# Elwyn Creek

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Elwyn_Creek
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Elwyn_Creek.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elwyn_Creek
> Source revision: 1339372630
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

River in British Columbia, Canada

Elwyn Creek 14 Mile Creek Mouth of Elwyn Creek Location Country Canada Province British Columbia District Cassiar Land District Physical characteristics Source Mount Edziza • location Big Raven Plateau • coordinates 57°44′42″N 130°41′07″W / 57.74500°N 130.68528°W / 57.74500; -130.68528[1] • elevation 2,030 m (6,660 ft)[1] Mouth Mess Creek • location Tahltan Highland • coordinates 57°47′16″N 130°59′30″W / 57.78778°N 130.99167°W / 57.78778; -130.99167[1] • elevation 455 m (1,493 ft)[1] Length 25 km (16 mi)[1] Basin size 173 km2 (67 sq mi)[2] Discharge • average 3.34 m3/s (118 cu ft/s)[2] Basin features Tributaries • left Kadeya Creek Topo map NTS 104G15 Buckley Lake

**Elwyn Creek** is a [tributary](/source/Tributary) of [Mess Creek](/source/Mess_Creek), which in turn is a tributary of the [Stikine River](/source/Stikine_River) in northwest part of the [province](/source/Provinces_and_territories_of_Canada) of [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia), Canada.[3][4] It flows generally west for about 25 km (16 mi) to join Mess Creek about 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Mess Creek's confluence with [Taweh Creek](/source/Taweh_Creek).[1][3] Elwyn Creek's [watershed](/source/Drainage_basin) covers 173 km2 (67 sq mi) and its mean annual [discharge](/source/Discharge_(hydrology)) is estimated at 3.34 m3/s (118 cu ft/s).[2] The mouth of Elwyn Creek is located about 16 km (9.9 mi) southeast of [Telegraph Creek](/source/Telegraph_Creek), about 60 km (37 mi) west-southwest of [Iskut](/source/Iskut) and about 93 km (58 mi) southwest of [Dease Lake](/source/Dease_Lake).[1] Elwyn Creek's watershed's [land cover](/source/Land_cover) is classified as 37.9% [shrubland](/source/Shrubland), 30.3% [conifer forest](/source/Conifer), 15.2% [barren](/source/Barren_vegetation), 7.6% snow/glacier, 7.1% [herbaceous](/source/Herbaceous_plant), and small amounts of other cover.[2]

Elwyn Creek is in [Mount Edziza Provincial Park](/source/Mount_Edziza_Provincial_Park) which lies within the traditional territory of the [Tahltan](/source/Tahltan) people.[5][6]

## Geography

Elwyn Creek originates in the middle of the [Big Raven Plateau](/source/Big_Raven_Plateau).[5] From its source on the northwestern slope of [Mount Edziza](/source/Mount_Edziza), Elwyn Creek flows about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest past [Tsekone Ridge](/source/Tsekone_Ridge) and [Pillow Ridge](/source/Pillow_Ridge) to the head of a vegetated canyon. It then continues to flow northwest through the canyon for about 5 km (3.1 mi) before flowing west inside the canyon for an additional 12 km (7.5 mi) to empty into Mess Creek.[1][5][7]

Elwyn Creek's only named tributary, [Kadeya Creek](/source/Kadeya_Creek), is about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Elwyn Creek's confluence with Mess Creek.[1][7] It is about 14 km (8.7 mi) long and flows northwest into Elwyn Creek from near the western side of Mount Edziza.[1][8][9]

## Geology

Elwyn Creek contains a group of [hot springs](/source/Hot_spring) between elevations of 1,350 and 1,440 m (4,430 and 4,720 ft) called the Elwyn Hot Springs. They occur near the base of the [Mount Edziza volcanic complex](/source/Mount_Edziza_volcanic_complex) where [basalt](/source/Basalt) of the [Nido Formation](/source/Nido_Formation) overlies [Tertiary](/source/Tertiary_period) [leucogranite](/source/Leucogranite). Thick deposits of [tufa](/source/Tufa) formed by the precipitation of [calcite](/source/Calcite) and [aragonite](/source/Aragonite) occur at the Elwyn Hot Springs. In 1983, the springs had a maximum temperature of 36 °C (97 °F). Their existence may be linked to a shallow [hydrothermal](/source/Hydrothermal) system driven by residual [magmatic](/source/Magma) heat from the recently active [Desolation Lava Field](/source/Desolation_Lava_Field) about 6 km (3.7 mi) to the east.[10]

