# Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux)

Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux), Teyaiar River (Huron Wendat), rivière Sainte-Anne (French), flows from north to south on the north shore in the estuary section of the St. Lawrence River, in Les Chenaux, Portneuf and La Jacques-Cartier RCM, Mauricie and National Capital regions, Quebec, Canada.

## Toponymy

The Sainte-Anne River has its source in the Laurentides Wildlife reserve, in Lake Sainte-Anne. The river, approximately 120 km long, flows from north to south, crossing the municipalities of Saint-Alban and Saint-Casimir to end its course at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, on the north shore of the estuarine section. of the St. Lawrence River.

## 1894 Landslide

In terms of surface area, the 1894 landslide in Saint-Alban would be the largest in the known history of Quebec.
During the night of April 27 to 28, 25 km from the mouth of the Sainte-Anne River, in Saint-Alban, 600 ha of soil slid into the bed of the Noire River, the large quantity of displaced soil modified the geography of several secondary watercourses which feed the Sainte-Anne River. The moving sediments block the channel of the Charest River and change the course of the Gendron stream. At 4 km upstream from Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, soil begins to be deposited, creating silting, islands, islets, channels, up to the mouth of the river in the St. Lawrence River.
The landslide of 1894 killed 4 people, upset 8 properties, uprooted bridges and docks, slowed down the transport of wood by floating, affected sawmills and put an end to commercial navigation upstream of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade.
The landslide eroded the banks of the Saint-Anne River, caused numerous secondary landslides and carried earth, sand and gravel. This geological movement modify the watercourses over nearly 25 km. The Sainte-Anne becomes wider and shallower, this new hydrography creates an exceptional aquatic environment for the reproduction of the Tommy cod. Until April 1894, the Sainte-Anne River was a salmon river.

## Geography

In Portneuf RCM, the Sainte-Anne River region has an area of approximately 185 km$^2$ (110 square miles). In the North/South axis, the territory goes from Saint-Alban to the St. Lawrence River. From East to West, it stretches between longitudes 72° and 72°15'.
Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, Saint-Alban, Saint-Casimir, Grondines and Saint-Thuribe are the main municipalities of Portneuf RCM bathed by the Sainte-Anne River. The mouth of the river, at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, is part of Les Chenaux RCM.

## Water Quality

The population of the Sainte-Anne River watershed is very concerned about its aquatic ecosystem. On the main course, due to the high water flow, the water quality is good or satisfactory.
In the northern part, sparsely populated and largely dominated by forest, the water of the river and its tributaries is of very good quality.
In St. Lawrence Lowlands, the southern part of the watershed is used for agricultural purposes and is more densely populated, the waters are of poor quality. Agricultural activities are responsible for a large part of the phosphorus loads measured in the sub-basins of the Blanche, Charest, Niagarette rivers and the Gendron Creek.

## Drainage Basin

The 2,717.47 km² of the territory of the Sainte-Anne River drainage basin, and its sub-drainage-basin, include the Tourilli, Chézine, Talayarde, Bras-du-Nord and Jacquot rivers to the north and the Noire, Niagarette and Charest to the south. We must add the Lacoursière and Grimard streams and 204 km² of marshes and natural peat bogs.
The forest environment and its lakes cover 79% of the territory of the Sainte-Anne River region, mainly in the southern Laurentians Mountains. Agricultural and urban environments occupy 21% of the land located in the St. Lawrence Lowlands. It is estimated that there were 17 769 people who lived in the Sainte-Anne basin in 2004-2006. The town of Saint-Raymond alone has half the population of the basin. Four other villages are located on the course of the river, namely Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne, Saint-Alban, Saint-Casimir and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade.
The Sainte-Anne River watershed has a little more than 840 lakes, 758 of which have a surface area greater than one hectare. Mainly located on public land, the sector includes several spaces dedicated to the conservation and development of the territory, including the Parc naturel régional de Portneuf, 10 white-tailed deer containment areas and two Controlled Exploitation Zones (ZEC).
* Sainte-Anne River (Les Chenaux), overview
* Rivière Bras-du-Nord (Sainte-Anne), Saint-Raymond
* Canoe on the river and landing area, Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne
* Downstream of the Chutes-Ford Dam, Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne
* Fishing hut, bridge on the Chemin du Roy, parish church, Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade
* Ford Falls Dam, Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne
* Sainte-Anne River in Saint-Casimir
* Confluence of the Niagarette and Sainte-Anne rivers, rue Tessier, (Quebec Route 354)
* Rang du Rapide Sud
* Sedimentary rocks, Trenton Group limestones, rock faces, ice formations
* Rock faces of sedimentary Trenton Group limestones, from bridge on Route des Lefebvre
* Tributary of the Sainte-Anne River at its exit from the cave of Trou du diable, a few meters from its mouth

