# L'Assomption River

The Assomption River (in French Rivière l'Assomption, named after the Assumption of Mary) is the most important waterway in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada. It is over 200 kilometres (120 mi) long, and has a drainage basin (watershed) of 4,220 square kilometres (1,630 sq mi). Its source is the Mont Tremblant massif. Seven significant rivers flow into the Assomption (de la Boule, Versailles, Noire, la Chaloupe, Ouareau, Saint-Esprit, and Achigan) before it flows into the Rivière des Prairies at Repentigny, Quebec.
About 150,000 people live in the drainage area of this river.

## Geography

The L'Assomption River watershed overlaps two natural environments, the Laurentian Mountains and the St-Lawrence lowlands, which cover about a third of the watershed area. Its relief is a uniform plain with some hills—from 0 to 100 metres (0 to 328 ft)—dominated by agricultural lands. The texture of the soil is rather fine and rests on an impermeable argillaceous (clay) base.
The Laurentian Mountains form part of the Canadian Shield. They are separated from the lowlands by a well-defined escarpment that rises about 150 metres (490 ft). This escarpment has many waterfalls. The Laurentians Mountains have an average height of 230 metres (750 ft) in the south and 460 metres (1,510 ft) in the north. And there are even mountains of over 600 metres (2,000 ft) in the Mont Tremblant massif where the L'Assomption River forms.

## Hydrography

From north to south the average slope of the river decreases. The steeper slopes of the highlands create a fast current whereas the lowland flats produces a slower flow. Moreover, the river meanders a lot which is especially evident at the town of L'Assomption, almost completely surrounded by a large loop of the river.
The L'Assomption River watershed has 490 lakes of which 24 have a surface area larger than 1 square kilometre (250 acres). Most of the lakes are in the Laurentian highlands.

## Water quality
### Urban and industrial pollution

The water quality of the L'Assomption River is seriously affected by the area's social-economic conditions. Since 1950, the situation has been complicated by the urbanization of the river banks, by diversified agriculture, and by industrialisation along the southern portion of the river. Although the source of pollution has changed since 1950, because of strict environmental laws and the use of water purification equipment, water pollution is still not fully curbed.
Over 150,000 people live in the river's watershed in 43 municipalities, of which the most important are Repentigny, Joliette, Le Gardeur, and L'Assomption. In addition, the northern portion of the river's watershed is a popular vacation area, swelling the population by about 45,000 people during the vacation season.
The majority of the municipalities take their drinking water from the river and provide it to more than 100,000 people. The drinking water supply to other residences and country cottages, distributed over approximately 90 percent of the watershed area, comes from water wells.

### Agricultural pollution

Besides the urban and industrial pollution, agricultural pollution also contributes greatly to the environment's contamination.
Agriculture has a dominant position along the river: in 1995 there were 1,305 producers with 60,221 hectares (148,810 acres) under cultivation and possessing 73,563 animals.
Agricultural pollution takes several forms: direct pollution (discharge of manure directly in the rivers) and diffused pollution (infiltration of fertilizer products in the groundwater). Diffused pollution is difficult to control because it has a multitude of sources throughout the whole region. Yet without a solution to this problem the water quality of the river will never have the desired quality.

