Waterhen River (Saskatchewan)

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Waterhen River
Waterhen River from Highway 155.JPG
Waterhen River at Highway 155
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Churchill River drainage basin
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Location of the mouth in Saskatchewan
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Red pog.svg
Waterhen River (Saskatchewan) (Canada)
Location
CountryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Physical characteristics
Source Lac des Îles
  location Meadow Lake Provincial Park
  coordinates 54°27′12″N109°16′26″W / 54.45333°N 109.27389°W / 54.45333; -109.27389
  elevation496 m (1,627 ft)
Mouth Beaver River
  location
Division 18, Saskatchewan
  coordinates
54°38′19″N107°46′41″W / 54.63861°N 107.77806°W / 54.63861; -107.77806
Basin features
River system Churchill River drainage basin
Tributaries 
  left
  right
  • Masumakoos Creek
  • Gergley Creek
[1] [2]
Western Canada rivers Major Rivers in West Canada.png
Western Canada rivers

Waterhen River is an east-flowing river in the north-west area of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the drainage basin of the Beaver River. It is north of and parallel to the east-flowing part of the Beaver River and joins the north-flowing part of that river. Most of the river and its drainage basin is at the southern edge of the boreal forest belt. [3] While the river's source is Lac des Îles, its drainage basin reaches north into the Mostoos Hills [4] and west well into the neighbouring province of Alberta.

Contents

Cree began moving into the area in the eighteenth century. There was a canoe route up the Waterhen River with a portage to the Beaver River on the south side of Cold Lake. The first trading post in the area was Cold Lake House built by the Montreal traders in 1781 near the present Beaver Crossing, Alberta, south of Cold Lake. Around 1790 the North West Company had a post on Waterhen Lake. [5]

The watershed of Waterhen River, including that of Cold River, is a major part of Saskatchewan's largest provincial park, Meadow Lake Provincial Park. [6] There are no communities along the river's course, yet there are many amenities related to Meadow Lake Provincial Park and the villages of Dorintosh and Goodsoil nearby. Highways that cross the river include Highways 4, 155, 224, and 903. Along a portion of the southern bank, near Goodsoil, Waterhen River Road runs parallel to the river and provides access to it.

Tributaries and course

Waterhen River has its beginnings at the large Primrose Lake in Saskatchewan. Primrose Lake discharges south through the Martineau River into Cold Lake on the Alberta / Saskatchewan border. Cold Lake then discharges east into the Cold River through Pierce and Lepine Lakes then into Lac des Îles.

The Waterhen River begins at the eastern end of Lac des Îles and flows eastward for about 65 kilometres (40 mi) following Highway 224 to Waterhen Lake. From Waterhen Lake, the river continues east for about 50 kilometres (31 mi) and meets the Beaver River near Highway 155. The section of the river between Lac des Îles and Waterhen Lake is in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. Coming out of the lake, it leaves the park and travels through Waterhen Lake First Nation en route to Beaver River. Beaver continues north and flows into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse, which is a lake along the course of the Churchill River–a major tributary of the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

Tributaries of the Waterhen River include

At the marshy delta where the Waterhen River flows into Waterhen Lake, a chain of three shallow lakes drain directly into the south side of the river. These include Niven, Matkin, and Iskwayach Lakes.

Waterhen River Recreation Site

Waterhen River Recreation Site ( 54°38′28″N107°49′04″W / 54.6412461°N 107.81781°W / 54.6412461; -107.81781 ) [8] is a recreation site located on the south shore of the Waterhen River, about one mile upstream from the junction with Beaver River. The park is along Highway 155 in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, near the north-east boundary of the RM of Meadow Lake.

It is 12 hectares (30 acres) in size and provides access to the river for fishing and boating. [9] To the east of the recreation site is the Waterhen River Campground.

South of the recreation site, along the south bank of the Waterhen River and west bank of the Beaver River is the Highway 155 Road Corridor Game Preserve. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

Primrose Lake is a large lake in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta in the Churchill River drainage basin. The lake straddles the Saskatchewan / Alberta border, with most of the water surface in Saskatchewan with only the south-west corner of the lake in Alberta. On the Saskatchewan side of the lake is Backes Island Wildlife Refuge, which is a small protected island near the middle of the lake that is important to birds. The entire lake plus surrounding land totalling 1,259.52 km2 (486.30 sq mi) is part of an Important Bird Area (IBA) of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold Lake (Alberta)</span> Lake in western Canada

Cold Lake is a large lake in Central Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. The lake straddles the Alberta / Saskatchewan border, and has a water area of 373 km2 (144 sq mi). It is also one of the deepest lakes in Alberta with a maximum depth of 200.1 m (656 ft). It has around 24 known species of fish and is a major ice fishing lake. Cold Lake is also major stop for many migrating birds, and is home to one of the largest warbler populations in Alberta. A surface of 248 km2 (96 sq mi) lies in the province of Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaver River (Canada)</span> River in Western Canada