## Fauna

Fishing is an activity accessible to everyone in Quebec, it allows the discovery of fish species. It is important to know the rules that govern activity in lakes or rivers, in the wilderness as well as in an urban environment.
Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate publishes a new regulation every two years.

### Fish Species Present in Sainte-Anne River

Among the 27 species of fish mentioned in the list below, Cottus ricei Nelson, Cottus bairdii Girard and Margariscus margarita Cope were sampled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife between 2003 and 2006, the others by the Sainte-Anne Development and Protection Corporation (CAPSA), in 2002.
* Alosa sapidissima. —Alose savoureuse. — (American Shad).
* Ambloplites rupestris Rafinesque. — Crapet de roche. — (Rock Bass).
* Ameiurus nebulosus Lesueur. — Barbotte brune. — (Brown catfish, Brown bullhead, Bullhead, Catfish, Common bullhead, Common catfish).
* Catostomus catostomus Forster. — Meunier rouge — (Longnose Sucker).
* Catostomus commersoni Lacepède. — Meunier noir — (White sucker).
* Cottus bairdii Girard. —Chabot tacheté. — (Mottled Sculpin.
* Cottus ricei Nelson. — Chabot à tête plate. — (Spoonhead sculpin).
* Culaea inconstans Kirtland. — Épinoche à cinq épines. — (Brook stickleback)
* Etheostoma flabellare Rafinesque — Dard barré. — (Fantail darter).
* Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesque— Raseux-de-terre noir — (Johnny Darter).
* Fundulus diaphanus Lesueur. — Fondule barré. — (Banded killifish).
* Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus. — Épinoche à trois épines. — (Three-spined stickleback).
* Lampetra lamottei Lesueur. — Lamproie de l'Est — (American Brook Lamprey).
* Lepomis gibbosus Linnaeus. — Crapet soleil, Crapet jaune, Perche-soleil, Montre d’or. — (Pumpkinseed, Pumpkinseed sunfish, Yellow sunfish, Common sunfish, Sun bass).
* Luxilus cornutus Rafinesque — Méné à nageoires rouges — (Common shiner).
* Margariscus margarita Cope. — Mulet perlé. — (Allegheny Pearl Dace).
* Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede. — Achigan à petite bouche. — (Smallmouth bass, Bronzeback, Brown bass, Brownie, Smallie, Bronze bass, and Bareback bass).
* Percina caprodes Rafinesque. — Fouille-roche zébré, Dard-perche. —(Logperch).
* Percopsis omiscomaycus Walbaum. — Omisco — (Trout-perch, Grounder, Sand minnow).
* Petromyzon marinus Linneaus — Lamproie marine — (Sea lamprey).
* Pimephales notatus Rafinesque. — Méné à museau arrondi — (Bluntnose minnow).
* Rhinichthys atratulus Herman. — Naseux noir de l'Est — (Eastern blacknose dace).
* Rhinichthys cataractae Valenciennes. — Naseux des rapides — (Longnose dace).
* Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill. — Omble de fontaine — (Brook trout).
* Semotilus atromaculatus Mitchill. — Mulet à cornes. — (Creek chub).
* Semotilus corporalis Mitchill. — Ouitouche, Poisson blanc, Mulet. — (Fallfish, American Chub, Chivin, Corporal, Dace, Mohawk, Pennsylvania Giant Chub, Rough-nosed Chub, Shining Dace, Silver Chub, Windfish).
* Stizostedion vitreum Mittchill. — Doré jaune. — (Walleye).
Winter visitor, the Atlantic tomcod spawns between mid-December and the end of January mainly up to the Sainte-Anne and Batiscan rivers, in the Estuary of St. Lawrence River.
* Microgadus tomcod Walbaum. — Poulamon atlantique, Petit poisson des chenaux, poulamon, petite morue, loche. — (Atlantic tomcod, Tomcod, Frostfish, Tommycod).

