The Elk River is a short river rising in the eastern portion of the Alberta foothills. The river begins south of the ghost town of Coalspur and heads east before draining into the Brazeau Reservoir created by the Brazeau Dam on the Brazeau River, a tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.
| Elk River | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Location | Alberta |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Elk River headwaters |
| • coordinates | 52°56′12″N 116°25′34″W / 52.93667°N 116.42611°W |
| • elevation | 1,372 m (4,501 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Brazeau Reservoir |
• coordinates | 52°57′02″N 115°42′41″W / 52.95056°N 115.71139°W |
• elevation | 976 m (3,202 ft) |
The river follows the Elk River Road for much of its course. The Elk River Provincial Recreation Area is also located on the river.[1]
Physical characteristics
editAlberta Environment, a Ministry of the Government of Alberta, undertook a survey of the Elk River in the 1980s. The following data was generated from the survey:[2]
Reach number 1
Valley characteristics
- Description: Wide, stream cut valley
- Terraces: 2 fragmentary levels
Valley Flat
- Width: 750 m
- Description: Broad alluvial floodplain occasionally marked by oxbow cutoffs
River Channel
- Pattern: Irregular meanders
- Islands: None
- Bar type: Point bars
- Bed material: Sand with local gravel
- Bank material: Sand and gravel overlain by silt
Reach number 2
Valley characteristics
- Description: Broad glacial spillway channel now occupied by a smaller underfit stream
- Terraces: None
Valley flat
- Width: 500 m
- Description: Broad alluvial floodplain marked by numerous cutoffs
River channel
- Pattern: Irregular to tortuous meanders
- Islands: None
- Bar type: Point bars
- Bed material: Sand with local gravel
- Bank material: Sand and gravel overlain by silt, occasional till where channel is confined
Reach number 3
Valley characteristics
- Description: Wide, stream cut valley
- Terraces: None
Valley flat
River channel
- Pattern: Irregular meanders
- Islands: None
- Bar type: Point bars, side bars
- Bed material: Sand with local gravel
- Bank material: Sand, gravel, and till
Reach number 4
- Terrain surrounding valley: Fluted ground moraine, some outwash
Valley characteristics
- Description: Narrow stream cut valley
- Terraces: None
Valley flat
- Width: >100 m
- Description: Highly variable
River channel
- Pattern: Irregular
- Islands: None
- Bar type: Point bars, side bars
- Bed material: Sand with local gravel
- Bank material: Sand, gravel, and till
Reach number 5
Valley characteristics
- Description: Narrow stream cut valley
- Terraces: None
Valley flat
- Width: >100 m
- Description: Fragmentary
River channel
- Pattern: Irregular to sinuous
- Islands: None
- Bar type: Side bars
- Bed material: Gravel
- Bank material: Gravel, outwash, and till
Reach number 6
- Terrain surrounding valley: Rolling upland, ground moraine
Valley characteristics
- Description: Wide, stream cut valley
- Terraces: None
Valley flat
River channel