Beaver River is a large river in east-central Alberta and central Saskatchewan, Canada. It flows east through Alberta and Saskatchewan and then turns sharply north to flow into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse on the Churchill River which flows into Hudson Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meadow Lake Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in Saskatchewan, Canada

Meadow Lake Provincial Park is a northern boreal forest provincial recreational park along the Waterhen and Cold Rivers in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The park was founded on 10 March 1959, is the largest provincial park in Saskatchewan, and encompasses over 25 lakes in an area of 1,600 km2 (620 sq mi). The park was named "Meadow Lake" after the city of Meadow Lake and Meadow Lake. The city and the lake are not in the park and are located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) south-east of the nearest park entrance, which is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Dorintosh. The length of the park stretches about 113 kilometres (70 mi) from Cold Lake on the Saskatchewan / Alberta border in the west to the eastern shore of Waterhen Lake in the east.

Waterhen Lake is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, located about 40 km (25 mi) north of the city of Meadow Lake. The lake is situated along the course of the Waterhen River in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flotten Lake</span> Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada

Flotten Lake is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan. While the lake has one outflow, Flotten River, there are several small inflow creeks, including Fleury Creek, Young Creek, Ross Creek, Moloney Creek, and Salt Creek. Flotten River exits the lake at the south end and flows south into Waterhen Lake, which is the source of the Waterhen River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold River (Saskatchewan)</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Cold River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is Cold Lake, which is a large lake on the provincial border of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and its mouth is at the western end of Lac des Îles in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. It is an east flowing river and the entirety of its course is in Meadow Lake Provincial Park and the boreal forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martineau River</span> River in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada

Martineau River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Its source is at Primrose Lake in north-western Saskatchewan and its mouth is at Cold Lake in Alberta. The river travels in a south-westerly direction through muskeg and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada The majority of the river and its tributaries are in Saskatchewan with only the final leg being in Alberta.

Pierce Lake is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan. It is situated along the course of the Cold River in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. Upstream along Cold River from Pierce Lake is Cold Lake and downstream are Lepine Lake and Lac des Îles. Pierce Lake and Cold River are in the Beaver River watershed, which is part of the Churchill River and Hudson Bay drainage basin.

Lac des Îles is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The primary inflow is the Cold River and its outflow is the Waterhen River. The lake and associated rivers are part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin as the Waterhen River flows into Beaver River, which meets the Churchill River, a major river that flows into Hudson Bay, at Lac Île-à-la-Crosse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greig Lake (Saskatchewan)</span> Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada

Greig Lake is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. On the eastern shore of the lake is the resort village of Greig Lake and Greig Lake Campground. The south-west corner of the lake has a resort called Waters Edge Eco Lodge. The lake is accessed from Highway 224 at the south end.

Kimball 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 located near the centre of the park, north of the Waterhen River and Little Raspberry Lake and south of First Mustus Lake. Rusty and Greig Lakes are to the east. Several small streams feed into the lake and the outflow is at the southern shore, which feeds into the Waterhen River, a tributary of Beaver River. The Beaver River, in turn, flows north into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and the Churchill River, a major tributary in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

Matheson 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 located near the centre of the park, north of the Waterhen River, west of Vivian Lake and south of Peitahigan Lake. Several small streams feed into the lake and the outflow is at the southern shore, which feeds into the Waterhen River, a tributary of Beaver River. The Beaver River, in turn, flows north into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and the Churchill River, a major tributary in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

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.

Mistohay 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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Rusty Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is First Mustus Lake, which is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park, and its mouth is along the course of the Waterhen River. It is a south flowing river and the entirety of its course is in Meadow Lake Provincial Park and the boreal forest ecozone. Rusty Creek is a tributary of Waterhen River, which is a major tributary of Beaver River of the Churchill River and in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meadow River (Saskatchewan)</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Meadow River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is Meadow Lake, which is the lake adjacent to the city of Meadow Lake. The river and its drainage basin are in the transition zone between the boreal forest and prairies ecozones of Canada. Meadow River's mouth is at Beaver River, which flows northward into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse, a lake along the course of the Churchill River, which is a major river in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

Meadow Lake is a small, shallow, oval-shaped lake that is the source of Meadow River and the namesake of Meadow Lake Provincial Park, despite not being within the park's boundaries. The lake is in the transition zone between the boreal forest and prairies ecozones of Canada.

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.

References

  1. "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Waterhen River)" . Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. "Atlas of Canada Toporama" . Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. "Ecozones.ca home page".
  4. Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Mostoos Hills". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  5. Morton,"A History of the Canadian West",page 451
  6. "Meadow Lake Provincial Park | Tourism Saskatchewan".
  7. Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Mallard Lake". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  8. Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Waterhen River Recreation Site". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  9. "BRMB Maps | Canada's Best Backcountry Navigation Tool".
  10. Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Highway 155 Road Corridor Game Preserve". www4.rncan.gc.ca.