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Location
The watersheds of Petit lac des Cèdres and Grand lac des Cèdres are located approximately 135 km from the city of Gatineau in the Outaouais region, in the municipality of Messines in the MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau. A section at the north of both lakes is in the Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi. The watersheds are linked together and occupy a total surface of 52.7 km2 (5270 ha). A road network managed by the Municipality of Messines connects the territory to the villages of Messines and Farley.
The natural environment
Petit lac des Cèdres occupies an area of 2.8 km2 (280 ha) and Grand lac des Cèdres, 7.9 km2 (790 ha). Both lakes present a complex morphology with numerous bays and islands, and the territory has a forested character with mountains, lakes, streams and wetlands. The area includes many different tree species, with cedar (Thuya occidentalis) dominating.
The two lakes are mainly fed by spring water and rainwater and by many other small unpopulated lakes that are part of the watershed. Grand lac des Cèdres flows into Petit lac des Cèdres through a 450-meter stream (Ruisseau des Cèdres). At the northeast end of Petit lac des Cèdres, another stream flows out and connects to lac Pitòbig, located on Kitigan Zibi territory.
Sites of interest
Petit lac des Cèdres outlet
This outlet is located at the northeast tip of the lake on the territory of the Kitigan Zibi reserve. Water flows toward lac Pitòbig on the reserve.
Parking lots
To access the recreational trails between the two lakes, managed by Pôle d’excellence en récréotourisme de l’Outaouais (PERO), one parking lot has been set up close to lac Boutin (lac Vaseux on the map), with another one close to the boat launch at Petit lac des Cèdres. For more details, see Projects and Achievements | Our Achievements | Creation of hiking trails.
Boat launches
The Municipality of Messines manages a public boat launch on each of Petit lac des Cèdres and Grand lac des Cèdres.
White-tailed deer areas
A protected area has been set up by the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs and is managed to ensure maintenance of the habitat for white-tailed deer. The zone situated to the east of Petit lac des Cèdres has an area of 571.2 hectares.
Biological refuge
Biological refuges are small areas of forest where habitats and species are permanently protected, to conserve mature or aged forests that are representative of the forest heritage and to maintain biological diversity. They are managed by the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs. The biological refuge west of Grand lac des Cèdres covers 99.8 hectares.
Wildlife site of interest
Grand lac des Cèdres and the surrounding areas (1100 ha) are zoned as a "wildlife site of interest" for lake trout spawning grounds in the lake, as is Ruisseau des Cèdres, which is considered the only known spawning creek site in North America.
Ruisseau des Cèdres
Ruisseau des Cèdres, which runs between Grand lac des Cèdres and Petit lac des Cèdres, is a natural spawning ground for lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Spawning occurs in the fall between September and November. Grand lac des Cèdres flows into Petit lac des Cèdres. This is the only known site in North America of lake trout spawning in a stream.
Petit lac des Cèdres outlet
This outlet is located at the northeast tip of the lake on the territory of the Kitigan Zibi reserve. Water flows toward lac Pitòbig on the reserve.
Population
There are 237 properties around the two lakes, most of which have at least 0.40 hectares (1 acre) of land. In addition, some residences are built on the access roads to the lakes.
First occupied by First Nation peoples who came to hunt and fish, the territory was then exploited by the loggers who came to cut trees. In the 1950s, vacationers from surrounding areas and beyond stayed there during the summer season. It is thanks to these activities that the road system was developed, which allowed access to the two lakes by car. The territory is today occupied by people of different origins who all have one thing in common: their love for their corner of paradise!
