The Pointe-aux-Outardes Marsh - Characterization of Important Coastal Habitats on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary

A project to characterize important coastal habitats on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary was funded for a period of 4 years (2018-2022). The purpose of this project is to generate reference ecological data to draw a global portrait of the state of coastal marshes in the upper north shore sector of Quebec.

This dataset covers the Pointe-aux-Outardes marsh area and related wetlands. In order to improve knowledge of these ecosystems, flora and fauna (ichthyological and benthic) inventories have been carried out and the various abiotic factors characterized. Geomorphological data was also collected, but is not included in this dataset. However, they remain available, contact the ZIP Committee of the North Shore of the Estuary (RNE) directly to access them. The RNE ZIP Committee also holds orthomosaics of the downstream section of the Pointe-aux-Outardes marsh and the littoral spit, transects perpendicular to the coast covering the entire littoral marsh (dGNSS Reach), two ecogeomorphological limits (lower limit of the vegetation of the marsh and the coastline) as well as oblique surveys of the western sector of the Manicouagan Peninsula (sector from Pointe du Bout to the old dock of the municipality of Pointe-aux-Outardes) (MavicMini DJI). A characterization report of the floristic, ichthyological and geomorphological aspects of the Pointe-aux-Outardes marsh is also accessible via this dataset.

It is possible to consult the datasets of the five other marshes that have been characterized as part of the project to characterize important coastlines:

• The Portneuf-sur-Mer Marsh

• The Mille-Vaches Bay Marsh

• The Pointe des Fortin Marsh

• The Bays des Grandes and Petites Bergeronnes Marsh

• The Hickey Marsh

This project is part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program Initiative under the Oceans Protection Plan of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.