Waterhen River (Saskatchewan)

For the river in Manitoba, see Waterhen River (Manitoba).

Waterhen River
Waterhen River at Highway 155
Churchill River drainage basin
Waterhen River (Saskatchewan) is located in Saskatchewan
Waterhen River (Saskatchewan)
Location of the mouth in Saskatchewan
Waterhen River (Saskatchewan) is located in Canada
Waterhen River (Saskatchewan)
Waterhen River (Saskatchewan) (Canada)
Location
Country Canada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Physical characteristics
SourceLac des Îles
 • locationMeadow Lake Provincial Park
 • coordinates54°27′12″N 109°16′26″W / 54.45333°N 109.27389°W / 54.45333; -109.27389
 • elevation496 m (1,627 ft)
MouthBeaver River
 • location
Division 18, Saskatchewan
 • coordinates
54°38′19″N 107°46′41″W / 54.63861°N 107.77806°W / 54.63861; -107.77806
Basin features
River systemChurchill River drainage basin
Tributaries 
 • left
 • right
  • Masumakoos Creek
  • Gergley Creek
[1][2]

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.

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.

  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".