Parc De La Vérendrye (Le Domaine) Seaplane Base

The closure was most likely due to a combination of economic and logistical factors. Reasons include:
1. **Economic Viability**: The high operational costs of maintaining a registered seaplane base, including fuel storage, dock maintenance, insurance, and staffing, likely became unsustainable with declining or insufficient traffic.
2. **Decreased Demand**: Improved road access via Quebec Route 117, which runs directly through the park and past Le Domaine, reduced the necessity for air travel to reach the area for many tourists and service personnel.
3. **Changes in Tourism**: A shift in tourism patterns or the closure of specific remote fishing/hunting camps that relied on the base may have contributed to its decline.

The registered seaplane base (CA-1134) is permanently closed, and there are no longer any dedicated aviation services at the location. The site itself, 'Le Domaine', remains a very active and important roadside service center on Route 117. It includes a gas station, a restaurant, a convenience store, and the Auberge Le Domaine, which provides lodging. The docks on Réservoir Cabonga are still present but are now used for recreational boating, fishing boats, and guests of the Auberge. While seaplanes could technically still land on the reservoir (subject to Canadian Aviation Regulations), the formal infrastructure and services of the seaplane base are gone.

Parc De La Vérendrye (Le Domaine) Seaplane Base was strategically located on the shore of the vast Réservoir Cabonga, at a central service point ('Le Domaine') within La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve. In its active years, it was a vital hub for bush flying operations in this remote region of Quebec. Its primary roles were:
- **Tourism Support**: It was a key departure and arrival point for seaplanes transporting fishermen, hunters, and eco-tourists to the numerous remote lodges and camps scattered throughout the reserve's extensive network of lakes and rivers.
- **Logistical Hub**: The base provided essential services such as fuel, docking, and a staging area for private and charter air services.
- **Administrative and Emergency Services**: It likely supported the activities of Sépaq (the agency managing Quebec parks), including wildlife management, forestry patrols (especially for fire spotting), and providing access for emergency services to remote areas.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Parc De La Vérendrye (Le Domaine) Seaplane Base. The transportation and tourism needs of the region are now well-served by the modern road network. The significant financial investment required to re-establish, certify, and operate a registered aerodrome to current standards, combined with the lack of a clear economic driver, makes a reopening highly improbable.