This content is intended for the public covered by the exceptions of the Charter of the French language and its regulations. If you read on, you confirm that you fall within one of these exceptions.
Dams and Hydrology
The Québec government operates a hydrometric network of some 280 stations. This network makes it possible to obtain historical, real-time and forecast data on water levels and flow rates throughout Québec. This data is essential for the following purposes.
Data on water levels and flow rates are collected almost entirely by the hydrometric stations on a continuous basis (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). The data is recorded every 15 minutes by the measuring instruments and transmitted hourly by telephone, cellular or satellite link.
The hydrometric stations section of the Hydroclimatic Atlas provides access to three types of data for visualization:
Hydrometric stations provide the data necessary for analyzing hydrological, hydraulic and environmental issues. To learn more about station locations and flow calculation methods, consult the following pages:
Delineation of active and closed hydrometric station watersheds
(French) 
Initial delineation points do not necessarily correspond to the physical location of the actual hydrometric station shelter. To assess the drainage area of the watershed (French), the position of the gauging section must be used. This section is not always located in the same place as the shelter.
Maximum flood flow
(French)
Analytics on maximum flood flow values in Québec waterways to aid hydrologic, hydraulic and environmental studies.
Minimum flow rates
(French)
Analytics for studying the minimum annual flow rates in Québec waterways.
Hydroclimatic Atlas of Southern Québec
This map browser presents a synthesis of the impact of climate change on the Southern Québec water regime. It presents the water regime of rivers in light of current and future climate conditions, with horizons for 2020, 2050 and 2080.
Portait section of the Atlas
To view historical flow values (and enable retrospective analysis) for a stretch of river without a station or for a period when data from a station was not available. The app provides access to daily flow time series for the period 1970–2023.
The Québec government can determine whether action is required on public dams to regulate water levels and flow rates, based on various parameters and management constraints, and can perform such action.
To learn more about the dams of Québec, consult the dam directory (French) and the official page describing the Ministry’s activities for dam safety and dam operations (French).
For questions about a river whose level or flow is affected by a dam, write to us at one of the following email addresses:
Laws and Regulations
