View source for Ogoki River

{{Infobox river
| name               = Ogoki River
| image              = Ogoki River.JPG
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = Aerial view of Ogoki River
| image_alt          = 
| pushpin_map        = Ontario
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| subdivision_type1  = 
| subdivision_name1  = [[Canada]]
| subdivision_type2  = Province
| subdivision_name2  = [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_type3  = Districts
| subdivision_name3  = [[Thunder Bay District|Thunder Bay]], [[Cochrane District|Cochrane]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = <!-- {{Convert|___|km|abbr=on}} -->
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| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
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<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = Endogoki Lake
| source1_location   = [[Unorganized Thunder Bay District|Unorg. Thunder Bay]]
| source1_coordinates= {{Coord|50|33|58|N|90|15|27|W|region:CA-ON_type:waterbody_source:Toporama|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = [[Albany River]]
| mouth_location     = [[Ogoki Post]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{Coord|51|37|28|N|85|57|02|W|region:CA-ON_type:waterbody_source:CGNDB|display=inline,title}}<ref name=cgndb>{{Cite cgndb|FCGSG|Ogoki River |access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref>
| mouth_elevation    = 
| progression        = [[Albany River]]→ [[James Bay]]
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = <!-- {{Convert|___|km2|abbr=on}} -->
| basin_landmarks    = 
| basin_population   = 
| tributaries_left   = Montcrief River, Dusey River
| tributaries_right  = Rindt River, [[Allan Water (Ontario)|Allan Water]], Raymond River, Ottertail River
| waterbodies        = Wabakimi Lake, Whitewater Lake, Whiteclay Lake, Ogoki Reservoir, [[Ogoki Lake]]
| waterfalls         = Waboose Falls
}}

The '''Ogoki River''' is a [[river]] in the [[Thunder Bay District, Ontario|Thunder Bay]] and [[Cochrane District, Ontario|Cochrane]] Districts of [[Ontario]].<ref name=cgndb/> It springs from the wilderness just east of [[Savant Lake (lake)|Savant Lake]], flowing north of [[Lake Nipigon]] to [[Ogoki, Ontario|Ogoki]], where it joins the [[Albany River]] which empties into [[James Bay]]. The river is {{convert|480|km|mi}} long.{{cn|date=October 2021}}

The Ogoki River is a  narrow, deep, slow-moving, and [[Anastomosis#Geography and hydrology|anastomosing]] river, with high sediment content. Rapids occur where the river crosses bedrock shelves. The Speckled Trout Rapids, a particularly large set of rapids, is located between Harrogate and Patience Lake. An extensive delta and estuary system has developed where the river enters [[Ogoki Lake]].<ref name="mgmt">{{cite web |title=Ogoki River Provincial Park Management Statement |url=https://www.ontario.ca/page/ogoki-river-provincial-park-management-statement |website=Ontario.ca |publisher=Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks |access-date=12 October 2021 |language=en |date=12 November 2015}}</ref>

The river, now mostly used for [[canoe]]ing and [[fishing]], was part of a canoe route from [[Hudson Bay]] to [[Lake Superior]]: via James Bay, Albany River, Ogoki River, [[portage]] to Ombabika River, Lake Nipigon, [[Nipigon River]], and finally Lake Superior.

Portions of the river are protected in the [[Wabakimi Provincial Park]] and Ogoki River Provincial Park.

==Fauna==
The following fish species have been identified in Ogoki River system:<ref name="mgmt"/>
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* walleye
* northern pike
* lake sturgeon
* yellow perch
* lake whitefish
* white sucker
* spottail shiner
* Iowa darter
* Johnny darter
* logperch
* redhorse sucker
* longnose dace
* sculpin
* ninespine stickleback
* burbot
* lake chub
* mimic shiner
* trout-perch
* fathead minnow
* speckled (brook) trout
{{Div col end}}

==Diversion==
In 1943, the [[Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario]] diverted a large part of the upper Ogoki to flow into Lake Nipigon and on to the [[Great Lakes]]. This diversion was intended to increase water flow for the [[Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations]] at [[Niagara Falls]], downstream of [[Lake Erie]].<ref name=IJC>{{cite web |title=An Overview of Great Lakes Diversions |url=https://ijc.org/en/lsbc/watershed/great-lakes-diversions |website=[[International Joint Commission]] |access-date=29 September 2021}}</ref>

