Cowan River

Cowan River
Churchill River drainage basin
Cowan River is located in Saskatchewan
Cowan River
Location of the mouth in Saskatchewan
Cowan River is located in Canada
Cowan River
Cowan River (Canada)
Location
Country Canada
Provinces Saskatchewan
Physical characteristics
SourceCowan Lake
 • coordinates54°11′38″N 107°26′48″W / 54.1940°N 107.4466°W / 54.1940; -107.4466
 • elevation483 m (1,585 ft)
MouthBeaver River
 • location
Northern Saskatchewan Administration District
 • coordinates
54°25′18″N 107°51′02″W / 54.4216°N 107.8505°W / 54.4216; -107.8505
 • elevation
468 m (1,535 ft)
Basin features
River systemChurchill River
Tributaries 
 • rightTaggart Creek

Cowan River[1] is a river in the west-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada.[2] The river begins at Cowan Lake Dam[3] near the northern end of Cowan Lake and flows north-west through muskeg and forest to meet Beaver River. Beaver River then flows into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and the Churchill River. The entirety of Cowen River is within the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and while there are no communities along its course, the towns of Big River and Spiritwood are in its watershed.

Within Cowan River's watershed, there are many lakes and rivers. Some of the more notable include the river's source, Cowan Lake and its primary inflow, Big River, Delaronde Lake, Taggart Lake, Little Whitefish Lake, Witchekan Lake, and Ladder Lake. Delaronde Lake is at the western edge of the Waskesiu Upland and several creeks and rivers flow from the upland into the lake. Delaronde Lake then flows into Taggart Lake which connects to Cowan River through Taggart Creek.[4]

At either end of the river, there's a provincial recreation site. Cowan Dam Recreation Site is at Cowan Lake Dam and Beaver / Cowan Rivers Recreation Site is at the confluence of Cowan River and Beaver River.[5]

  1. ^ "Cowan River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Boreal Plains Ecozone". ecozones. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Dams and Reservoirs". Water Security Agency. Water Security Agency. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Cowan River, Saskatchewan Map". Geodata.us. Geodata.us. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Cowan Dam Campground". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 13 June 2022.