Chilkoot River

Chilkoot River
Chilkooot River from the Chilkoot Lake outlet
Chilkoot River is located in Alaska
Chilkoot River
Location of the mouth of the Chilkoot River in Alaska
Location
CountryUS
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationTakshanuk Mountains of Haines Borough, Alaska
Mouth 
 • location
Chilkoot Inlet into the Lynn Canal
 • elevation
30 feet (9.1 m)
Length20 miles (32 km)
Basin sizeAlaska, USA
Discharge 
 • average59 cubic feet per second (1.7 m3/s) in February to a maximum of 2,490 cubic feet per second (71 m3/s) in August
Basin features
River systemChilkoot River Watershed

The Chilkoot River is a river in Southeast Alaska, United States, that extends about 20 miles (32 km) from its source and covers a watershed area of 100 square miles (260 km2). The source of the river is in the Takshanuk Mountains to the west and the Freebee glacier and unnamed mountains to the east. From its source, the upper reach of the river extends approximately 16 miles (26 km) to the point where it enters Chilkoot Lake. From the downstream end of the lake, the lower reach of the river flows for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) until it enters the Chilkoot Inlet, a branch at the northern end of the Lynn Canal.

At the head of the lower reach of the river, on the shore of the lake, lies a prehistoric village which was a Chilkoot Indian settlement. The names of the village — Tschilkut, Tananel, or Chilcoot — have been given to the river and also to the lake.[1][2][3][4]

Salmon drying on fish racks along the Chilkoot River, August 1911

The river and its precincts, known as the Chilkoot River Corridor, have been brought under the monitoring of the Chilkoot River Corridor Strategic Planning Project (CRC) to preserve its ecological and historical heritage.[1] A fishing weir has also been constructed on the river to monitor and count fish moving from the lake into the lower reaches of the Chilkoot River and the Chilkoot Inlet.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Chilkoot River Watershed". Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation. Archived from the original on 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  2. ^ Haugen, Scott (2003). Flyfisher's Guide to Alaska. Wilderness Adventures Press. pp. 312–313. ISBN 1-932098-02-X. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  3. ^ Bulletin, Issues 297-299. Geological Survey (U.S.): G.P.O. 1906. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  4. ^ "Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site – Haines, Alaska". RVinsurance. Archived from the original on 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  5. ^ Chilkoot River weir results 1999-2003:Over view. Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services. 2006. Retrieved 2010-07-17.