Elwyn Creek is the namesake of the Elwyn Creek Pluton. This is a body of [intrusive rock](/source/Intrusive_rock) at least 5 km (3.1 mi) wide exposed in Elwyn Creek canyon. The main intrusive rock comprising the Elwyn Creek Pluton is fine grained, slightly [porphyritic](/source/Porphyritic) leucogranite containing [phenocrysts](/source/Phenocryst) of sodic [plagioclase](/source/Plagioclase). It is of [Eocene](/source/Eocene) age, having yielded a [K–Ar date](/source/K%E2%80%93Ar_dating) of 53.1 ± 2.4 million years. This suggests that the Elwyn Creek Pluton was formed by one of the youngest known igneous events in the Elwyn Creek area prior to the onset of [volcanism of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex](/source/Volcanism_of_the_Mount_Edziza_volcanic_complex) in the [Late Miocene](/source/Late_Miocene).[10]

## History

The historic [Yukon Telegraph Trail](/source/Yukon_Telegraph_Trail) crosses Elwyn Creek in Mess Creek valley.[11] It was built to serve the nearly 3,000 km-long (1,900 mi) Yukon Telegraph Line which was constructed by the Dominion Government Telegraph Service between 1897 and 1901 to send messages from [Ashcroft, British Columbia](/source/Ashcroft%2C_British_Columbia) in the south to [Dawson City](/source/Dawson_City), [Yukon](/source/Yukon) in the north.[12] The telegraph trail crosses other tributaries along the eastern side of Mess Creek, including [Crayke Creek](/source/Crayke_Creek) about 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Elwyn Creek.[1][11]

Elwyn Creek was formerly called 14 Mile Creek which appeared on a BC Lands map published in 1929. Its current name was suggested by the BC Geographic Division to avoid duplication; it first appeared on maps in 1945. Elwyn Creek is named after [Thomas Elwyn](/source/Thomas_Elwyn), a government agent who accompanied a [Western Union Telegraph](/source/Western_Union_Telegraph) expedition in 1866.[3]

## See also

- [List of rivers of British Columbia](/source/List_of_rivers_of_British_Columbia)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KF_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KF_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KF_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-KF_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-KF_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-KF_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-KF_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-KF_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-KF_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-KF_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-KF_1-10) Elevation, length and coordinates derived from [Google Earth](/source/Google_Earth) and the [Canadian Geographical Names Database](https://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/search)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-watertool_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-watertool_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-watertool_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-watertool_2-3) ["Northwest Water Tool"](https://nwwt.bcwatertool.ca). *BC Water Tool*. GeoBC, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 2023-09-26.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bcgnis_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bcgnis_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bcgnis_3-2) ["Elwyn Creek"](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/9936.html). *[BC Geographical Names](/source/BC_Geographical_Names)*. Government of British Columbia – B.C. Geographical Names Office (BCGNO). Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Mess Creek"](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/22550.html). *[BC Geographical Names](/source/BC_Geographical_Names)*. Government of British Columbia – B.C. Geographical Names Office (BCGNO). Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HR_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HR_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HR_5-2) "A 502" (Topographic map). [*Telegraph Creek, Cassiar Land District, British Columbia*](https://web.archive.org/web/20210502071600/https://volcano.si.edu/maps/GVAlaskaCanada/G910509-006.jpg) (3 ed.). 1:250,000. 104 G (in English and French). [Department of Energy, Mines and Resources](/source/Department_of_Energy%2C_Mines_and_Resources). 1989. Archived from [the original](https://volcano.si.edu/maps/GVAlaskaCanada/G910509-006.jpg) on 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-09-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Markey, Sean; Halseth, Greg; Manson, Don (2012). *Investing in Place: Economic Renewal in Northern British Columbia*. [University of British Columbia Press](/source/University_of_British_Columbia_Press). p. 242. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7748-2293-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7748-2293-0).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cgndb_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cgndb_7-1) ["Elwyn Creek"](https://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique?id=JARQK). *[Geographical Names Data Base](/source/GeoBase_(geospatial_data)#Geographical_Names_Data_Base)*. [Natural Resources Canada](/source/Natural_Resources_Canada). Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Kadeya Creek"](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/12141.html). *[BC Geographical Names](/source/BC_Geographical_Names)*. Government of British Columbia – B.C. Geographical Names Office (BCGNO). Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Kadeya Creek"](https://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique?id=JAVRA). *[Geographical Names Data Base](/source/GeoBase_(geospatial_data)#Geographical_Names_Data_Base)*. [Natural Resources Canada](/source/Natural_Resources_Canada). Retrieved 2023-09-30.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Souther_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Souther_10-1) [Souther, J. G.](/source/Jack_Souther) (1992). The Late Cenozoic Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex, British Columbia. *[Geological Survey of Canada](/source/Geological_Survey_of_Canada)* (Report). Memoir 420. Canada Communication Group. pp. 43, 241. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4095/133497](https://doi.org/10.4095%2F133497). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-660-14407-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-660-14407-7).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mussio_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mussio_11-1) Mussio, Russell, ed. (2018). *Northern BC Backroad Mapbook*. Mussio Ventures. p. 88. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-926806-87-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-926806-87-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Yukon Telegraph Trail"](https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=17944). [Canadian Register of Historic Places](/source/Canadian_Register_of_Historic_Places). Retrieved 2023-09-26.

