{{Short description|Tribuatary river in the country of Canada}} {{Infobox river | name = Kitsu Creek | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = | image_caption = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = British Columbia | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = Mouth of Kitsu Creek <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Canada]] | subdivision_type2 = Province | subdivision_name2 = [[British Columbia]] | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 = [[Cassiar Land District]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|22.5|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=length/> | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|2.19|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=watertool/> | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = [[Kitsu Peak]] | source1_location = [[Spectrum Range]] | source1_coordinates = {{coord|57|26|15|N|130|42|27|W|display=inline}}<ref>Derived from BCGNIS, topographic maps, and [https://atlas.gc.ca/toporama/en/index.html Toporama]</ref> | source1_elevation = {{convert|2105|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=toporama/> | mouth = [[Mess Creek]] | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|57|30|56|N|130|51|40|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=bcgnis/><ref name=toporama/> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|668|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=toporama/> | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|72.6|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=watertool/> | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = [[Topographic map|Topo map]] | custom_data = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|104|G|10}} | extra = }} '''Kitsu Creek''' is a [[tributary]] of [[Mess Creek]] and part of the [[Stikine River]] [[drainage basin|watershed]] in northwest part of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]].<ref name=bcgnis>{{BCGNIS|4622|Kitsu Creek}}</ref><ref>{{cite cgndb|id=JAIJN|title=Kitsu Creek}}</ref> It flows generally northwest and north for roughly {{convert|22.5|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=length>Lengths and distances measured using BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps, online map servers, and [https://atlas.gc.ca/toporama/en/index.html Toporama]</ref> to join Mess Creek, a tributary of the Stikine River.
Kitsu Creek's mean annual [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] is estimated at {{convert|2.19|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}. Its [[Drainage basin|watershed]] covers {{convert|72.6|km2|abbr=on}} and is entirely in [[Mount Edziza Provincial Park]]. The watershed's [[land cover]] is classified as 42.5% [[Barren vegetation|barren]], 28.7% [[Conifer|conifer forest]], 11.4% [[shrubland]], 11.0% [[snow]]/[[glacier]], 5.7% [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]], and small amounts of other cover.<ref name=watertool>{{cite web |url= https://nwwt.bcwatertool.ca |title= Northwest Water Tool |work= BC Water Tool |publisher= GeoBC, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Government of British Columbia |accessdate= 4 October 2023}}</ref>
The mouth of Kitsu Creek is located about {{convert|47|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Telegraph Creek]], British Columbia, about {{convert|115|km|abbr=on}} southwest of [[Dease Lake]], British Columbia, and about {{convert|228|km|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Juneau, Alaska]].<ref name=length/>
Kitsu Creek is in [[Mount Edziza Provincial Park]], which lies within the traditional territory of the [[Tahltan First Nation]], of the [[Tahltan]] people.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://tahltan.org/our-territory |title= Our Territory |publisher= Tahltan Central Government |accessdate= 29 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://tahltan.ca/nation/territory |title= Dah Ki Mi — "Our House" |publisher= Tahltan Band Council |accessdate= 29 September 2023}}</ref>
Kitsu Creek was named in association with [[Kitsu Peak]] and [[Kitsu Plateau]]. The name comes from a Tahltan word for the [[Aurora|Northern Lights]].<ref name=bcgnis/>
==Geography== Kitsu Creek originates on the north side of Kitsu Peak in the [[Spectrum Range]] about {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of [[Mount Edziza]]. It flows northwest on the Kitsu Plateau, cascades down the [[Mess Creek Escarpment]] and then flows north to Mess Creek just north of Mess Lake. It is joined from the south by its one named tributary, [[Nagha Creek]].<ref>{{BCGNIS|8993|Nagha Creek}}</ref> Kitsu Creek's watershed is in the southern part of the [[Mount Edziza volcanic complex]].<ref name=toporama>{{cite web |url= http://atlas.gc.ca/toporama/en/index.html |title= Toporama (on-line map and search) |work= [[Atlas of Canada]] |publisher= [[Natural Resources Canada]] |accessdate= 28 September 2023}}</ref><ref name=mapbook>{{cite book |last1= Mussio |first1= Russell |last2= Mussio |first2= Wesley |title= Northern BC Backroad Mapbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pBAFEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA99 |accessdate= 28 September 2023 |date= 2018 |publisher= Mussio Ventures |isbn= 978-1-926806-87-7 |page= 99}}</ref>
==See also== *[[List of rivers of British Columbia]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Rivers of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex}} {{Mount Edziza volcanic complex}}
[[Category:Cassiar Land District]] [[Category:Rivers of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex]] [[Category:Tributaries of Mess Creek]] [[Category:Stikine Country]] [[Category:Tahltan place names]] [[Category:Mount Edziza Provincial Park]] [[Category:Spectrum Range]]