Little Iskut River

{{Infobox river | name = Little Iskut River | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology =  | image = | image_caption = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = British Columbia | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = Mouth of Little Iskut River  | 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 =  | length = {{convert|45|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=length/> | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|12.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=watertool/> | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Little Ball Lake]] | source1_location = [[Spectrum Range]] | source1_coordinates = {{coord|57|20|55|N|130|35|20|W|display=inline}}<ref>Derived from BCGNIS, ACME Mapper, topographic maps, and [https://atlas.gc.ca/toporama/en/index.html Toporama]</ref> | source1_elevation = {{convert|1500|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="geolocator"/><ref name=toporama/> | mouth = [[Iskut River]] | mouth_location = [[Tahltan Highland]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|57|26|55|N|130|16|7|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=bcgnis/><ref name=toporama/> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|740|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="geolocator">Elevation derived from [[ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model]], using [http://tools.freeside.sk/geolocator/geolocator.html GeoLocator], BCGNIS coordinates, and topographic maps.</ref> | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|453|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|8}}<br>[[National Topographic System|NTS]] {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|104|G|9}}<br>[[National Topographic System|NTS]] {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|104|G|10}}<br>[[National Topographic System|NTS]] {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|104|G|7}} | extra = }} The '''Little Iskut River''' is a [[tributary]] of the [[Iskut River]] in the northwest part of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]], in [[Cassiar Land District]].<ref name=bcgnis>{{BCGNIS|2478|Little Iskut River}}</ref><ref>{{cite cgndb|id=JAEOF|title=Little Iskut River}}</ref> From its source at [[Little Ball Lake]] in [[Mount Edziza Provincial Park]], the Little Iskut River flows about {{convert|45|km|mi|abbr=on}},<ref name=length>Length measured using BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps, and [https://atlas.gc.ca/toporama/en/index.html Toporama]</ref> generally north to the vicinity of Mowdale Lake, then southeast and south to the Iskut River just below [[Cascade Falls (Iskut River)|Cascade Falls]]. The Little Iskut River is part of the [[Stikine River]] [[drainage basin]], as the Iskut River is a major tributary of the Stikine.

The Little Iskut River's watershed covers {{convert|453|km2|abbr=on}} and its mean annual [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] is an estimated {{convert|12.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}. The river's watershed's [[land cover]] is classified as 36.8% [[Conifer|conifer forest]], 27.9% [[Barren vegetation|barren]], 17.3% [[shrubland]], 10.3% [[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= 15 October 2021}}</ref>

The mouth of the Little Iskut River is located about {{convert|73|km|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Telegraph Creek, British Columbia]], about {{convert|110|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Dease Lake]], and about {{convert|165|km|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Wrangell, Alaska]].<ref name=acme/><ref name=toporama/>

The Little Iskut River is in the asserted traditional territory of the [[Tahltan First Nation]] and [[Iskut First Nation]], of the [[Tahltan]] people.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents_staticpost/49262/89282/Chapter_30_Appendices/Appendix_30-A_Tahltan_Desk-based_TK_Report.pdf |title= Tahltan Nation Traditional Knowledge and Use Desk-based Research Report |author= Rescan Environmental Services |date= 2012 |publisher= Seabridge Gold Inc. |accessdate= 22 September 2021}}</ref>

