the unorganized territories of Lac-Oscar, in Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality), in the administrative region of Laurentides.
Geography
The Mitchinamecus River originates at the southern limit of the township of Dandurand and south of the municipality of Parent, in Haut-Saint-Maurice, in Mauricie. Head Lake constitutes the head lake of the Mitchinamecus River. Head Lake is located south of a bay in Dandurand Lake, west of Margaret Lake, and southeast of the village of Parent, at northwest of Manouane Lake and north of Mitchinamecus Reservoir. The main watersheds around the head of the Mitchinamecus River are;
in the North: Lac Dandurand which is a tributary of the Bazin River;
River course downstream from Height Lake From the mouth west of Height Lake, the Mitchinamecus River flows over:
towards the northwest by collecting the waters of Lac du Portage, up to the outlet of Lac Hull ;
westward, to the outlet of Head Lake, of Lac Aigu and Lake Hare ;
south-west, to the mouth of Totem Lake which the current crosses on ;
south-west, to the mouth of Lac de la Tanière which the current crosses on ;
south-west, up to the road bridge connecting the two shores in a strait of Long Lake. Note: Long Lake receives on its east shore the Pierre River;
to the southwest, crossing Long Lake over its full length. This long lake is an extension of the Mitchinamecus River.
Course of the river downstream from Lac Long From the dam located at the mouth southwest of the long lake, the Mitchinamecus river flows over:
towards the south-west, crossing several lakes which constitute an enlargement of the river, up to the outlet of Slow Lake and Peabody, coming from the south-east;
south-west to the outlet of Basset lakes, Fleet and Georges, coming from the north;
south-west to the outlet of Lac Tournière, coming from the south;
south-west to the outlet of Lac Mignarde, coming from the north;
towards the south-west, forming numerous streamers, up to the outlet of Lakes Armature, Barils, Team, Jacynthe, René and Dan, from the northwest;
south-west, forming numerous streamers, to the outlet of Leluau lake, coming from the east ;
westward, forming numerous streamers, to the northeast shore of the north bay of Mitchinamecus reservoir;
crossing to the southwest the north bay of the Mitchinamecus reservoir, to the Dépôt-Carrier bridge;
towards the southwest crossing the Mitchinamecus reservoir, up to Mitchinamecus Dam].
River course downstream of the Mitchinamecus Reservoir From the dam at the mouth to the south of the Mitchinamecus reservoir, the river flows on:
east to the outlet of Nottaway Creek;
southwards, to the outlet of Lac de la Loutre;
south-east, up to Rascas Falls;
south, to Louise stream, coming from the east;
southeasterly, up to Cannor stream, coming from the east;
southwest, to Matts Creek;
south-west, to the mouth of the Mitchinamecus river which flows into the Lièvre river which forms a large loop at this point. This confluence is designated "Les Fourches".
From the Mitchinamecus reservoir, the Mitchinamecus river crosses several rapids and falls, in particular: fall of the Broken Lady, the Carrier rapids, the Rascas Falls and the Long Rapids. The lower segments of the Mitchinamecus River are navigated by canoeists in whitewater.
Toponymy
The term Mitchinamecus refers to a zec, a river, a reservoir and a dam. Formerly, the Mitchinamecus river was also designated:
Otter river and Macamekosi Sipi. This toponym appears in the official documentation in 1911. Of Cree origin, this toponym means "large trout", of misinamecus, formed of mis, large, large and namecus, trout.
Mashamengoose river, sometimes spelled Menjobabuse.