### Drainage basin watercourses

| Order | Label | Mouth | Coordinates | Length (km) | Source | Coordinates | Region |
| 1 | L'Assomption River | Rivière des Prairies | 45°42′52″N 73°28′51″W﻿ / ﻿45.71444444°N 73.48083333°W﻿ / 45.71444444; -73.48083333﻿ (L'Assomption River) | 200 | L'Assomption Lake | 46°27′45″N 74°03′16″W﻿ / ﻿46.4625°N 74.054444°W﻿ / 46.4625; -74.054444﻿ (L'Assomption River source) | Lanaudière |
| 2 | L'Achigan River [fr] | L'Assomption River | 45°50′26″N 73°26′45″W﻿ / ﻿45.84055°N 73.44583°W﻿ / 45.84055; -73.44583﻿ (L'Achigan River) | 83.8 | L'Achigan Lake [fr] | 45°55′26″N 73°57′03″W﻿ / ﻿45.923988°N 73.950733°W﻿ / 45.923988; -73.950733﻿ (L'Achigan River source) | Lanaudière |
| 3 | Jourdain River [fr] | L'Achigan River [fr] | 45°49′54″N 73°51′31″W﻿ / ﻿45.831666666667°N 73.858611111111°W﻿ / 45.831666666667; -73.858611111111﻿ (Jourdain River) | 19.4 | Duquette Lake | 45°50′51″N 73°59′11″W﻿ / ﻿45.847596°N 73.986294°W﻿ / 45.847596; -73.986294﻿ (Jourdain River source) | Laurentides |
| 4 | Abercromby River [fr] | L'Achigan River [fr] | 45°51′44″N 73°53′12″W﻿ / ﻿45.862222222222°N 73.886666666667°W﻿ / 45.862222222222; -73.886666666667﻿ (Abercromby River) | 10.8 | Connely Lake | 45°53′26″N 73°58′00″W﻿ / ﻿45.890648°N 73.96662°W﻿ / 45.890648; -73.96662﻿ (Abercromby River source) | Laurentides |
| 5 | Beauport River [fr] | L'Achigan River [fr] | 45°53′23″N 73°52′08″W﻿ / ﻿45.889722222222°N 73.868888888889°W﻿ / 45.889722222222; -73.868888888889﻿ (Beauport River source) | 20 | Lac de la Crosse | 46°00′46″N 73°52′21″W﻿ / ﻿46.012824°N 73.872441°W﻿ / 46.012824; -73.872441﻿ (Beauport River source) | Laurentides |
| 6 | La Petite Rivière [fr] | L'Achigan River [fr] | 45°51′03″N 73°46′17″W﻿ / ﻿45.850833333333°N 73.771388888889°W﻿ / 45.850833333333; -73.771388888889﻿ (La Petite Rivière) | 13 | Saint-Calixte | 45°51′03″N 73°46′17″W﻿ / ﻿45.850909°N 73.771444°W﻿ / 45.850909; -73.771444﻿ (La Petite Rivière source) | Laurentides |
| 7 | Saint-Esprit River [fr] | L'Assomption River | 45°51′41″N 73°26′35″W﻿ / ﻿45.861388888889°N 73.443055555556°W﻿ / 45.861388888889; -73.443055555556﻿ (Saint-Esprit River) | 90.4 | Huard Lake | 46°00′50″N 73°48′44″W﻿ / ﻿46.014012°N 73.812306°W﻿ / 46.014012; -73.812306﻿ (Saint-Esprit River source) | Lanaudière |
| 8 | Saint-George Creek [fr] | L'Assomption River | 45°54′13″N 73°26′13″W﻿ / ﻿45.9035°N 73.437°W﻿ / 45.9035; -73.437﻿ (Saint-George Creek) | 19.2 | Saint-Alexis | 45°54′13″N 73°26′13″W﻿ / ﻿45.9035°N 73.437°W﻿ / 45.9035; -73.437﻿ (Saint-George Creek source) | Lanaudière |
| 9 | Ouareau River | L'Assomption River | 45°56′24″N 73°24′27″W﻿ / ﻿45.94°N 73.4075°W﻿ / 45.94; -73.4075﻿ (Ouareau River) | 80 | Ouareau Lake [fr] | 46°17′03″N 74°08′35″W﻿ / ﻿46.28416°N 74.14306°W﻿ / 46.28416; -74.14306﻿ (Ouareau River source) | Lanaudière |
| 10 | Burton River [fr] | Ouareau River | 46°04′26″N 73°50′47″W﻿ / ﻿46.073888888889°N 73.846388888889°W﻿ / 46.073888888889; -73.846388888889﻿ (Burton River) | 16.9 | Racette Lake | 46°04′52″N 73°59′58″W﻿ / ﻿46.08123°N 73.999314°W﻿ / 46.08123; -73.999314﻿ (Burton River source) | Lanaudière Laurentides |
