The Ogoki River is a river in the Thunder Bay and Cochrane Districts of Ontario. It springs from the wilderness just east of Savant Lake, flowing north of Lake Nipigon to Ogoki, where it joins the Albany River which empties into James Bay. The river is long. The Ogoki River is a narrow, deep, slow-moving, and anastomosing river, with high sediment content. Rapids occur where the river crosses bedrock shelves. The Speckled Trout Rapids, a particularly large set of rapids, is located between Harrogate and Patience Lake. An extensive delta and estuary system has developed where the river enters Ogoki Lake. The river, now mostly used for canoeing and fishing, was part of a canoe route from Hudson Bay to Lake Superior: via James Bay, Albany River, Ogoki River, portage to Ombabika River, Lake Nipigon, Nipigon River, and finally Lake Superior. Portions of the river are protected in the Wabakimi Provincial Park and Ogoki River Provincial Park. Fauna The following fish species have been identified in Ogoki River system: walleye northern pike lake sturgeon yellow perch lake whitefish white sucker spottail shiner Iowa darter Johnny darter logperch redhorse sucker longnose dace sculpin ninespine stickleback burbot lake chub mimic shiner trout-perch fathead minnow speckled (brook) trout Diversion In 1943, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario diverted a large part of the upper Ogoki to flow into Lake Nipigon and on to the Great Lakes. This diversion was intended to increase water flow for the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations at Niagara Falls, downstream of Lake Erie. of the Ogoki basin is diverted by a high and long dam at the Waboose Falls (also known as Waboose Rapids), constructed in 1940-43. Together with another 3 control dams, this dam raises the water level by about , thereby creating Ogoki Reservoir (which is long and covers an area of approximately ). An average of about is diverted to the headwaters of the Little Jackfish River, a tributary of Lake Nipigon, and leaving about to flow down the Ogoki River itself. This diversion increases the size of Lake Nipigon's watershed by almost 60%, and together with the Long Lake diversion of the Kenogami River, raises Lake Superior by an average of . Although the water levels have improved in the Great Lakes, it has also caused a major drop in water levels and unnatural flooding in the Ogoki River. Ogoki River Provincial Park