User:Pfly/Sandbox5

The Kitisumkalum River originates from high peaks of the Kitimat Ranges, such as Morton Peak, Mount Leighton, and Mount Zbura.^[15][16][17] Its source is just north of the source of the Exstew River, a southward-flowing tributary of the Skeena River, and just south of the source of Ksi Hlginx, a northward-flowing tributary of the Nass River.

From its headwaters, the Kitsumkalum River flows north and northeast, picking up the tributary Bohler Creek, which flows north from glaciers near Mount William Brown.^[18][19] About 24 km (15 mi) from its source the Kitsumkalum turns east toward Kitsumkalum Lake.^[20] Its valley widens and contains many wetlands. As it nears Kitsumkalum Lake the river is joined from the south by Mayo Creek, then from the north by a major tributary called the Cedar River.^[21][22] Clear Creek joins just before the Kitsumkalum River empties into Kitsumkalum Lake.^[23]

The Cedar River is a significant tributary that drains an area of 575 km² (222 sq mi) and has a mean discharge of 21.2 m³/s (750 cu ft/s).^[6] Its main tributaries are the Little Cedar River, Hadenschild Creek, and Sterling Creek.^[24][25][26]

The Cedar River originates near the northeast corner of Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park, about 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Gitlaxt'aamiks (New Aiyansh) on the Nass River. The Cedar River headwaters flow roughly parallel to the headwaters of the Kitteen River, a tributary of the Nass via the Cranberry River. Historically and currently the Skeena and Nass Rivers are connected by transportation routes from Kitsumkalum Lake, up the lower Cedar River to the the Nass tributary Ksi Sii Aks, and along that river to Gitlaxt'aamiks and the Nass River.

Kitsumkalum Lake is an important part of the Kitsumkalum River system. Several significant tributaries flows into the lake, the largest of which is the Nelson River, which flows from the the west from headwaters near Mount Neilson and Mount William Brown, not far from the source of Bohler Creek, and just north of the source of the Zymagotitz River.^[27][28] Other tributaries that empty into Kitsumkalum Lake include Douglas Creek, Wesach Creek, Maroon Creek, and Goat Creek.^{[29][30][31][32]} The community of Rosswood is located at the northern end of Kitsumkalum Lake.^[33]

The Kitsumkalum River exits the southern end of Kitsumkalum Lake. It first flows through Redsand Lake and Treston Lake.^[34][35] Then the river flows south along a meandering path through a relatively wide valley for about 35 km (22 mi). It then empties into the Skeena River at Terrace. Along the way several more tributaries join the river. First to join is Pontoon Creek,^[36] then the largest tributary below the lake, Star Creek,^[37] then Alice Creek,^[38] Glacier Creek,^[39] Luncheon Creek,^[40] Lean-to Creek,^[41] Deep Creek,^[42] Spring Creek,^[43] and Eneeksaguilaguaw Creek, the last of which joins right at the Kitsumkalum–Skeena confluence.^{[44][6][2][45][46]}

The Kitsumkalum River's watershed is bounded on the south by the floodplain of the Skeena River, on the north by the Ksi Sii Aks, a tributary of the Nass River, and by the Kitimat Ranges to the west and the Nass Ranges to the east.^[47][48] Locally, the Kitsumkalum River upstream of Kitsumkalum Lake is sometimes called the Beaver River.^[49] The Kitsumkalum River and the nearby Kitselas Canyon are generally used to delineate the upper limit of the "lower SKeena River", as well as the transition between coastal and interior regions.^[49]

The Kitsumkalum River lies in the Kitimat-Kitsumkalum Valley, also called the Kalum-Kitimat Valley or Kitimat–Kitsumkalum Trough.^[50][49][51] This valley was glacially-made by the Cordilleran ice sheet, which covered the entire region during the Last Glacial Maximum. The Kitimat-Kitsumkalum Valley was Deglaciation about 10,000 years ago during the Holocene glacial retreat, leaving a wide variety of glacial landforms.^[51][49] Both Kitsumkalum Lake and Lakelse Lake were formed by glacial outwash plain features such as moraines during deglaciation. The glaciers retreated in a chaotic way, with periods of stability separated by episodes of catastrophic retreat. Around 10,500 years ago marine waters extended east up the Skeena valley to the Terrace area and north from the Kitimat Arm of Douglas Channel, a fjord, up the Kitsumkalum–Kitimat trough to around modern day Lakelse Lake. Due to post-glacial rebound the deglaciated land rose and the inlets of the sea became dry land. By about 8,000 years ago the sea had fallen to its present level.^[51] Today the Kitimat-Kitsumkalum Valley is occupied by the Kitimat River, Lakelse River, and the Kitsumkalum River. It is one of the few relatively broad and low-lying areas connecting the coast of British Columbia to the interior. This has been a motivating factor in the development of a port at Kitimat and infrastructure projects connecting it to the rest of Canada.^{[2][45][46][49]}

