Khyex River

The Khyex River is a tributary of the Skeena River in the North Coast Regional District of the province of British Columbia, Canada. It originates in the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains, and flows south about 50 km (31 mi) to the lower tidal reach of the Skeena River,[4][5] about 13 km (8.1 mi) upriver from Port Essington, 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Prince Rupert, and about 85 km (53 mi) southwest of Terrace.[3] Its watershed covers 442 km2 (171 sq mi),[6] and its mean annual discharge is 458.2 m3/s (16,180 cu ft/s).[6]

Khyex River
Khyex River is located in British Columbia
Khyex River
Mouth of Khyex River
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictRange 5 Coast Land District
Physical characteristics
SourceKitimat Ranges
 • locationCoast Mountains
 • coordinates54°30′37″N 129°41′27″W[1]
 • elevation800 m (2,600 ft)[2]
MouthSkeena River
 • coordinates
54°13′52″N 129°48′22″W[3]
 • elevation
6 m (20 ft)[2]
Length50 km (31 mi)[4]

Almost all of the Khyex River's watershed is contained within the Khyex Conservancy.[7]

The Khyex River's watershed is within the asserted territory of the Tsimshian Lax-kw'alaams First Nation and the Metlakatla First Nation.[8]

Geography

The Khyex River originates in high, glaciated peaks of the Kitimat Range, such as Mount Campagnolo and Khyex Tower.[9][10] The river flows south to the Skeena River, collecting a number of tributary streams, the largest of which is Arden Creek.[11][5]

The Khyex River's watershed's land cover is classified as 32.4% Barren, 31.8% Coniferous, 12.4% Grassland, and 10.3% Snow/Glacier.[6]

The Indian reserves Kyex 64,[12] Khyex 8,[13] Ksagwisgwas 62, [14] and Ksagwisgwas 63[15] are located along the Khyex River.

Natural history

The Khyex River supports of runs of salmonids including Chinook salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, and steelhead trout. A 2 km (1.2 mi) long canyon with falls and chutes acts as a barrier to anadromous fish passage, blocking such fish from reaching the upper Khyex watershed.[16] The river also supports runs of eulachon.[16]

See also

References
  1. Derived using BCGNIS, topographic maps and TopoQuest.
  2. Elevation derived from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model, using GeoLocator, BCGNIS coordinates, and topographic maps.
  3. "Khyex River". BC Geographical Names.
  4. Length measured using Google Maps path tool, BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps, and TopoQuest.
  5. "Canadian 1:50K topographic maps" (map). TopoQuest.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. "Northwest Water Tool". BC Water Tool. GeoBC, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. "Khyex Conservancy". BC Parks. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. "Khyex Conservancy". Coast Funds. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. "Mount Campagnolo". BC Geographical Names.
  10. "Khyex Tower". BC Geographical Names.
  11. "Arden Creek". BC Geographical Names.
  12. "Kyex 64 Indian Reserve". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. "Khyex 8 Indian Reserve". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. "Ksagwisgwas 62 Indian Reserve". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. "Ksagwisgwas 63 Indian Reserve". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  16. Gottesfeld, Allen S.; Babnett, Ken A. (January 2007). "Skeena Watershed Fish Populations and their Habitat" (PDF). Skeena Fisheries Commission. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
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