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British
Columbia Heritage Rivers Program |
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Stikine River
The Stikine River originates in the Cassiar and Stikine Mountains of northwestern British Columbia and drains a 51,000-square-kilometre basin before crossing the border with the United States on the Alaska Panhandle and discharging through several channels into the Pacific. The upper portion of the river basin is a semi-arid plateau of up to 1,900 metres in elevation, while the lower portion of the river drains a heavily-glaciated region of the Coast Mountains characterized by high precipitation. The main tributary the Iskut River joins the Stikine 11 km upstream from the Alaska border and accounts for about 25% of the river's flow. A dominant natural feature of the river is the Grand Canyon of the Stikine which, beginning almost 300 km below the source, extends for almost 100 km down river. The topography of the canyon area, as well as other sites along the Stikine and its tributaries, give the basin significant potential for hydro power development. Mineral development has also been a longstanding focus of activity in the basin, with rich deposits of copper, gold, silver, molybdenum and coal. The Stikine River also supports an important fishery including all five salmon species. Its wild and natural environment has also supported a wide range of wildlife species in the basin. Hunting, fishing, hiking and river recreation have been popular recreational pursuits. The upper portion of the Stikine River is now within Stikine River Park and Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park. A large downstream portion of the river is within the Lower Stikine-Iskut Coastal Grizzly/Salmon Zone as defined in the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine Land and Resource Management Plan. Proclaimed BC Rivers:
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