CGBRO Logo

CGBRO

The Corporation de gestion des berges de la rivière des Outaouais (CGBRO) was created in 2001 so that local organizations could take part in the wildlife refuge project initiated by the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP). This project is still underway at the MFFP.

The mission of the CGBRO is to conserve and enhance the fauna and flora on the territory of the wildlife refuge project. This includes ensuring the ecological integrity of the territory and seeing to the maintenance and development of activities compatible with this mandate, including recreational tourism, education, hunting, fishing and trapping.

Baie Lochaber

What is a wildlife refuge?

Not to be confused with a wildlife reserve or a migratory bird sanctuary, a wildlife refuge is a status given to a public territory by the Quebec Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks under the conservation of wildlife Act.

Its purpose is to preserve the integrity of a significant wildlife habitat, recognized at the regional or provincial level for its wildlife productivity, density and diversity, or the support it provides for a rare, threatened or vulnerable species.

In a wildlife refuge, the government determines, by regulation, the conditions of use of the resources and, incidentally, the conditions for recreational activities.

There are currently nine wildlife sanctuaries in Quebec, ranging in size from less than one hectare to 1,290 hectares (12.9 km2). With an area of 2,800 hectares (28 km2), the Grandes Baies de l’Outaouais Wildlife Refuge would be the largest in Quebec.

Map of the wildlife refuge

The Grandes Baies de l’Outaouais Wildlife Refuge project is located in the southern part of the Outaouais administrative region, between the economic hubs of Montreal and the Ottawa-Gatineau region. It is bounded on the north by Highway 148 and on the south by the Quebec-Ontario border on the Ottawa River. It extends over a linear section of 29 kilometers between McLaurin Bay in the west and the Blanche River in Thurso to the east. It covers an area of 28 km2. It straddles two municipalities, the City of Gatineau (Gatineau and Masson-Angers sectors) and the Township of Lochaber-Partie-Ouest.
Territoire du projet de refuge faunique des Grandes Baies de l'Outaouais

News and updates

Here is the latest news concerning the Grandes Baies de la rivière des Outaouais Wildlife Refuge Project:
Subscribe to our newsletter

The CGBRO receives financial assistance from the MFFP

Mar 1, 2022

On July 30, 2021, the CGBRO was granted financial assistance by the Ministère des forêts, de la faune et des parcs du Québec within the framework of its "Relève et mise en valeur de la faune" program. The objective of this project is to conduct a market study on the...

read more

Waterfowl Hunter Survey

Mar 1, 2022

In the fall of 2021, the CGBRO conducted a field survey of waterfowl hunters in the wildlife refuge area. The purpose of this survey is to determine hunting effort, which can be compared with results from previous surveys, and to assess the importance of this...

read more

Online User Survey

Mar 1, 2022

From November 30 to December 20, 2021, the CGBRO mandated the firm NG Communications to conduct a survey of the users of the territory of the wildlife refuge project. The purpose of this survey was to better understand "who" the users are, what activities they...

read more

How to get there

There are many public access points to the territory of the wildlife refuge project, either from Highway 148 or the Ottawa River. Here are some of them (the numbers correspond to those on the wildlife refuge project map):

Carte du projet (PDF)

McLaurin Bay area

  • Hurtubise Street (#1): 900-meter walking trail to the bay and to a small observation post on the marsh (free parking; not cleared of snow).
  • Martin-Larouche Park (#2): Access from Notre-Dame Street in Gatineau. A 500-meter walking trail leads to the bay (free parking).
  • Parc des Pêcheurs (#3): Access by Notre-Dame Street in Gatineau. Boat ramp (free parking).

Clément and Carpentier Bays sector

  • Rue du Ruisseau (#7): Small parking lot at the end of the street. Access road (length: 300 meters) announced by a brown sign “Wildlife Refuge”. No facilities, used mostly by hunters who walk in boots and pants in the marsh.
  • Pourvoirie Pêche blanche Gatineau (#8): Located at 540 Montreal Road West (Gatineau). Paid land access managed by Pêche blanche Gatineau. Accessible in winter only. *Clement Bay is accessible by watercraft via the Ottawa River.

Marais aux Massettes sector

  • Marais aux Massettes (#11): Access road at 852, route 148 in Lochaber-Partie-Ouest. 3.2 km walking trail on the dike surrounding the marsh (free parking).

Marais des Laîches, Templeton and Grenouillettes sectors

  • Marais des Laîches West (#4): Access road (length: 1 km) announced by a “Wildlife Refuge” sign near 1974 Chemin de Montréal in Gatineau (free parking at the end of the road). Unmarked trails provide several views of the Templeton Marsh.
  • Marais des Laîches Est (#5): Access road (length: 800 meters) announced by a brown sign “Refuge faunique”, in front of Fenomax at 2135 Montreal Road West (Gatineau). A 3 km walking trail on the dike surrounding the marsh (motorized vehicles are not allowed beyond the parking lot).
  • Marais aux Grenouillettes (#6): Access road (length: 500 meters) announced by a brown sign “Refuge faunique”, in front of 1825, chemin de Montréal (Gatineau). Free parking. 2.2 km walking trail on the dike surrounding the marsh (motorized vehicles prohibited beyond the parking lot).

Lochaber Bay sector

  • Masson Ferry (#9): Access via Chemin du Quai (Gatineau). Large free parking lot west of the ferry terminal. Water access: boat launch for motorized and non-motorized boats; access to Clement Bay (west) or Lochaber Bay (east).
  • Marais des Libellules (#10): Access by Chemin du Fer-à-Cheval. Access road of 1.7 km in length giving access to Lochaber Bay. Small free parking lot.

Thurso sector

  • Thurso wharf (#12): Access by Galipeau Street (Thurso). Parking east of the ferry terminal. Boat ramp (access fee required by Plaisance National Park).