Shields Branch

Shields Branch
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Quebec
Mouth
• location	Big Black River
• elevation	835 feet (255 m)

The Shields Branch (French: Rivière Saint-Roch in Quebec) is a tributary of the Big Black River, flowing in:

• Quebec (Canada): in the administrative region of Chaudière-Appalaches, in L'Islet Regional County Municipality, in the municipalities of Sainte-Perpétue, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec, Saint-Omer, Quebec and Saint-Pamphile, Quebec;
• Maine (United States): in the Aroostook County, Township T15 R15 Wels.

Its course is situated between the Rochu River (or “Little Saint Rock River”) (West side) and the Gagnon River (West side). This river is especially flowing in forest area in a valley encircled by Notre Dame Mountains.

From its source (47°06′58″N 69°49′37″W), in L'Islet RCM, the river runs south and southeast across the Canada–United States border in Maine Township 15, Range 15, WELS, to the Big Black River in T 14, R 15.

Geography

The upper part of the "Saint Roch River" begins in Notre Dame Moutains, in the municipality of Sainte-Perpétue, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec in the L'Islet Regional County Municipality (RCM). This source is located at:

• 15.0 kilometres (9.3 mi) Northwest of the border between Quebec and Maine;
• 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) Northeast from the village of Sainte-Perpétue, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec;
• 35.3 kilometres (21.9 mi) Northwest from the confluence of the Saint-Roch River;
• 35.0 kilometres (21.7 mi) Southeast of the village center of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec.

St. Roch river flows on 44.0 kilometres (27.3 mi) according to the following segments:

Upper river course (segment of 27.6 kilometres (17.1 mi) in Quebec)

From the source in the mountains, the Saint-Roch river flows:

• 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the South in Sainte-Perpétue, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec, cutting the path of row Taché East, up to the boundary of the municipality of Saint-Omer;
• 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) to the South in Saint-Omer, up to the boundary of the municipality of Sainte-Perpétue, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec ;
• 150 metres (490 ft) to the South in Sainte-Perpétue, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec, up to the confluence of the Saint-Roch Nord River (from the West) ;
• 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) to the Southeast, up to the boundary of the municipality of Saint-Pamphile, Quebec;
• 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) (or 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) in direct line), winding towards the Southeast, up to the bridge of the "Little North row";
• 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) (or 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) in direct line), winding towards the Southeast, up to the bridge of the row of Pelletier;
• 7.3 kilometres (4.5 mi) (or 3.1 kilometres (1.9 mi) in direct line), winding towards the Southeast and straddling the boundary between Saint-Omer, Quebec and Saint-Pamphile, Quebec, up to the bridge of the row of Gagnon;
• 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) (or 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) in direct line), winding towards the Southeast, up to the bridge of 6th row;
• 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) to the Southeast, up to the confluence of the Gagnon River (Saint Roch River) (from the Southwest);
• 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) to the Southeast, up to the border between Quebec and Maine.

Lower course of the river (segment 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi) in Maine designated "Shields Branch")

From the border between Quebec and Maine, the "Shields Branch" runs on:

• 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the Southeast in the Maine, up to the "Little Saint-Roch River" (from the Northeast). Note: This river takes its source in Quebec where it is designated River du Rochu;
• 9.3 kilometres (5.8 mi) (or 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) in direct line) to the Southeast, winding end segment up to the highway bridge;
• 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) (or 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) in direct line) up to the Southeast, winding up to the confluence of the river.

The "Shields Branch" flows into a river curve on the North bank of the Big Black River, Township T14 R15 Wels, in the Aroostook County. This confluence is located:

• 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) Southeast of the border between Canada and US;
• 13.7 kilometres (8.5 mi) West of the confluence of the Big Black River;
• 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi) Southeast of the village center of Saint-Pamphile, in Quebec.

Toponymy

The place name "Saint-Roch River" was formalized on December 5, 1968 at the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec Places Names Board.

Bibliography

• "Shields Branch". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2016-07-17. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter |EntryDate= ignored (help)

External Links

• Template:En icon Maine Streamflow USGS data
• Template:En icon Maine Watershed data from the Environmental Protection Agency

References

• "Shields Branch". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 30 September 1980. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
• Maine Streamflow Data from the USGS
• Maine Watershed Data From Environmental Protection Agency

See also

• Sainte-Perpétue, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec, a municipality of Quebec
• St Omer, a municipality of Quebec
• Saint-Pamphile, a municipality of Quebec
• L'Islet Regional County Municipality (RCM)
• Aroostook County, a county of Maine
• River of Rochu, a stream
• Gagnon River (Saint Roch River), a stream
• Saint Roch River North, a stream
• Saint Roch River West, a stream
• List of rivers of Quebec
• List of rivers of Maine