Gatineau WatershedFrom Gatineau to Plaisance, the Outaouais is home to a number of wetlands containing one of the most outstanding diversities of fauna and flora. These form a complex network of ecosystems that sustain the habitats of numerous rare, threatened or vulnerable species or those species that risk becoming vulnerable.

Following land purchases by the Fondation de la faune du Québec as well as by Ducks Unlimited Canada – as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan – the great majority of these natural environments now belong to the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife (MNRW). The MNRW is in the midst of a building a 50 km linear wildlife sanctuary covering approximately 12 350 acres.

The Wetland Enhancement Project is geared towards the McLaurin and Clement Bay ecological complex. The latter covers some 17 km2 and is located between Route 148 northbound, the Ottawa River southbound, the Lafarge quarry westbound and the Lièvre River eastbound.

Click here to learn more about wetlands in the Gatineau and Ottawa River watersheds.