals would form a structured and developed network of protected areas in the region that ensures connectivity between most of them. For example, we made a proposal that links the Val-d’Or caribou biodiversity reserve to the Dumoine River, which encourages the creation of an ecological corridor spanning several hundred kilometers, benefiting the local large wildlife. We also propose the protection of an East-West corridor connecting the Dumoine River, the Noire River, and the Coulonge River.
Updates:
The Pontiac MRC has expressed its support for the MELCCFP to analyze the protected area proposals submitted within its territory.
The MRC of La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and the Témiscamingue MRC reject all proposals made on their territories.
For more information on the call for projects:
Partnerships
Kidjimaninan Project
SNAP-VO is part of the technical committee for the biodiversity project led by Kitigan Zibi and is responsible for the subcommittee focused on public lands.
URL: https://kidjimaninan.com/en/
Working Group for Ecological Corridors in Outaouais
Several environmental stakeholders in the region are coming together to discuss issues related to ecological corridors in Outaouais. SNAP-VO is part of this group.
Protection of Meech Creek
Residents of Chelsea want the municipality to recognize the shores of Meech Creek as an important ecological corridor for local wildlife. SNAP-VO provides expert support by sharing its biodiversity protection knowledge to help residents achieve their goal.
Cégep de l’Outaouais
Several science courses require field trips with students from Cégep de l’Outaouais. These students learn to identify species, handle field equipment, and prepare for outings. SNAP-VO will participate in some of these courses starting in the fall of 2025. Accompanied by a biologist, these students will have the opportunity to discover the richness of the Outaouais landscapes by exploring various territories identified by SNAP-VO for conservation purposes.
Gatineau Park