Otonabee River

The Otonabee River is a river in Peterborough County in Central Ontario, Canada.[1] The river flows from Katchewanooka Lake, at the north end of the community of Lakefield, through the city of Peterborough to Rice Lake. It is in the Great Lakes Basin and forms part of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Otonabee River
The Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario
Location of the mouth of the Otonabee River in southern Ontario
EtymologyFrom the Ojibwe Odoonabii-ziibi, meaning Tullibee River
Native nameOdoonabii-ziibi'
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
RegionCentral Ontario
CountyPeterborough
Cities
Physical characteristics
SourceKatchewanooka Lake
 • locationSelwyn
 • coordinates44°25′54″N 78°16′19″W
 • elevation233 m (764 ft)
MouthRice Lake
 • location
Otonabee–South Monaghan
 • coordinates
44°09′14″N 78°13′52″W
 • elevation
187 m (614 ft)
Length55 km (34 mi)
Basin size806 km2 (311 sq mi)
Basin features
River systemGreat Lakes Basin

Etymology

The river is called Odoonabii-ziibi in the Ojibwe language. Otonabee comes from the words ode which means "heart" and odemgat that comes from "boiling water". It translates into "the river that beats like a heart in reference to the bubbling and boiling water of the rapids along the river".[2]

Course

The river begins at Katchewanooka Lake on the north side of the community of Lakefield in the municipality of Selwyn, and flows south over the Lakefield (Trent-Severn lock 6) dams and locks. After leaving the community to the Peterborough city limits, the river forms the border between Selwyn and the municipality of Douro–Dummer. The river continues south, passing through the dams associated with four more locks, enters the city of Peterborough, and passes under Faryon Bridge at Trent University. Just south of the university, the Trent-Severn departs via a south-bound canal to the Peterborough Lift Lock east of the river, while the river continues south to the west. It passes over several hydroelectricity dams and generating stations, and passes into the centre of the city of Peterborough, as close as 150 metres (490 ft) to downtown, as it reaches Little Lake. The Trent-Severn waterway rejoins the river there, exiting from Ashburnham Lock. The river leaves Little Lake at Scotts Mills lock & dam, and heads south, passes under Ontario Highway 7, passes into the municipality of Otonabee–South Monaghan, and snakes its way without any other locks or dams to reach its mouth at Rice Lake, which flows via the Trent River to Lake Ontario.

The total length of the river is 55 kilometres (34 mi), and the distance from Little Lake to Rice Lake about 30 kilometres (19 mi). The drainage basin, not including Katchewanooka Lake or other lakes further upstream, is 806 square kilometres (311 sq mi).[3]

Hydrology

Some areas of Peterborough along the Otonabee are prone to flooding following heavy rains, such as happened on July 15, 2004 when 240 mm (7.3 in) fell in some locations in under twenty-four hours.

History

Both Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill lived on farms near Katchewanooka Lake.

Economy

Trent University operates its own hydroelectric plant on the river.

Islands

Cow Island is located to the west of the mouth of the Otonabee River.

Tributaries
  • Steamboat Creek (right)
  • Kent Creek (left)
  • Squirrel Creek (right)
  • Lepers Creek (right)
  • Baxter Creek (right)
  • Cavan Creek (right)
  • Meade Creek (left)
  • Whitlaw Creek (left)
  • Jackson Creek (right)
  • Sawer Creek (left)
  • A view across the Otonabee river in Peterborough, Ontario, showing a part of the campus of Trent University. The Faryon bridge is to the right.
  • Another view of the Faryon Bridge (reverse angle from previous), connecting the east and west banks of the Otonabee River
  • Otonabee River as it flows past Peterborough County Road 32

See also

References
  1. "Otonabee River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
  2. Simpson, Leanne (2011). Dancing on Our Turtle's Back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-creation, Resurgence and a New Emergence. Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 9781894037525. OCLC 702798103.
  3. "2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report" (PDF). Otonabee Region Conservation. April 2013. Retrieved 2015-02-08.

Sources
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