## Tommy Cod Fishing

Tommy cod fishing is a traditional activity in the Mauricie region practiced for several centuries, the Iroquois were already fishing for Tommy cod fish in the year 1000 AD. In Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, in 1938, Eugène Mailhot, busy cutting blocks of ice for the family cooler, discovered that fish were spawning in the Sainte-Anne River.
The tourist vocation of small fish fishing developed in the 1940s, when visitors arrived by train to take advantage of this Christmas gift, suppliers transported travelers from the train station to the river in their dog sleds.
Having become a tradition, as soon as the ice permits, in December, the mouth of the Sainte-Anne comes alive to create what will become the world capital of Tommy Cod fishing. During the season, officially from December 26 to February 14, thousands of tourists arrive from all over the world to fish in this fishing village built on the frozen waters of the Sainte-Anne.
The fishing cabins are rented day from 08:00 to 18:00 and night 20:00 to 06:00, they are heated by wood or electricity, a table, benches, chairs, sometimes a couch, a radio and even a television set constitute the furniture. Fishing is done in holes drilled in the floor and in the ice below. Lines suspended above the hole have a weight and two hooks. Raw shrimp or frozen cubes of porc liver serve as bait. Catches are between 150 and 200 fish, per cabin, per rental period.
* Tommy Cod Fishing - Cabin and Fishermen
* Each group settles into their rental cabin in their own way
* A bench faces the hole drilled in the ice
* Inside a large fishing hut, group of 4 friendly families, from Montreal area
* Inside fishing hut 22, small and large fishermen
* Visitor proud of her catch
This temporary village, crisscrossed by a few roads, is lively day and night with outdoor activities, fishing, ice skating, tobogganing, little train rides, snowmobile, restaurants and others.
* Ice Fishing Village - Sainte-Anne River
* Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade and it's seasonal village
* Cabins for rent, fish for sale, office information, good-sized sturgeon
* Sightseeing in a train pulled by a tractor, automobiles near descent # 3
* Road near the river mouth in St. Lawrence River
* Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade - Another Village Rises
* Strengthening ice by watering
* Installation of the electrical network
* Electrical poles and wires
* Hole and ice blocks
* Resurfacing a cabin with ice, which will be covered with snow

