The MRC Will Request the Exclusion of Black River from the Watercourses Within its Jurisdiction

The Pontiac Council of Elected Representatives will ask the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change to remove the Black River from the watercourses within its jurisdiction because of the complexity of managing this river.

Since January 1, 2006, watercourse management in Quebec falls within MRC responsibilities, except for watercourses which, by decree 1292-2005, remain under the sole jurisdiction of the Quebec government. In the Pontiac, a portion of the Coulonge River and the Ottawa River are excluded.

The 238 km long Black River, crosses the Nilgaut TNO and the municipality of Waltham to flow into the Ottawa River. A hydroelectric dam and retaining structures used, among other things, to create water reservoirs and control the flow for electricity generation were allowed on this river and its tributaries by the Quebec government, making the management of this watercourse too complex and costly for a MRC.