Chakima Creek is a tributary of Shaman Creek and part of the Stikine River watershed in northwest part of the province of British Columbia, Canada.[1] From its source in the mountains south of Mount Edziza, near Cartoona Peak and Tadeda Peak, it flows generally east for roughly 19 km (12 mi)[4] to empty into Shaman Creek, which flows to Kakiddi Creek, a tributary of the Klastline River, which in turn is a tributary of the Stikine River.[1]

Chakima Creek
Chakima Creek is located in British Columbia
Chakima Creek
Mouth of Chakima Creek
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictCassiar Land District
Physical characteristics
SourceNear Cartoona Peak
 • locationTahltan Highland
 • coordinates57°34′59″N 130°37′45″W / 57.58306°N 130.62917°W / 57.58306; -130.62917[3]
 • elevation1,815 m (5,955 ft)[2]
MouthShaman Creek
 • coordinates
57°36′41″N 130°24′50″W / 57.61139°N 130.41389°W / 57.61139; -130.41389[1][2]
 • elevation
780 m (2,560 ft)[2]
Length19 km (12 mi)[4]
Basin size100 km2 (39 sq mi)[5]
Discharge 
 • average1.49 m3/s (53 cu ft/s)[5]
Basin features
Topo mapNTS 104G9 Kinaskan Lake
NTS 104G10 Mount Edziza

Chakima Creek's mean annual discharge is estimated at 1.49 m3/s (53 cu ft/s).[5] Its watershed covers 100 km2 (39 sq mi),[5] and is mostly within Mount Edziza Provincial Park. The watershed's land cover is classified as 45.7% conifer forest, 26.6% shrubland, 14.0% barren, 9.6% herbaceous, and small amounts of other cover.[5]

The mouth of Chakima Creek is located about 55 km (34 mi) southeast of Telegraph Creek, British Columbia, about 70 km (43 mi) north of Bob Quinn Lake, British Columbia, and about 250 km (160 mi) east of Juneau, Alaska.[4]

Chakima Creek is in Mount Edziza Provincial Park, which lies within the traditional territory of the Tahltan First Nation, of the Tahltan people.[6][7]

The name "Chakima" was created from the Talhtan words cha "beaver" and kima "house", referring to the maze of beaver dams and ponds in the area where Chakima Creek joins Shaman Creek.[1]

Geography edit

Chakima Creek originates in the high peaks south of Mount Edziza, north of Tadeda Peak and south of Cartoona Peak. From its source about 15 km (9.3 mi) south of the summit of Mount Edziza, Chakima Creek flows generally east for about 19 km (12 mi). It is joined by numerous unnamed tributaries which drain various mountains such as Esja Peak and Hoyaa Peak.[8][9] In its lower reaches it makes a southward curve, coming close to Mowdade Lake,[10] then bending northward into a large wetland area. It flows through the northern end Mowchilla Lake,[11] then continues northeast through wetlands to empty into Shaman Creek. Mowchilla Lake and the various unnamed creeks that empty into it are part of Chakima Creek's watershed.[5][2][12]

Chakima Creek's watershed is part of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex. It is mostly within Mount Edziza Provincial Park. Chakima Creek itself is entirely within the park. Chakima Creek flows through Mowchilla Lake, and some of that lake's unnamed tributaries, which are part of Chakima Creek's watershed, drain areas to the south and east of Mowchilla Lake, outside of Mount Edziza Provincial Park.[5][2][12]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Chakima Creek". BC Geographical Names.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Toporama (on-line map and search)". Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  3. ^ Derived from BCGNIS, topographic maps, and Toporama
  4. ^ a b c Lengths and distances measured using BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps, online map servers, and Toporama
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Northwest Water Tool". BC Water Tool. GeoBC, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Our Territory". Tahltan Central Government. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Dah Ki Mi — "Our House"". Tahltan Band Council. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Esja Peak". BC Geographical Names.
  9. ^ "Hoyaa Peak". BC Geographical Names.
  10. ^ "Mowdade Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  11. ^ "Mowchilla Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  12. ^ a b Mussio, Russell; Mussio, Wesley (2018). Northern BC Backroad Mapbook. Mussio Ventures. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-1-926806-87-7. Retrieved 10 October 2023.

External links edit