v t e Rivers of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex by drainage basin Iskut River Artifact Creek, Ball Creek, Bourgeaux Creek, Gerlib Creek, Little Iskut River, More Creek, Stewbomb Creek Kakiddi Creek Chakima Creek, Nido Creek, Pyramid Creek, Shaman Creek, Sorcery Creek, Tenchen Creek, Tennaya Creek, Tsecha Creek Mess Creek Crayke Creek, Elwyn Creek, Flyin Creek, Kadeya Creek, Kitsu Creek, Nagha Creek, Raspberry Creek, Sezill Creek, Tadekho Creek, Taweh Creek, Walkout Creek

v t e Mount Edziza volcanic complex Cinder cones The Ash Pit Cache Hill Camp Hill Cinder Cliff Cocoa Crater Coffee Crater Eve Cone Exile Hill Icefall Cone Kana Cone Keda Cone Klastline Cone Mess Lake Cone Moraine Cone Nahta Cone Outcast Hill Ridge Cone Sidas Cone Sleet Cone Source Hill Storm Cone Thaw Hill Triplex Cones Twin Cone Walkout Creek centres Williams Cone Subglacial volcanoes Pillow Ridge Tennena Cone Tsekone Ridge Wetalth Ridge Central volcanoes Armadillo Peak Mount Edziza Ice Peak Spectrum Range Lava domes Glacier Dome IGC Centre Nanook Dome Pharaoh Dome The Pyramid Sphinx Dome Triangle Dome Lava fields Desolation Lava Field Mess Lake Lava Field Snowshoe Lava Field Plateaus Arctic Lake Plateau Big Raven Plateau Kitsu Plateau Ridges Artifact Ridge Cartoona Ridge Idiji Ridge Obsidian Ridge Pillow Ridge Sorcery Ridge Tsekone Ridge Wetalth Ridge Yagi Ridge Mountain passes Destell Pass Raspberry Pass Bluffs Koosick Bluff Ornostay Bluff Glaciers Idiji Glacier Tenchen Glacier Tencho Glacier Tennaya Glacier Streams Artifact Creek Ball Creek Bourgeaux Creek Chakima Creek Crayke Creek Elwyn Creek Flyin Creek Gerlib Creek Kadeya Creek Kitsu Creek Little Iskut River More Creek Nagha Creek Nido Creek Pyramid Creek Raspberry Creek Sezill Creek Shaman Creek Sorcery Creek Stewbomb Creek Tadekho Creek Taweh Creek Tenchen Creek Tennaya Creek Tsecha Creek Walkout Creek Stratigraphic units Armadillo Formation Big Raven Formation (Sheep Track Member) Edziza Formation Ice Peak Formation Kakiddi Formation Klastline Formation Little Iskut Formation Nido Formation (Tenchen Member) Pyramid Formation Raspberry Formation Other Cartoona Peak Gnu Butte Mess Creek Escarpment Volcanism of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elwyn Creek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elwyn_Creek) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elwyn_Creek?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.