The Khtada 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 26 km (16 mi) to the lower tidal reach of the Skeena River,[4][6] about 24 km (15 mi) upriver from Port Essington, 48 km (30 mi) southeast of Prince Rupert, and about 74 km (46 mi) southwest of Terrace.[1]

Khtada River
Khtada River is located in British Columbia
Khtada River
Mouth of Khtada River
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Physical characteristics
SourceKitimat Ranges
 • locationCoast Mountains
 • coordinates54°3′11″N 129°21′43″W / 54.05306°N 129.36194°W / 54.05306; -129.36194[2]
 • elevation855 m (2,805 ft)[3]
MouthSkeena River
 • coordinates
54°10′44″N 129°36′4″W / 54.17889°N 129.60111°W / 54.17889; -129.60111[1]
 • elevation
31 m (102 ft)[3]
Length26 km (16 mi)[4]
Basin size157 km2 (61 sq mi),[5]
Discharge 
 • average24.4 m3/s (860 cu ft/s).[5]

Its watershed covers 157 km2 (61 sq mi),[5] and its mean annual discharge is 24.4 m3/s (860 cu ft/s).[5] The Khtada River's watershed above Davis Lake is contained within the Khtada Lake Conservancy.[7][8] Major mountain peaks in and around the Khtada's watershed include Cooper Peak, Sillimanite Needle, and Spinel Peak.[9][10][11]

The Khtada River's watershed is within the traditional territory of the Tsimshian Lax-kw'alaams First Nation and the Metlakatla First Nation.[12][13]

Geography

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The Khtada River originates in an unnamed lake from which it flows north and northwest, through Khtada Lake and Davis Lake, reaching the Skeena River just east of the mouth of the Scotia River.[14][15][6]

The Khtada River's watershed's land cover is classified as 33.2% Coniferous, 28.6% Barren, 12.6% Herb, 9.3% Snow/Glacier, and 6.6% Shrub.[5]

The Indian reserves Khtahda 10, of the Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla First Nations, is located at the mouth of the Khtada River.[16][17]

Natural history

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The Khtada River supports runs of steelhead trout[18] and eulachon.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Khtada River". BC Geographical Names.
  2. ^ Derived using BCGNIS, topographic maps and TopoQuest.
  3. ^ a b Elevation derived from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model, using GeoLocator, BCGNIS coordinates, and topographic maps.
  4. ^ a b Length measured using Google Maps path tool, BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps, and TopoQuest.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Northwest Water Tool". BC Water Tool. GeoBC, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Canadian 1:50K topographic maps" (map). TopoQuest.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Khtada Lake Conservancy". BC Parks. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Khtada Lake Conservancy". BC Geographical Names.
  9. ^ "Cooper Peak". BC Geographical Names.
  10. ^ "Sillimanite Needle". BC Geographical Names.
  11. ^ "Spinel Peak". BC Geographical Names.
  12. ^ "Khtada Lake Conservancy". Coast Funds. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ a b Lovisek, Joan A. "The Lax Kw'alaams Indian Band and Others v. The Attorney General of Canada and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia" (PDF). University of British Columbia. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Khtada Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  15. ^ "Davis Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  16. ^ "Khtahda 10". BC Geographical Names.
  17. ^ "Khtahda 10 Indian Reserve". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ^ Gottesfeld, Allen S.; Babnett, Ken A. (January 2007). "Skeena Watershed Fish Populations and their Habitat" (PDF). Skeena Fisheries Commission. Retrieved 26 July 2021.