Kitsumkalum Lake, a central feature of the Kitsumkalum watershed, is about 18 km² (6.9 sq mi) in area. Its mean depth is 81 m (266 ft). Surface water temperature in the summer averages 12 °C (54 °F). It is glacially turbid with an average photic zone depth of only 3.8 m (12 ft), which limits primary productivity due to a lack of light. The lake is highly oligotrophic due to its high turbidity and fast flushing rate, among other factors.^[49]

The city of Terrace is located at the intersection of the north–south Kitimat-Kitsumkalum Valley and the east–west Skeena River valley. Both serve as corridors for transportation, utilities, and other developments.^[2][45][46]

There are several protected areas in the Kitsumkalum River watershed, including Lundmark Bog Protected Area, Kitsumkalum Provincial Park at the southern end of Kitsumkalum Lake, and Kitsumkalum Lake North Protected Area, at the northern end of the lake.^[52][53][54]

(more watershed geography info: mountains etc; climate; water quality etc.)

Source to Cedar River: 60 km. To Kitsumkalum Lake: 67 km. Exit Kitsumkalum Lake: 77 km. Treston Lake at 80 km. To Skeena: 114 km.

Cedar River source: 55° 11' 45" N, 128° 49' 52" W

^[2]

^[45]

^[46]

"Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the Tsimshian galts’ap’ (villages) of Kitsumkalum and Kitselas, located on the banks of the Skeena River just west and east of present day Terrace, were the dominant communities."^[55]

See: Gispaxlo'ots, Ligeex, Laxsgiik, Kitamaat Village, Kitsumkalum, Port Essington, British Columbia, Lax Kwʼalaams, Gʼpsgolox totem pole,

???check: In pre-contact times the Kitsumkalum watershed was occupied by Gitlutzau (also called Killutsal), considered part of the Tsimshian Kitselas people. The Haisla people occupied the flatlands south of Lakelse Lake. Gitlutzau was an important settlement located on the east bank of the Lakelse River at the Lakelse–Skeena confluence. Three other historic documented villages include Lakgeas, a village on the Lakelse River, a summer fishing village near the outlet of Lakelse Lake, and a fishing village at the mouth of Herman Creek.^[49]

Archaeology in the Kitsumkalum watershed and surrounding area has been limited. There is evidence of habitation dating to both the early and late pre-contact phase. The contact period, beginning in 1787, can be subdivided into "proto-contact" (about 1787–1840) and "colonial" (1840–present) phases. Large village sites at the mouth of the Kitsumkalum River and around the nearby Kitselas Canyon of the Skeena River date to pre-contact times but continued into the contact period. Some of the archaeological sites in the Kitsumkalum watershed also bridge the pre- and post-contact periods, although some of the sites have yielded only uncertain dates. Around the 1830s many Tsimshian from the Kitsumkalum region moved permanently to Fort Simpson and nearby coastal areas. Villages around the mouth of the Kitsukalum River and along the Kitselas Canyon continued, but Tsimshian habitation in the interior zone of the Skeena River below Kitselas Canyon became less dense as many moved to the coast.^[56]

https://books.google.com/books?id=g3uNxI851A0C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA29&dq=Ligeex&pg=PA29#v=onepage&q=Ligeex&f=false

--- "Kitsumkalum are part of the Tsimshian Nation. The Kitsumkalum people occupied the Kitsumkalum and Zymacord Watershed territories, although the Cedar River Watershed has stated Gitxsan interest. Traditionally, the main town was Dalk Gyilakyaw, which is usually translated as Robin Town (McDonald 2003). Dalk Gyilakyaw is situated at the main canyon on both sides of Kalum River. Gitxondakl, another important town was located between Dalk Gyilakyaw and Kalum Lake. Kitsumkalum village, the one from which the people take their name, is located at the mouth of the Kalum River (McDonald 2003). The strong economy was based around the summer salmon food fishery and mid-winter feasting, with dispersal into smaller family groups during the rest of the year to fish, hunt, and gather on the House territories."^[49]

--- https://maps.fpcc.ca/place-names/kitselas-canyon

"The Kitselas Canyon along the Skeena River near Terrace was a strategic location for the Kitselas People of the Tsimshian Nation to harvest resources and to control access to regional trade networks by other Indigenous Peoples and the Hudson's Bay Company into the 19th century. Five precontact village sites are situated along the canyon, and visitors to the area can see the remains of carved poles, longhouse frames, rock carvings and cache pits. The Kitselas Canyon was designated a National Historical Site in 1972." -photo: "Kitselas Canyon"; Image E-00055 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum

--- "After establishment of Fort Simpson in 1834, many of the lower Skeena First Nation groups moved to the area surrounding the fort and are now located in Lax Kw’alaams. Other Tsimshian reside in Kitsumkalum Village and continue to use the Lower Skeena River area for traditional activities. Salmon are an integral part of the Tsimshian culture and one of the main food sources. The abundant chum salmon was a particularly important food resource in the lower Skeena River area. Because the fat content was relatively low and the dried product less likely to spoil, they were smoke-dried in great quantities."^[49]

