The rivière la Retenue is a tributary of the east bank of the Ferrée river. It flows in the municipalities of Château-Richer and L'Ange-Gardien, in the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Capitale-Nationale, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. The lower part of this valley is served by roads around Lac la Retenue. The intermediate part which follows the foot of the big mountain, is served by a forest road for the needs of forestry and the maintenance of high-voltage lines of Hydro-Quebec. The upper part, which is difficult to access because of the mountainous terrain, is served by a forest road from the north. Forestry is the main economic activity in this valley; second, recreational tourism. The surface of the Retained River is generally frozen from the beginning of December until the end of March; however, safe traffic on the ice is generally from mid-December to mid-March. The upper part of the river is subject to a frost period of about a week more due to the altitude. The water level of the river varies with the seasons and the precipitation; the spring flood occurs in March or April.
Geography
The Retained River originates from a small forest lake. This source is located in a cuvée between three mountain peaks in the municipality of Château-Richer, at:
east of a curve of the Montmorency river;
north of the confluence of the Retained river and the Ferrée river;
From its source, the Retained River descends on, with a drop of according to the following segments:
south in Château-Richer, with a drop of, to a stream ;
to the south, collecting the discharge of a small lake, to the discharge of a dam lake;
with a drop of first south-east to a bend in the river, then south-west to a stream. Note: This segment of river bypasses a mountain whose summit reaches ;
towards the south by forming a large S, then curving towards the west, up to the outlet of an unidentified lake;
first towards the west until a 160 degree bend in the river, then towards the south by forming a curve towards the east, then towards the southwest by crossing the Lac la Retenue, to the dam at its mouth. Note: Lac la Retenue receives the waters of the North-West Arm which pours into the bottom of an L-shaped bay with a length of ;
first towards the south by crossing the road?, then by forming a hook towards the west by forming two loops oriented towards the northeast, until its mouth.
The Retained river flows on the north bank of the Ferrée River into a forest area. From the confluence of the Retained river, the current flows on generally towards the south following the course of the Ferrée River; then on towards the east by the course of the Montmorency river, to the northwest shore of the Saint-Laurent river.
Toponymy
This river was formerly designated "Laval River". This toponymic designation is linked to "Lac la Retenue" which has a dam at its mouth. The toponym "Rivière la Retenue" was formalized on December 13, 1996 at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.
