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Cowichan River
The Cowichan River has been described as "one of the world's best salmon
and trout rivers, although it is relatively unknown." The river drains the
heavily-forested Cowichan Valley covering a vast mountain basin of about
90,000 ha or 900 square kilometres. The valley supports a second-growth
forest of Douglas fir, hemlock and lodgepole pine, changing to a more pastoral
environment of dairy farms and hay fields as well as settlement in the lower
reaches. The river actually flows from Cowichan Lake, at an elevation of 159 m,
about 35 km to the east coast of Vancouver Island
on Georgia Strait.
The river is an important fishery supporting brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout
as well as steelhead and salmon. Recreation is also a major use with a variety
of boating, tubing and hiking activities prominent along the river corridor.
Land status along the river is a mix of many interests including parks, private
land and First Nations interests. Local planning activity focusing on the Cowichan
River and involving a full range of stakeholders has taken place for a number
of years and has provided a basis for land-use directions embraced by
the approved Vancouver Island Land Use Plan.
On
November 5, 2005, a plaque commemorating the Cowichan River's designation
to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System was unveiled by federal, provincial
and First Nations officials. Here is the joint news
release and backgrounder for more information.
Proclaimed BC Rivers:
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