==Geography== The Little Iskut River originates at Little Ball Lake<ref>{{BCGNIS|39306|Little Ball Lake}}</ref> just south of [[Kounugu Mountain]].<ref>{{BCGNIS|6275|Kounugu Mountain}}</ref> It flows northeast through the southern part of Mount Edziza Provincial Park, then north, forming the southeastern boundary of the park.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/mt_edziza |title= Mount Edziza Provincial Park |publisher= BC Parks |accessdate= 1 October 2021}}</ref> It collects tributary streams flowing east from the [[Spectrum Range]].<ref>{{BCGNIS|16447|Spectrum Range}}</ref> [[Stewbomb Creek]]<ref>{{BCGNIS|7816|Stewbomb Creek}}</ref> and its tributary [[Artifact Creek]]<ref>{{BCGNIS|9263|Artifact Creek}}</ref> flow from [[Obsidian Ridge]],<ref>{{BCGNIS|17913|Obsidian Ridge}}</ref> [[Artifact Ridge]],<ref>{{BCGNIS|9265|Artifact Ridge}}</ref> and high mountains including [[Yeda Peak]]<ref>{{BCGNIS|25234|Yeda Peak}}</ref> and [[Kitsu Peak]].<ref>{{BCGNIS|4624|Kitsu Peak}}</ref> [[Bourgeaux Creek]]<ref>{{BCGNIS|451|Bourgeaux Creek}}</ref> and its tributary [[Gerlib Creek]]<ref>{{BCGNIS|6058|Gerlib Creek}}</ref> also flow east from the Spectrum Range, Artifact Ridge, and high peaks including [[Tadeda Peak]]<ref>{{BCGNIS|16743|Tadeda Peak}}</ref> and [[Armadillo Peak]].<ref>{{BCGNIS|9205|Armadillo Peak}}</ref>

Between Stewbomb Creek and Bourgeaux Creek the historic [[Yukon Telegraph Trail]] crosses the Little Iskut River, following Bourgeaux Creek over [[Raspberry Pass]] to Mess Creek, continuing north along the western side of the [[Mount Edziza volcanic complex]] to [[Telegraph Creek]] on the [[Stikine River]].<ref name=mapbook/> After Bourgeaux Creek, near Mowdade Lake,<ref>{{BCGNIS|8195|Mowdade Lake}}</ref> the Little Iskut turns sharply to flow southeast. It empties into the Iskut River just downstream of [[Cascade Falls (Iskut River)|Cascade Falls]].<ref>{{BCGNIS|11283|Cascade Falls}}</ref>

The Little Iskut River is a major tributary of the Iskut River. About 5% of its watershed is glacier-covered. Much of the lower Little Iskut River is braided.<ref name=PSC>{{cite web |title= Iskut Watershed Sockeye Salmon Enhancement Feasibility 2018–2019 Final Report |url= https://www.psc.org/download/586/enhancement/12101/n18-e02a-iskut-watershed-stikine-river-sockeye-salmon-enhancement-feasibility-report.pdf |publisher= Pacific Salmon Commission |date= 2019 |author= Tahltan Fisheries |accessdate= 28 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=acme>{{cite web |url= https://mapper.acme.com/?ll=56.50065,-131.38083&z=10 |title= ACME Mapper 2.2 |publisher= ACME Laboratories |accessdate= 15 October 2021}}</ref><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= 15 October 2021}}</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=PA51 |accessdate= 15 October 2021 |date= 2018 |publisher= Mussio Ventures |isbn= 978-1-926806-87-7 |pages= 73, 88}}</ref>

==Geology== During the [[Miocene]] epoch, a series of lava flows from the adjacent Mount Edziza volcanic complex travelled east into the Little Iskut River. Here, the flows formed a [[lava dam]] behind which water ponded to form Raspberry Lake. Water discharging from this prehistoric lake eventually cut through the eastern edge of this dam to create a new course for the Little Iskut River.<ref>{{Cite report|last1=Souther|first1=J. G.|author-link1=Jack Souther|title=The Late Cenozoic Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex, British Columbia| work=[[Geological Survey of Canada]]|publisher=Canada Communication Group|series=Memoir 420|year=1992|page=51|isbn=0-660-14407-7|doi=10.4095/133497|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of rivers of British Columbia]] *[[Little Iskut Formation]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Cassiar Land District]] [[Category:Tributaries of the Iskut River]] [[Category:Stikine Country]] [[Category:Stikine Plateau]] [[Category:Tahltan]] [[Category:Mount Edziza Provincial Park]] [[Category:Spectrum Range]]