North River Introduction

published 30 Jan 2018 by FFHR in News category with 0 comments

The North River flows entirely within Westmorland County, New Brunswick. Its headwaters begin north of Moncton near the bases of Lutes Mountain and Indian Mountain, from which it drains from northeast to southwest, ending where it and the Anagance River come together, near the Village of Petitcodiac, to form the main stem of the Petitcodiac River.  The North River watershed covers 264.8 km2, making it the third largest tributary within the Petitcodiac River system.  Its drainage area lies almost exclusively in the Eastern Lowlands Ecoregion (New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources 2007).  The river has low gradient, dropping just 80 metres along the 49 kilometers from its headwaters near Route 126 to its confluence with the Anagance (Natural Resources Canada 1997; Natural Resources Canada 2008). From the communities of Monteagle to Second North River, the river is characterized by very low flow rates, huge log jams and grassy beaver meadows.  It is a highly convoluted, meandering river.

Figure 4-1: North River watershed

with numerous oxbows and deep calm pools.  It is known as a trout producing river.  There are no known historic salmon angling pools on the North River.  In addition to its main stem, named tributaries of the North River include: Bennett Brook; Blakney Brook; Blakeney Brook; Killiam Brook; Lewis Mountain Brook; McLeod Brook; Mongomery Brook; Salt Springs Brook; and Walker Brook (Natural Resources Canada 1997; Natural Resources Canada 2008).

Unlike other tributaries of the Petitcodiac, the name of the North River appears to be rather self-explanatory.  The North effectively defines almost the entire northern portion of the Petitcodiac River watershed, draining in a southwesterly direction, a short distance north of the main stem of the Petitcodiac. Where it and the Anagance meet (and the main stem of the Petitcodiac begins) the channel then curves, heading back in an easterly direction before bending again  at Moncton, and heading southeast into Shepody Bay.

Figure 4-2: Log jam


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FFHR

30 Jan 2018