Gatineau Watershed

Five lands designated as conservation areas by the MDDEP are located in the region surrounding the Gatineau River. They are the ecological reserves of André-Michaux, Louis-Zéphirin-Rousseau, Rolland-Germain, Père-Louis-Marie and the Érablière-du-Trente-et-Un-Milles.

The André-Michaud Reserve is home to ecosystems found in broadleaf forests of the sugar maple-basswood domain and the sugar maple-yellow birch domain, typically found in the St. Lawrence highlands. This reserve is located 6 km north-east of the Municipality of Low, in the Gatineau Valley Regional County Municipality (RCM). The area on which it is located borders the east bank of the Gatineau River and covers an area of 1111 acres.

The Louis-Zéphirin-Rousseau Ecological Reserve covers only two small islands on Lake Trente-et-un-Milles. It harbors a mature forest of dry Eastern white cedar grove typical of the Gatineau River region. The Reserve is located 25 km south of Maniwaki, in the Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Pontmain (RCM of Antoine-Labelle) and covers 12.7 acres.

The Rolland-Germain Ecological Reserve is located 30 km north of Maniwaki, in the Gatineau Valley RCM. Its 33.8 acres are home to ecosystems typical of the ecological region of Central Gatineau, namely the sugar maple-yellow birch stand domain.

The Père-Louis-Marie Ecological Reserve ensures the protection of a wide range of white pines, a typical softwood forest ecosystem found in the ecological region of Central Gatineau belonging to the sugar maple-yellow birch stand domain. The Reserve also shelters a large white-tailed deer deeryard. It is located 25 km south-east of Maniwaki and stretches over 778 acres.

The Érablière-du-Trente-et-Un-Milles Ecological Reserve is an area designed for the protection of broadleaf forest ecosystems of the ecological region of Lake Simon and is located on the sugar maple-yellow birch stand domain. Located some 30 km south-east of Maniwaki, the Reserve covers 1497 acres.

Adapted from COMGA's Summary of the Gatineau River Watershed Portrait