Lanigan Creek | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Saskatchewan |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Near St. Gregor |
Mouth | Last Mountain Lake |
• location | At Last Mountain Lake NWA |
• coordinates | 51°24′9″N105°12′48″W / 51.40250°N 105.21333°W |
Basin features | |
River system | Red River drainage basin |
[1] [2] |
Lanigan Creek is a river [3] in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located in the south central part of the province in a region called the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, which extends throughout three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states. It is also within Palliser's Triangle and the Great Plains ecoregion. [4]
The river starts north-west of the Quill Lakes, near the village of St. Gregor and the intersections of Highway 5 and Highway 667. It travels in a south-south-westwardly direction past the town of Lanigan and into the northern end of Last Mountain Lake. The river is part of the Upper Qu'Appelle River watershed, as Last Mountain Creek [5] drains Last Mountain Lake into the Qu'Appelle River. The most northerly part of the Lanigan Creek Watershed also happens to be the most northerly point of the Red River Watershed.
At the southern end of Lanigan Creek, at the point it empties into Last Mountain Lake, there's Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary, which was North America's first migratory bird sanctuary. The northern end of lake is a large, marshy flood plain. Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area encompasses all of the bird sanctuary, the northern portion of the lake, and the flood plain plus surrounding grasslands and hills. The area is listed as a Ramsar site. [6]
Lanigan-Manitou Sub-basin is the name given to Lanigan Creek's drainage basin. Along with the Moose Jaw River Watershed, [7] it is one of four sub-basins that make up the Upper Qu'Appelle Watershed; the other three being the Last Mountain Lake Sub-basin, Upper Qu'Appelle Sub-basin, and Wascana Lake Sub-basin. Craven Dam at the village of Craven is the dividing point between the upper and lower watersheds of the Qu'Appelle River. The combined area of all four sub-basins and the Moose Jaw River Watershed is 23,443 km2. [8] There are several lakes within the sub-basin, with the largest being a salt water endorheic basin lake called Little Manitou. [9] Along the course of Lanigan Creek is Boulder Lake, [10] which is located just east of Venn about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-east of Watrous. Mitt Lake [11] is a small lake that parallels Boulder Lake just to the east. About 5 km farther downstream is Axe Lake, [12] which is on the north side of Highway 15, about 3.5 km north of the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area.
Other prominent lakes in the sub-basin include Buffalo Lake, Zelma Reservoir, Strap Lake, Dellwood Reservoir, Bank Lake, and Peter Lake.
There are several tributaries that flow into Lanigan Creek, many of which are small, unnamed arroyo creeks. Starting in the upper watershed the following is a list of named tributaries:
The Fishing Lakes, also called the Calling Lakes or the Qu'Appelle Lakes, are a chain of four lakes in the Qu'Appelle Valley cottage country about 40 miles (64 km) to the north-east of Regina in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The lakes are in a region called the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, which extends throughout three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states. It is also within Palliser's Triangle and the Great Plains ecoregion. The Fishing Lakes all follow the course of the Qu'Appelle River, which flows from the west to the east and is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin. The lakes sit in the deep-cut Qu'Appelle Valley that was formed about 14,000 years ago during the last ice age. Meltwater from the glaciers carved out the valley and as water levels rose and fell, alluvium was left in the wake. These piles of alluvium are what created the separations between the lakes.
Pheasant Creek is a creek that runs along the bottom of one of the many coulees that branch off the Qu'Appelle Valley and empties into the Qu'Appelle River in southern Saskatchewan. The creek starts between the communities of Ituna and Jasmin, meanders south of the village of Abernethy and north of the village of Sintaluta. The Qu'Appelle River drainage basin is divided into two sections, the Upper and lower watersheds. Pheasant Creek is a tributary of the lower watershed.
The Antler River is located in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America's Great Plains in south-eastern Saskatchewan and south-western Manitoba in Canada in an area known as Palliser's Triangle. Its source is in Saskatchewan's Moose Mountain Upland and it is a major tributary of the Souris River. As a result, its flood levels are monitored by the United States Geological Survey.
Last Mountain Lake, also known as Long Lake, is a prairie lake formed from glaciation 11,000 years ago. It is located in south central Saskatchewan, Canada, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north-west of the city of Regina. It flows into the Qu'Appelle River via Last Mountain Creek, which flows past Craven. It is approximately 93 km (58 mi) long, and 3 km (1.9 mi) wide at its widest point. It is the largest naturally occurring body of water in southern Saskatchewan. Only Lake Diefenbaker, which is man-made, is larger. The lake is a popular resort area for residents of south-eastern Saskatchewan.
Wascana Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is a tributary of the Qu'Appelle River.
Moose Mountain Upland, Moose Mountain Uplands, or commonly Moose Mountain, is a hilly plateau located in the south-east corner of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, that covers an area of about 13,000 km2 (5,000 sq mi). The upland rises about 200 m (660 ft) above the broad, flat prairie which is about 600 m (2,000 ft) above sea level. The highest peak is "Moose Mountain" at 830 m (2,720 ft) above sea level. The area was named Moose Mountain because of the large number of moose that lived in the area. When it was originally used by fur traders, Métis, and the Indigenous peoples, the plateau was called Montagne a la Bosse, which is French for "The Mountain of The Bump or Knob."