| 11 | Jean-Venne River [fr] | Ouareau River | 46°06′08″N 73°51′27″W﻿ / ﻿46.102222222222°N 73.8575°W﻿ / 46.102222222222; -73.8575﻿ (Jean-Venne River) | 20.9 | Lac des Îles | 46°06′45″N 74°01′13″W﻿ / ﻿46.112507°N 74.020144°W﻿ / 46.112507; -74.020144﻿ (Jean-Venne River source) | Lanaudière |
| 12 | Kenny River [fr] | Jean-Venne River [fr] | 46°07′42″N 73°56′17″W﻿ / ﻿46.128333333333°N 73.938055555556°W﻿ / 46.128333333333; -73.938055555556﻿ (Kenny River) | 10.4 | Heroux Lake | 46°10′02″N 73°59′33″W﻿ / ﻿46.167139°N 73.992382°W﻿ / 46.167139; -73.992382﻿ (Kenny River source) | Lanaudière |
| 13 | Beaulne River [fr] | Ouareau River | 46°12′14″N 73°54′05″W﻿ / ﻿46.203888888889°N 73.901388888889°W﻿ / 46.203888888889; -73.901388888889﻿ (Beaulne River) | 9.2 | Beaulne Lake | 46°11′37″N 74°00′13″W﻿ / ﻿46.193574°N 74.003582°W﻿ / 46.193574; -74.003582﻿ (Beaulne River source) | Lanaudière |
| 14 | Dufresne River [fr] | Ouareau River | 46°15′55″N 73°59′16″W﻿ / ﻿46.265277777778°N 73.987777777778°W﻿ / 46.265277777778; -73.987777777778﻿ (Dufresne River) | 29.6 | Dufresne Lake | 46°12′09″N 74°13′13″W﻿ / ﻿46.202595°N 74.220213°W﻿ / 46.202595; -74.220213﻿ (Dufresne River source) | Lanaudière Laurentides |
| 15 | Rouge River [fr] | Ouareau River | 45°58′35″N 73°28′34″W﻿ / ﻿45.976388888889°N 73.476111111111°W﻿ / 45.976388888889; -73.476111111111﻿ (Rouge River) | 56.5 | Couture Lake | 46°10′19″N 73°46′53″W﻿ / ﻿46.172008°N 73.781444°W﻿ / 46.172008; -73.781444﻿ (Rouge River source) | Lanaudière |
| 16 | Blanche River [fr] | Rouge River [fr] | 46°01′43″N 73°37′48″W﻿ / ﻿46.028611111111°N 73.63°W﻿ / 46.028611111111; -73.63﻿ (Blanche River) | 17.8 | Lac des Français [fr] | 46°08′17″N 73°37′15″W﻿ / ﻿46.138178°N 73.620824°W﻿ / 46.138178; -73.620824﻿ (Blanche River source) | Lanaudière |
| 17 | Le Grand Ruisseau [fr] | Rouge River [fr] | 46°01′05″N 73°32′39″W﻿ / ﻿46.018055555556°N 73.544166666667°W﻿ / 46.018055555556; -73.544166666667﻿ (Le Grand Ruisseau) | 15.1 | Sainte-Mélanie | 46°08′52″N 73°32′06″W﻿ / ﻿46.147722°N 73.534946°W﻿ / 46.147722; -73.534946﻿ (Le Grand Ruisseau source) | Lanaudière |
| 18 | Trudel River [fr] | Ouareau River | 46°07′11″N 73°51′00″W﻿ / ﻿46.119722222222°N 73.85°W﻿ / 46.119722222222; -73.85﻿ (Trudel River) | 7.6 | Chertsey Lake | 46°07′56″N 73°48′52″W﻿ / ﻿46.132314°N 73.814338°W﻿ / 46.132314; -73.814338﻿ (Trudel River source) | Lanaudière |
| 19 | Nord River [fr] | Ouareau River | 46°11′46″N 73°53′30″W﻿ / ﻿46.196111111111°N 73.891666666667°W﻿ / 46.196111111111; -73.891666666667﻿ (Nord River) | 6.5 | Lac du Pin Rouge | 46°14′22″N 73°52′57″W﻿ / ﻿46.239342°N 73.882407°W﻿ / 46.239342; -73.882407﻿ (Nord River source) | Lanaudière |
| 20 | Versailles River [fr] | L'Assomption River | 46°16′47″N 73°47′26″W﻿ / ﻿46.279722222222°N 73.790555555556°W﻿ / 46.279722222222; -73.790555555556﻿ (Versailles River) | 12.5 | spring | 46°15′22″N 73°53′56″W﻿ / ﻿46.256063°N 73.898856°W﻿ / 46.256063; -73.898856﻿ (Versailles River source) | Lanaudière |
| 21 | Grande rivière Swaggin [fr] | L'Assomption River | 46°19′16″N 73°50′31″W﻿ / ﻿46.321111111111°N 73.841944444444°W﻿ / 46.321111111111; -73.841944444444﻿ (Grande rivière Swaggin) | 8.7 | Lac des Cèdres | 46°18′35″N 73°56′23″W﻿ / ﻿46.309754°N 73.939661°W﻿ / 46.309754; -73.939661﻿ (Grande rivière Swaggin source) | Lanaudière |
