Elk River (British Columbia)
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| Elk River | |
| River | |
| Country |  Canada |
|---|---|
| Province | British Columbia |
| Source | Upper Elk Lake |
| - location | Rocky Mountains |
| - coordinates | 50°33′N 115°07′W / 50.55°N 115.117°W [1] |
| Mouth | Kootenay River |
| - location | Lake Koocanusa |
| - coordinates | 49°10′N 115°13′W / 49.167°N 115.217°W [2] |
| Length | 220 km (137 mi) [3] |
| Basin | 4,450 km2 (1,718 sq mi) [3] |
| Discharge | for At Phillips Bridge |
| - average | 75.6 m3/s (2,670 cu ft/s) [4] |
| - max | 1,020 m3/s (36,021 cu ft/s) |
| - min | 5.66 m3/s (200 cu ft/s) |
The Elk River is a 220-kilometre (140 mi) long river,[3] in the southeastern Kootenay district of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its drainage basin is 4,450 square kilometres (1,720 sq mi) in area.[3] Its mean annual discharge is approximately 60 m³/s, with a maximum recorded discharge of 818 m³/s.[5]
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[edit] Course
The Elk River originates from the Elk Lakes near the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains.[5] It flows through the Elk Valley in a southwesterly direction, joining the Kootenay River, in Lake Koocanusa, just north of the British Columbia-Montana border.
The Elk River runs through the communities of Elkford, Sparwood, Hosmer, Fernie, and Elko.
[edit] History
David Thompson traveled along the Elk River in 1811, which he called the Stag River. The river was labeled Elk River on Palliser's 1857-8 map, and "Stag or Elk River" on Arrowsmith's 1862 map.[2]
[edit] River modifications
Elko Dam was built on the Elk River in 1924. It is located approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) upriver from the Elk's confluence with Lake Koocanusa.[5]
[edit] Fishing
The fishing in the Elk River was once known to be some of the best fly-fishing in North America, with greedy, large, wild cutthroat trout aplenty, but the mining, logging, and over-crowding has led to smaller and more wary fish in recent years.[citation needed]
[edit] Tributaries
[edit] References
- ^ Upper Elk Lake in the BC Geographical Names Information System
- ^ a b Elk River in the BC Geographical Names Information System
- ^ a b c d "The Rivers - Stories". Balance of Power. 2007. http://virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Hydro/en/stories/rivers.php. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
- ^ "Archived Hydrometric Data Search". Water Survey of Canada. http://www.wsc.ec.gc.ca/hydat/H2O/index_e.cfm?cname=main_e.cfm. Retrieved October 19, 2008. Search for Station 08NK005 Elk River at Phillips Bridge
- ^ a b c "Elko Project Water Use Plan" (PDF). BC Hydro. 2005. http://www.bchydro.com/rx_files/environment/environment30821.pdf. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
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