## Notes and References

* ↑ "Ponts des Cascades, toponymy". Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Commission de Toponymy Quebec. 2 May 1985. Retrieved 24 October 2024. These bridges span the Sainte-Anne River in Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne (Municipality),
* 1 2 "Sainte-Anne Lake, Laurentides wildlife reserve, toponymy". Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Commission de Toponymy Quebec. 5 December 1968. With a length of approximately 120 km, the Sainte-Anne River has its source in the Laurentides wildlife reserve, more precisely in Lac Sainte-Anne.
* 1 2 "Sainte-Anne, Teyaiar River, toponymy". Gouvernement of Quebec. Commission de Toponymy Quebec. 5 December 1968. Retrieved 20 October 2024. With a length of approximately 120 km, the Sainte-Anne River has its source in the Laurentides wildlife reserve, more precisely in Lac Sainte-Anne.
* 1 2 3 Serge Hébert; Martine Gélineau; Francine Matte-Savard; Nathalie Milhomme; Serge Poirier (4 September 2007). "State of the aquatic ecosystem of the Sainte-Anne River watershed 2004-2006" (PDF). Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks. Retrieved 20 October 2024. The southern portion of the watershed, which rests on the St. Lawrence Lowlands, is used for agricultural purposes and is more densely populated.
* 1 2 3 4 Jean-François Ricard (28 June 2024). "Plan zone water director Sainte-Anne, Portneuf and La Chevrotière sector" (PDF) (in French). Corporation d'aménagement et de protection de la rivière Sainte-Anne (CAPSA). p. 40. Retrieved 23 October 2024. One of the most important wetlands in the territory is the Chute-Panet peat bog. Of an area of 250 hectares, it constitutes a remarkable ecological site, particularly for its concentration of plants likely to be designated threatened or vulnerable.
* ↑ "List of rivers in Quebec in alphabetical order" (PDF) (in French). Office of public hearings on the environment: BAPE. 30 October 2008. p. 10. Retrieved 7 November 2024. Hydroelectric complex development project on the Romaine River
* ↑ Courrier de Potrneuf (11 August 2015). "Saint-Alban inaugurates the Rang de la Rivière-Noire" (in French). Newspaper. Retrieved 13 November 2024. The road serves approximately 125 residences, including approximately 70 on Lac Clair. This is the main road to get there.
* 1 2 3 J. W. Laverdière, Abbé (1936). "Annual report of the Quebec Bureau of Mines" (PDF). Gouvernement of Quebec. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. p. 33. Retrieved 3 November 2024. The country in the vicinity of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, and stretching east and west of the Sainte-Anne river, is a clay plain, well suited for agriculture.
* 1 2 Emmanuelle Bouchard-Bastien (2023). "Amphibian spaces, power and memory: the fluctuations of the Sainte-Anne River" (PDF) (in French). pp. 129, 366 of 435. Retrieved 10 November 2024. ... end of commercial navigation in the sector downstream of Saint-Casimir, as recalled by a resident of the "Rapide" sector in Tessier's collection of memories (1974)
* 1 2 Bitzakidis, Stéfanos; S. Gagné; D. Genois; C. Paradis (April 2003). "Hydrological and multi-resource portrait of the Sainte-Anne River watershed" (PDF) (in French). CAPSA - Corporation d'aménagement et de protection de la Sainte-Anne. pp. 19, 20 of 137. Retrieved 5 November 2024. The river became larger and shallower, and the enormous amount of soil carried away (equivalent to natural contributions over a period of 5,000 years) began to settle 4 km upstream from the mouth to the St. Lawrence River.
* ↑ "Map of 111 salmon rivers in Quebec" (PDF). Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change. 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2024. Salmon rivers located on the North Shore, the Lower North Shore, Gaspésie, Anticosti Island and Ungava Bay
* ↑ J.-W. Laverdiére, abbe (1935). "Sainte-Anne River region, Portneuf County" (PDF). Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. p. 16. Retrieved 3 November 2024. Two railway lines, the Canadian Pacific and the Canadian National, cross this territory from East to West.
* 1 2 3 Yvon Globensky (1987). "Geology of the Lowlands of the Saint Lawrence" (PDF). Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. p. 72. Retrieved 9 November 2024. ... a compilation and update of the mapping work carried out in the St. Lawrence Lowlands over the last thirty years.
* 1 2 "Ford Falls Dam, toponymy". Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Commission de Toponymy Quebec. 27 February 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2024. This dam, 6.6 m high and almost 89 m long, has a retaining capacity of 621,000 cubic meters of water. The high-capacity concrete-gravity structure, erected across the Sainte-Anne River, was built in 1930, then modified in 1994.
* ↑ "Grotte le Trou du Diable". Parc naturel régional de Portneuf (in French). Société québécoise de spéléologie. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
* 1 2 "Fishing in Québec". Gouvernement of Quebec. Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024. Land that is not privately-owned belongs to the domain of the State. You may access it freely, except for certain special areas (zecs, wildlife reserves, etc.) where access fees and special rules may apply.
* ↑ "Freshwater Fish, recipe book" (PDF). 6 January 2011. p. 198. Retrieved 21 October 2024. Walleye's firm and lean white-fleshed meat delivers a mild and sweet flavor and is available through Freshwater Fish in whole, filleted, portioned or minced form. Walleye is delicious served pan-fried, deep-fried, broiled or baked.
* ↑ "CAPSA, Watershed organization for the Sainte-Anne, Portneuf and La Chevrotière rivers". Government of Quebec. 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024. ... one of the 40 watershed organizations recognized by the Quebec government.
* ↑ "Fish species present in the Sainte-Anne River". Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024. The majority of fish species were sampled by the Sainte-Anne Development and Protection Corporation in 2002.
* ↑ "Fish in pictures, Fish species present in the Sainte-Anne River". Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024. The diversity of fish Fish species present in the Sainte-Anne River
* ↑ "Poulamon atlantique, Atlantic tomcod". Gouvernement of Quebec (in French). Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024. The Atlantic tomcod spawns between mid-December and the end of January. Reproduction takes place in fresh water, under the ice. Spawning takes place on sand or gravel bottoms, at the foot of rapids or in gaps in the frazil ice.
* 1 2 "Ice fishing in Mauricie: Places to ice fish in winter" (in French). Mauricie tourism. Retrieved 29 October 2024. ... the fish (tomcod) are always there and in large numbers day and night! Fishing for small fish in the Chenaux is a family event not to be missed in winter, with a host of free activities surrounding fishing such as sliding, the ice rink and tram rides.
* ↑ "Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - 2. Iroquoians and Iroquois" (PDF) (in French). Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. November 1996. p. 1005. Retrieved 31 October 2024. The Iroquoian peoples encountered at the time of the very first contacts with Europeans were made up of many nations speaking languages of the same family and occupying neighboring territories.
* 1 2 3 Guy-Paul Brouillette (1933-2018) (16 July 2004). "Association of Outfitters of the Sainte-Anne River Inc" (in French). Inventory of ethnological resources of intangible heritage Quebec. Retrieved 31 October 2024. Fishing for small channel fish, also called tomcod, is a traditional activity in the Mauricie region practiced for several centuries by the Iroquois and the inhabitants of the French colony. In Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, it began in February 1938.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
* ↑ "Pourvoirie des Chenaux de la Pérade" (in French). 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024. Whether you are retirees, snowmobilers, tourists, group of friends, work group, school group or children's party, contact us to tell us about your specific needs and your personalized schedule.

