West Branch Pocwock Stream facts for kids

The West Branch Pocwock Stream is a small river, also called a "tributary." It flows into the Pocwock River. This stream runs through two countries:

• In Canada, it flows through Quebec. Here, it is known as "ruisseau Pocwock." It passes through the Bas-Saint-Laurent area, specifically in Kamouraska Regional County Municipality, within the wild lands of Picard, Quebec.
• In the United States, it flows through Maine. It is found in the North Maine Woods and Aroostook County.

This stream flows mostly through forests in a quiet mountain valley. It is mainly in Maine, southeast of the border between Canada and the U.S. The stream starts high up, northeast of a lake called Eastern Lake (Kamouraska).

The West Branch Pocwock Stream eventually joins the Pocwock River. The Pocwock River then flows southeast to meet the Saint John River (Bay of Fundy). The Saint John River winds its way east and then southeast, crossing all of New Brunswick. Finally, it empties into the Bay of Fundy, which opens up to the Atlantic Ocean. The area around the Pocwock stream can be reached by some forest roads.

Where Does the Stream Start and End?

The Stream's Beginning in Quebec

The "Pocwock brook," or "ruisseau Pocwock" in French, starts in the Notre Dame Mountains. This is in a wild area of Picard, Quebec, within the Kamouraska Regional County Municipality in Quebec.

The source of the stream is located:

• About 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) northwest of the border between Quebec and Maine.
• About 5.0 kilometres (3.1 mi) northeast of Eastern Lake (Kamouraska).
• About 13.0 kilometres (8.1 mi) northwest from where the West Branch Pocwock Stream joins another river.
• About 44.1 kilometres (27.4 mi) southeast of the Saint Lawrence River coast in Quebec.

How the Stream Flows

From its start in the mountains, the West Branch Pocwock Stream flows for about 15.1 kilometres (9.4 mi). Here is how its journey unfolds:

Upper Part of the Stream (in Quebec)

• For about 4.1 kilometres (2.5 mi), the stream flows southeast. This part is entirely within the wild lands of Picard, Quebec.
• This section continues until it reaches the border between Quebec and Maine.

Lower Part of the Stream (in Maine)

• For about 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi), the stream flows southeast into Maine. It crosses a drop of 132 metres (433 ft) and passes a forest road.
• Then, for about 7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi), it flows south through a small flat forest area. This continues until it reaches where it joins the Pocwock River.

Where the Stream Joins the Pocwock River

The West Branch Pocwock Stream flows into the northeast side of the Pocwock River. This meeting point is in a place called township T17 R14 Wels, in Aroostook County.

This meeting point is located:

• About 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) southeast of the Canada-U.S. border.
• About 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) northwest of where the Chimenticook River joins.
• About 22.0 kilometres (13.7 mi) downstream from where the Pocwock River itself begins.

What Does "Pocwock" Mean?

The name "Pocwock" is used for several nearby waterways. These include the "Pocwock River" and the "East Branch Pocwock Stream."

In Quebec, the name of the stream is often spelled "Pockwock," with a "k" in the middle. However, in the United States, the official name used by the GNIS (Geographic Names Information System) is "Pocwock," without the "k."

The name "West Branch Creek Pockwock" was officially recognized on August 7, 1978, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is Quebec's board for geographical names.