Coquitlam River

Coquitlam River
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictNew Westminster Land District
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates49°33′13″N 122°45′59″W / 49.55361°N 122.76639°W / 49.55361; -122.76639[1]
 • elevation1,034 m (3,392 ft)[2]
MouthFraser River
 • location
Port Coquitlam, Metro Vancouver
 • coordinates
49°13′30″N 122°48′18″W / 49.22500°N 122.80500°W / 49.22500; -122.80500[3]
 • elevation
4 m (13 ft)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationPort Coquitlam[4]
 • average6.04 m3/s (213 cu ft/s)[4]
 • minimum0.025 m3/s (0.88 cu ft/s)
 • maximum476 m3/s (16,800 cu ft/s)

The Coquitlam River (/koʊˈkwɪtləm/ or /kəˈkwɪtləm/) is a tributary of the Fraser River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The river's name comes from the word Kʷikʷəƛ̓əm which translates to "Red fish up the river". The name is a reference to a sockeye salmon species that once occupied the river's waters.[5]

The river is an 18 km meandering river with 30 tributaries and various morphological features.[6] Owing to the size and area of its location, the river has a history of disastrous floods.[6][7]

The Kwikwetlem first nations were the first humans to live in the area, followed by settlers thousands of years later.[6] After settlers arrived the river would soon be altered many times for the resources it holds. The most recent changes are the generation of hydro-electricity with a dam.[8]

The river's long history and importance have led to conservation efforts by different organizations for some of the various mammals, birds, fish, and plants.[9][10] Some attempts have been made to rejuvenate the salmonid species with hatcheries and direct human intervention to assist wild salmonids.[11][12] The area is also known to have some species which are included on the BC Species at Risk Act and The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists.[10][13]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference bcgnisdisappoint2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Elevation derived from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model, using GeoLocator, and BCGNIS coordinates.
  3. ^ "Coquitlam River". BC Geographical Names.
  4. ^ a b "Archived Hydrometric Data Search". Water Survey of Canada. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2013. Search for Station 08MH002 Coquitlam River at Port Coquitlam
  5. ^ "Kwikwetlem First Nation | Coquitlam, Watershed Canada". Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  6. ^ a b c "2008 CRWS Phase I: Background and Research – Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable". Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  7. ^ G3 Consulting Ltd. (G3). 2016. COQMON#8 Lower Coquitlam River Substrate Quality Assessment (2012-2015). Prepared for BC Hydro and Power Authority by G3 Consulting Ltd., Surrey, BC. 26p + Appendices.
  8. ^ "Coquitlam Lake Dam | Coquitlam River Watershed Strategy Canada". Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  9. ^ Houghton J. (2008). Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program – Living Rivers Project Coquitlam River Stakeholder Engagement Phase I: The Story of the Coquitlam River Watershed Past, Present and Future. The Pacific Salmon Foundation. (pp. 9-10). City of Coquitlam. http://newearthmarketing.com/coquitlamriverwatershedca/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CRWS_Phase_I_Background_and_Research_2008_0.pdf
  10. ^ a b Ministry of Forests, Lands. "Coquitlam River Wildlife Management Area - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  11. ^ "The Grist Goesen Memorial Hatchery". Port Coquitlam & District Hunting & Fishing Club. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  12. ^ "First Nation and Fisheries Canada hatches plan to return coho salmon to Coquitlam River after 105 years | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  13. ^ COSEWIC. 2008. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Great Blue Heron fannini subspecies Ardea herodias fannini in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 39 pp https://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_great_blue_heron_0808_e.pdf