## See Also

* Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade municipality
* Saint-Alban municipality
* Saint-Casimir municipality
* Lordship of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade history
* Blanche River Saint-Casimir
* Portneuf Regional County Municipality RCM
* Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality RCM
* List of rivers of Quebec and one million lakes

## External Links

* Quebec Speleology Society 2024, Devil's Hole, details of the adventure course (in French)
* Emmanuelle Bouchard-Bastien 2023, Amphibian spaces, power and memory: the fluctuations of the Sainte-Anne River, Laval University, pp. 435 (French)
* Paul Hinse 2012, Inventory of Portneuvois built heritage, Patri-Arch, pp 248 (French)
* Yvon Codère 1992 Archaeological inventory Highway 40-Route Gravel interchange, Pointe-aux-Trembles Ste-Anne River West Road, St-Casimir Rang St-Joseph, St-Thuribe Ministère des Transport Québec, pp 71 (French)
* Portneuf Regional Natural Park 2016, Sainte-Anne River gorges sector, table of hiking trails, Maps, pp 4 (French)
* Ohdio Radio Canada 08-09-2020 Remnants of the log drive increase the risk of flooding in Saint-Raymond on Sainte-Anne River. (French listen)
* Duchesne, Raymond. “1863. William Logan (1798-1875) The Geology of Canada.” In Monuments Intellectuels de La Nouvelle-France et Du Québec Ancien, Les Presses de l’Université Montréal, 2014. (French)
* Municipality of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade 2024, Poulamon Interpretation Center (French)
* Portait, diagnostic et plan d’action des bassins versants des rivières Sainte-Anne, Grimard, et Lacoursière, CAPSA 2012, pp. 3, PDF (French)
* Let's go fishing, map (French)
* When to fish: the fishing season in Quebec, explained and simplified, Quebec outfitters, May 2024 (French)
* Québec Fishing: The Complete Guide, Fishng Booker, April 2024
* "CAPSA: Organisme des bassins versants des rivières Sainte-Anne, Portneuf, La Chevrotière".
* Alain Cloutier, July 1982, Characteristics and dynamics of the stock of Atlantic tomcod Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum) of the Sainte-Anne River, La Pérade, Quebec, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Library service, pp 138