{{Convert|5545|mi2|km2|order=flip}} of the Ogoki basin is diverted by a {{Convert|50|ft|order=flip}} high and {{Convert|1700|ft|order=flip}} long dam at the Waboose Falls (also known as Waboose Rapids), constructed in 1940-43. Together with another 3 control dams, this dam raises the water level by about {{Convert|40|ft|m|order=flip}}, thereby creating Ogoki Reservoir (which is {{convert|70|km|mi}} long and covers an area of approximately {{convert|150|km2|mi2}}). An average of about {{convert|4000|cuft/s}} is diverted to the headwaters of the Little Jackfish River, a tributary of [[Lake Nipigon]], and leaving about {{convert|1000|cuft/s}} to flow down the Ogoki River itself.<ref>{{cite book |title=Effect on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River of an Increase of 1000 Cubic Feet Per Second in the Diversion at Chicago: Report |date=1957 |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tDkEwo4xasUC |language=en |access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Annin |first1=Peter |title=The Great Lakes water wars |date=2009 |publisher=Island Press |location=Washington |isbn=9781597266376 |edition=1st Island Press pbk. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3vgzhwmmmw4C |access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=GLBC>{{cite book |author1=United States Great Lakes Basin Commission |title=Great Lakes Basin Framework Study. [report] - Appendix |date=1974 |publisher=Public Information Office, Great Lakes Basin Commission |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fmhQAAAAYAAJ |language=en |access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref>

This diversion increases the size of Lake Nipigon's watershed by almost 60%,<ref name=GLBC/> and together with the Long Lake diversion of the [[Kenogami River]], raises [[Lake Superior]] by an average of {{Convert|2.1|cm}}.<ref name=IJC/> Although the water levels have improved in the Great Lakes, it has also caused a major drop in water levels and unnatural flooding in the Ogoki River.<ref name="mgmt"/>

==Ogoki River Provincial Park==
{{stack|float=left|margin=true| 
{{Infobox protected area
|name            = Ogoki River Provincial Park
|alt_name        = 
|iucn_category   = ii
|iucn_ref        = 
|photo           = 
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|coordinates     = {{Coord|50|49|36|N|87|13|56|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=inline}}
|coords_ref      = <ref>{{Cite cgndb|FIDOS|Ogoki River Provincial Park}}</ref>
|length          = 
|length_km       = 140
|width           = 
|width_km        = 
|area            = 
|area_ha         = 23250
|area_km2        = 
|area_ref        = <ref name="OP">{{cite web |title=Ogoki River |url=https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/ogokiriver |website=www.ontarioparks.com |publisher=Ontario Parks |access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref>
|elevation       = 
|elevation_avg   = 
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|dimensions      = 
|designation     = Waterway
|authorized      = 
|created         = 
|designated      = 
|established     = 2004
|named_for       = 
|visitation_num  = 
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|visitation_ref  = 
|governing_body  = [[Ontario Parks]]
|administrator   = 
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|owner           = 
|world_heritage_site = 
|website         = 
|url             = https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/ogokiriver
|child           = 
|embedded        = 
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}} }}

The Ogoki River Provincial Park protects a {{Convert|140|km}} long section of Ogoki River, from Ogoki Reservoir to the Thunder Bay-Cochrane boundary. It also includes Ogoki Lake in its entirety, as well as Kayedon, Harrogate, and Patience Lakes. It was established in 2004 and serves as an important recreational waterway, offering remote tourism and recreation opportunities such as angling, hunting, wildlife viewing, and backcountry [[canoe camping]].<ref name="mgmt"/><ref name="OP"/>

Significant features of the park include a diversity of upland and wetland vegetation, as well as a number of [[Glacial landform|glacial features]]. It also has a number of plant species that are of regional significance, such as the [[sandbar willow]], along the riverbanks, and the ovate [[spikerush]], found on an Ogoki Lake beach.<ref name="mgmt"/><ref name="OP"/>

It is a non-operating park, meaning that there are no facilities or services. Permitted activities include boating, canoeing, fishing, and hunting.<ref name="OP"/>
{{Clear left}}
==See also==
*[[List of Ontario rivers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{IBWaterDiv}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Thunder Bay District]]
[[Category:Rivers of Cochrane District]]
[[Category:Tributaries of Hudson Bay]]