Gatineau HillsThe southern part of the watershed of the river of the Gatineau River is characterized economically by its very dynamic urban sector, the service sector employing nearly 85 % of regional labour force. To the north, the further development of the forestry and tourist industries has been the subject of constant attention by the economic stakeholders, for many years. Agriculture and the forestry industry are the primary sectors present in this part of the territory.

Gatineau WatershedIndustrial Use

Point source pollution generated by industrial activity is not well documented in the Gatineau River basin, much like elsewhere in the province. The last update, produced in 2006, reports six potentially polluting industries, five of which are within the wood industry. This clearly shows the significance of forest practices for the region’s economy.

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.

Gatineau WatershedDue to the more moderate climate, the urban and agricultural professions are concentrated essentially in the southern portion and consequently occupy only a negligible part of the territory. The protected agricultural zone, today covers 92,300 hectares inside the catchment area, that is to say 4 % of this territory. Nearly 95 % of the farm land is used for forage production.

Gatineau WatershedIn the Gatineau River watershed, the forest is made up of hardwoods in the south and mixed wood in the center. Softwood trees are mostly located more in the north. The age of the forests vary largely, due to earlier harvesting. The trees of the Gatineau River Valley forests range in age from 20 and 60 years of age.

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.

Gatineau WatershedThere was once a vibrant mining industry in the region, however nowadays only gravel and sand pits are left. The watershed was once the cradle of mining industry in Quebec with excavation of graphite, mica, apatite, barite, fluorite, garnet, granite, feldspar, brucite and chrysotile. The area was also an important copper, nickel and iron producer.

Gatineau Watershed

The watershed of the Gatineau River has an enormous recreational and tourist potential which lends itself at the same time to the nautical and outdoor activities, cottaging, hunting, fishing, not-with-standing all other related activities.