| 22 | Petite rivière Swaggin [fr] | Grande rivière Swaggin [fr] | 46°19′07″N 73°51′27″W﻿ / ﻿46.318611111111°N 73.8575°W﻿ / 46.318611111111; -73.8575﻿ (Petite rivière Swaggin) | 12.6 | Vauvert Lake | 46°22′40″N 73°58′03″W﻿ / ﻿46.377806°N 73.967532°W﻿ / 46.377806; -73.967532﻿ (Petite rivière Swaggin source) | Lanaudière |
| 23 | McGee River [fr] | L'Assomption River | 46°22′13″N 73°52′54″W﻿ / ﻿46.370277777778°N 73.881666666667°W﻿ / 46.370277777778; -73.881666666667﻿ (McGee River) | 14.4 | Marguerite Lake | 46°23′58″N 74°03′24″W﻿ / ﻿46.399481°N 74.056659°W﻿ / 46.399481; -74.056659﻿ (McGee River source) | Lanaudière |
| 24 | Lavigne River [fr] | L'Assomption River | 46°23′02″N 73°53′50″W﻿ / ﻿46.383888888889°N 73.897222222222°W﻿ / 46.383888888889; -73.897222222222﻿ (Lavigne River) | 16.9 | St-Amour Lake | 46°30′42″N 73°54′53″W﻿ / ﻿46.511624°N 73.914802°W﻿ / 46.511624; -73.914802﻿ (Lavigne River source) | Lanaudière |
| 25 | Rivière de la Boule [fr] | L'Assomption River | 46°16′23″N 73°45′29″W﻿ / ﻿46.273055555556°N 73.758055555556°W﻿ / 46.273055555556; -73.758055555556﻿ (Rivière de la Boule) | 14.7 | Laré Lake | 46°22′34″N 73°46′51″W﻿ / ﻿46.375985°N 73.780914°W﻿ / 46.375985; -73.780914﻿ (Rivière de la Boule source) | Lanaudière |
| 26 | Noire River, Matawinie [fr] | L'Assomption River | 46°12′23″N 73°33′44″W﻿ / ﻿46.206388888889°N 73.562222222222°W﻿ / 46.206388888889; -73.562222222222﻿ (Noire River) | 52.6 | Lemieux Lake | 46°32′47″N 73°45′12″W﻿ / ﻿46.54639°N 73.75333°W﻿ / 46.54639; -73.75333﻿ (Noire River source) | Lanaudière |
| 27 | Blanche River [fr] | Noire River, Matawinie [fr] | 46°14′53″N 73°35′02″W﻿ / ﻿46.248055555556°N 73.583888888889°W﻿ / 46.248055555556; -73.583888888889﻿ (Blanche River) | 10.8 | Lac à Canards | 46°15′15″N 73°40′51″W﻿ / ﻿46.254216°N 73.680872°W﻿ / 46.254216; -73.680872﻿ (Blanche River source) | Lanaudière |
| 28 | Leprohon River [fr] | Noire River, Matawinie [fr] | 46°19′29″N 73°38′18″W﻿ / ﻿46.324722222222°N 73.638333333333°W﻿ / 46.324722222222; -73.638333333333﻿ (Leprohon River) | 16 | small lake | 46°20′57″N 73°44′09″W﻿ / ﻿46.349062°N 73.735735°W﻿ / 46.349062; -73.735735﻿ (Leprohon River source) | Lanaudière |
| 29 | Crique à David [fr] | Noire River, Matawinie [fr] | 46°18′51″N 73°29′04″W﻿ / ﻿46.314136°N 73.484489°W﻿ / 46.314136; -73.484489﻿ (Crique à David) | 17 | Lac à la Pluie | 46°25′12″N 73°38′01″W﻿ / ﻿46.420118°N 73.633728°W﻿ / 46.420118; -73.633728﻿ (Crique à David source) | Lanaudière |
| 30 | Ruisseau du Point du Jour [fr] | L'Assomption River | 45°50′12″N 73°24′56″W﻿ / ﻿45.836666666667°N 73.415555555556°W﻿ / 45.836666666667; -73.415555555556﻿ (Ruisseau du Point du Jour) | 20.6 | Lanoraie | 45°59′14″N 73°18′37″W﻿ / ﻿45.987099°N 73.310163°W﻿ / 45.987099; -73.310163﻿ (Ruisseau du Point du Jour source) | Lanaudière |

## List of towns crossed

* Saint-Côme
* Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez
* Sainte-Béatrix
* Saint-Jean-de-Matha
* Saint-Félix-de-Valois
* Sainte-Mélanie
* Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare
* Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes
* Notre-Dame-des-Prairies
* Saint-Charles-Borromée
* Joliette
* Saint-Thomas
* Saint-Paul
* L'Épiphanie
* L'Assomption
* Repentigny
* Charlemagne