Pipestone Creek is a river in the Souris River watershed. Its flow begins in southeastern Saskatchewan, just south of the town of Grenfell and travels in a southeastern direction into Manitoba in the Westman Region where it empties into Oak Lake through the Oak Lake Marsh.
Moose Mountain Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Its source is the Chapleau Lakes near Montmartre and it is a tributary of the Souris River, which, in turn, is a tributary of the Assiniboine River. The whole system is part of the Red River watershed, which is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin and in a region called the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, which extends throughout three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states. It is also within Palliser's Triangle and the Great Plains ecoregion.
Last Mountain Creek is a river in south-central Saskatchewan. It is a tributary of the Qu'Appelle River in a region called the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, which extends throughout three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states. It is also within Palliser's Triangle and the Great Plains ecoregion.
Arm River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located in the south central part of the province in a region called the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, which extends throughout three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states. It is also within Palliser's Triangle and the Great Plains ecoregion.
Plum Creek is the primary outflow for the Plum Lakes and travels in an easterly direction for about 28 kilometres until it meets up with the Souris River, which is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin, at the community of Souris in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Plum Lakes and the beginning of Plum Creek are in the Rural Municipality of Sifton and the mouth is in the Municipality of Souris – Glenwood.
Pasqua Lake is a lake along the course of the Qu'Appelle River in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Pasqua Lake was named after Chief Joseph Pasqua who formed what became the Pasqua First Nation. It is one of four lakes that make up the Fishing Lakes, which are all in the Qu'Appelle Valley. The Qu'Appelle Valley was formed about 14,000 years ago during the last ice age as meltwater from the glaciers carved out the valley. As water levels rose and fell, alluvium was left in the wake. These piles of alluvium are what created the separations between the lakes.
Mission Lake, also known as Lebret Lake, is a lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is one of four lakes in the Qu'Appelle Valley known as the Fishing Lakes. Echo Lake is upstream and Katepwa Lake is downstream. The lake was named Mission after the Catholic mission at Lebret. Highways 22 35, and 56 provide access to the lake.
Eyebrow Lake is a man-made marshy lake that parallels the Qu'Appelle River in the southern region of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Located in the RM of Huron No. 223, it is the first lake in a series of lakes along the Qu'Appelle River after Qu'Appelle River Dam and Lake Diefenbaker. The next lake downstream is Buffalo Pound Lake. The closest community is the village of Tugaske and while there are no public recreation sites at the lake, it can be accessed by Highway 627. The lake gets its name from the nearby Eyebrow Hills, which are shaped like an eyebrow. The nearby town of Eyebrow and RM of Eyebrow No. 193 are also named after these hills.
Craven Dam is at the confluence of the Qu'Appelle River and Last Mountain Creek and immediately east of the village of Craven on the Qu'Appelle River at SW 24-20-21 W2. It is in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the RM of Longlaketon No. 219. The dam does not create a reservoir as its purpose is to regulate water flow along the Qu'Appelle River. The dam is operated by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency and can be accessed on the north side by Highway 99.
First Mustus Lake is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is the first of four lakes in a row named Mustus in the Rusty Creek watershed. The other lakes are Second, Third, and Fourth Mustus. Rusty Creek and the lakes are part of the Waterhen River drainage basin. The Waterhen River is a tributary of the Beaver River, which flows north into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and the Churchill River, a major tributary in the Hudson Bay drainage basin. Highway 224 provides access to both First and Second Mustus Lakes.
Peitahigan Lake is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is one of six notable lakes in the Rusty Creek watershed. The other lakes include Rusty, First Mustus, Second Mustus, Third Mustus, and Fourth Mustus. Rusty Creek and the lakes are part of the Waterhen River drainage basin. The Waterhen River is a tributary of the Beaver River, which flows north into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and the Churchill River, a major tributary in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.
Nipekamew River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is Nipekamew Lake at the north-western edge of the Cub Hills and its mouth is in Nipekamew Bay at the southern shore of Lac la Ronge. From the northern tip of Nipekamew Lake, the river travels from south to north through muskeg and boreal forest en route to Lac la Ronge. Lake la Ronge empties north into the Churchill River through Rapid River.
Caribou Creek is a river in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills, near the western boundary of Narrow Hills Provincial Park. The river heads south following a glacier-carved valley through the Cub Hills en route to its mouth at Lower Fishing Lake. The entire course of the river is in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. Caribou Creek is a tributary of Stewart Creek, which flows south and into the east-flowing Torch River. Torch River is a tributary of the Saskatchewan River as it flows into the Saskatchewan River Delta. Much of the upper watershed was burned in 1977 in what is known as the Fishing Lakes Fire and is now dominated by a forest of jack pine.
The Cub Hills are a hilly plateau located south-east of the geographical centre of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The hills are in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada and the landforms of the hills were shaped more than 10,000 years ago during last ice age. Throughout the Cub Hills, there are dozens of lakes and rivers and several parks. The Cubs Hills are 150 km (93 mi) north-east of Prince Albert and are in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and Census Division #18. Several highways criss-cross the plateau to provide access to the various parks and other amenities.