Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Elk River (Alberta)

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Location
  
Alberta

Mouth
  
Brazeau Reservoir

Province
  
Alberta

Country
  
Canada

Main source
  
Elk River Headwaters1,372 m (4,501 ft)

River mouth
  
Brazeau Reservoir976 m (3,202 ft)

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.

Contents

Map of Elk River, Yellowhead County, AB, Canada

The river follows the Elk River Road for much of its course. The Elk River Provincial Recreation Area is also located on the river.

Physical Characteristics

Alberta 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:

Reach Number 1

  • Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills, ground moraine

    • 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

  • Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills, ground moraine

    • 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

  • Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills, fluted ground moraine

    • Valley Characteristics

  • Description: Wide, stream cut valley
  • Terraces: None

    • Valley Flat

  • Width: 400 m
  • Description: Alluvial valley marked by oxbow cutoffs

    • 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

  • Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills, ground moraine

    • Valley Characteristics

  • Description: Narrow stream cut valley
  • Terraces: None

    • Valley Flat

  • Width: >100 m
  • Description: Fragmentary

    • River Channel

  • Pattern: Irregular to sinous
  • 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

  • Width: 400 m
  • Description: Wide alluvial flat marked by oxbow cutoffs

    • River Channel

  • Pattern: Tortuous meanders
  • Islands: None
  • Bar Type: Point bars
  • Bed Material: Sand
  • Bank Material: Sand overlain by silt

    • References

    Elk River (Alberta) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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