Bignell Creek facts for kids

Bignell Creek is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into Adolphe-Poisson Bay, which is part of the huge Gouin Reservoir. The creek runs entirely through a forest in the town of La Tuque, located in the Mauricie region.

The area around Bignell Creek is mostly used for forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. Recreational tourism, like fishing and camping, is also popular here.

A special forest road helps people get to the western part of the Bignell Creek valley. Quebec route 404 connects the village of Clova, Quebec to the south of Bureau Lake (Gouin Reservoir). This road also links up with Quebec route 400, which goes to the Gouin Dam. Other smaller forest roads are used for forestry and tourism activities.

The surface of Bignell Creek is usually frozen from mid-November until the end of April. However, it's generally safe to travel on the ice from early December to late March.

Where Does Bignell Creek Flow?

The area where Bignell Creek collects its water, called its watershed, is mostly on the western side of the Gouin Reservoir. The land that separates Bignell Creek's water from the Mégiscane River is about 1.5 to 3 kilometers (0.9 to 1.9 miles) to the west.

Nearby Waterways

Here are some of the other rivers and bays close to Bignell Creek:

• North side: Gouin Reservoir, Mattawa Bay, Adolphe-Poisson Bay, Hanotaux Bay, Saraana Bay.
• East side: Flapjack River, Tessier Lake (Gouin Reservoir), Oskélanéo River, Oskélanéo Lake, Bureau Lake (Gouin Reservoir).
• South side: Flapjack River, Tamarac River (Gatineau River tributary), Clova River, Aux Bleuets River.
• West side: Tamarac River (Gatineau River tributary), Provancher Creek, Mégiscane River.

The Source of Bignell Creek

Bignell Creek starts from an unnamed lake surrounded by marshes. This lake is about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) long and sits at an altitude of 424 meters (1,391 feet).

The source lake is located:

• About 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) northwest of Clova, Quebec, where the Canadian National Railway passes.
• About 11.9 kilometers (7.4 miles) south of where Bignell Creek ends (its mouth).
• About 22.4 kilometers (13.9 miles) south of the mouth of Adolphe-Poisson Bay.
• About 55 kilometers (34.2 miles) southwest of Obedjiwan, Quebec, a village on the north shore of Gouin Reservoir.
• About 99.3 kilometers (61.7 miles) southwest of the Gouin Dam, which controls the water flow from the Gouin Reservoir into the Saint-Maurice River.

How Bignell Creek Flows

From its source lake, Bignell Creek flows for about 8.7 kilometers (5.4 miles). Here's how it travels:

• It flows 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) north, passing through two more unnamed lakes.
• Then, it continues 5.8 kilometers (3.6 miles) north to the southern edge of Poisson Township.
• It flows another 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) north through Poisson Township, crossing three more unnamed lakes.
• Finally, it turns west, then north, flowing 2.9 kilometers (1.8 miles) in Provancher Township until it reaches its mouth.

Where Bignell Creek Ends

The mouth of Bignell Creek is where it joins Adolphe-Poisson Bay. This spot is located:

• About 29.5 kilometers (18.3 miles) north of the Canadian National Railway.
• About 31.5 kilometers (19.6 miles) northwest of the village of Clova, Quebec.
• About 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) south of the mouth of Adolphe-Poisson Bay.
• About 46.3 kilometers (28.8 miles) southwest of Obedjiwan, Quebec.
• About 98.6 kilometers (61.3 miles) southwest of the Gouin Dam.
• About 135 kilometers (83.9 miles) west of Wemotaci, Quebec, a village on the north shore of the Saint-Maurice River.
• About 224 kilometers (139.2 miles) northwest of downtown La Tuque.

From Adolphe-Poisson Bay, the water travels about 135.2 kilometers (84 miles) to the Gouin Dam. This journey includes:

• 12.7 kilometers (7.9 miles) north through Adolphe-Poisson Bay and a strait to Du Mâle Lake (Gouin Reservoir).
• 40.6 kilometers (25.2 miles) northeast through Male Lake and the western part of Gouin Reservoir, passing by Obedjiwan, Quebec.
• 81.9 kilometers (50.9 miles) east through Marmette Lake, then southeast through Brochu Lake, and finally east through Kikendatch Bay until it reaches the Gouin Dam.

After the Gouin Dam, the water flows into the Saint-Maurice River all the way to Trois-Rivières.

What's in the Name?

The name "Bignell" comes from an English family name. The official name "ruisseau Bignell" (Bignell Creek) was formally recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization in charge of place names in Quebec.