--- "Historically, the outlets of both Kalum and Treston (Mud) Lakes were major spawning beds, until large amounts of gravel were removed to aid log driving..." ... "Watershed Restoration Program overview assessments reported by Grieve (1996) and Triton (1996) noted many logging related impacts to Kalum tributary channels. These included: changed channel morphology, increased bedload movement, bank failures, sediment loading, and debris accumulation. They noted several streams, particularly Star Creek and Cedar River showed heavy erosion and scour."^[49]

--- Development: "The principal development in the Kitsumkalum Watershed consist of forestry, linear, mineral resource, and settlement activities." ... "The Kitsumkalum Watershed is located within and administered by Ministry of Forests, Kalum Forest District. At the conclusion of the Second World War, a great demand for lumber led to selective logging of the most valuable timber stands, which were processed in small bush mills. Large-scale industrial logging started in 1950 with the award of TFL # 1 to Columbia Cellulose. Over the last fifty years, the Kalum Watershed has been extensively logged causing very high impacts to fish habitat."^[49]

Transportation and Utilities: "In the Kitsumkalum Watershed, the two main roads, the west side road and the Nisga’a Highway, branch off Highway 16 and provide access to communities to the north in the Nass valley..." ... "Utilities corridors exist on both the east and west sides of the valley, generally paralleling the main roads. A BC Hydro transmission line passes north-south on the west side, while a BC Hydro transmission line and Telus telephone line run through on the east side."^[49]

Population and settlement: "Relatively minor settlement has occurred in the watershed. Dutch Valley, at the mouth of Spring Creek, and Rosswood located north of Kitsumkalum Lake, provide scattered rural residences for approximately 300 people. The City of Terrace, located at the southeast edge of the watershed, along with its adjacent suburbs, has a population of approximately 19,650 people. The economy is dominated by the forest industry, although tourism is growing and contributing to the growth of sport fishing."^[49]

The primary biogeoclimatic zone of the Kitsumkalum watershed is "Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH) zone, merging into the "Mountain Hemlock" (MH) zone at higher altitudes. Historically the watershed's vegetation was dominated by old growth conifer temperate rainforest of western hemlock, western red cedar, and amabilis fir. Sitka spruce is common but not dominant. The mountain hemlock zone is characterized by the presence of mountain hemlock and the absence of red cedar.^[49]

"Vegetation in the wide, gently sloping valley and on the low elevation slopes consists of forest stands of spruce, hemlock, and limited amounts of cedar representing the Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH) biogeoclimatic zone. As elevation is gained, the CWH is replaced by the Mountain Hemlock zone, while higher again lies the Alpine Tundra zone."^[49]

The Kitsumkalum watershed has a very high fisheries value and is a major producer of sockeye, coho, and pink salmon, fished both recreationally and commercially. Steelhead and cutthroat trout runs support a major sport fishery. Resident fish species include rainbow trout, Dolly Varden trout, mountain whitefish, prickly sculpin, largescale suckers, redside shiners, northern pikeminnow, peamouth chub, and three-spined stickleback.^[49]

Chinook salmon are present but in relatively low numbers. Chum salmon runs are modest. The sockeye salmon runs are among the largest in the Skeena River watershed, although sockeye spawning population has declined, rebounded, and declined again since the 1950s. A Lakelse Sockeye Recovery Process plan was initiated in 2003.^[49]

The tributaries of Kitsumkalum River are listed below in upstream order, with the basin size and mean discharge given for each.^{[2][45][46][6]}

• Kitsumkalum River (2,289 km², 117 m³/s)
  • Eneeksaguilaguaw Creek
  • Spring Creek (26.2 km², 0.709 m³/s)
  • Deep Creek (52.9 km², 2.01 m³/s)
  • Lean-to Creek (45.2 km², 2.08 m³/s)
  • Luncheon Creek (10.1 km², 0.289 m³/s)
  • Glacier Creek (19.4 km², 0.825 m³/s)
  • Alice Creek (42.3 km², 1.77 m³/s)
  • Star Creek (73.8 km², 3.39 m³/s)
  • (Treston Lake)
  • (Redsand Lake)
  • Pontoon Creek
  • Kitsumkalum Lake (1,931 km², 104 m³/s)
    • Goat Creek (31.9 km², 1.47 m³/s)
    • Nelson River (181 km², 9.19 m³/s)
    • Maroon Creek (62.1 km², 2.89 m³/s)
    • Wesach Creek (43.3 km², 2.13 m³/s)
      • Hall Creek
    • Douglas Creek (43.8 km², 1.95 m³/s)
    • Kitsumkalum River (above Kitsumkalum Lake) (1,531 km², 85.9 m³/s)
      • Clear Creek (96.9 km², 3.96 m³/s)
        • Egan Road Creek
      • Cedar River (575 km², 21.2 m³/s)
        • Little Cedar River (80.8 km², 3.43 m³/s)
        • Hadenschild Creek (38.8 km², 1.25 m³/s)
          • Belway Creek
        • Sterling Creek (48.6 km², 1.65 m³/s)
          • Jacks Creek
        • Egan Creek
        • Clarence Creek
      • Mayo Creek (151 km², 7.35 m³/s)
      • (Unnamed from NW) (136 km², 12.5 m³/s)
      • Bohler Creek (137 km², 11.0 m³/s)

• List of rivers of British Columbia