Coquitlam River
The Coquitlam River (/koʊˈkwɪtləm/ or /kəˈkwɪtləm/) is a tributary of the Fraser River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The river's name comes from the word Kʷikʷəƛ̓əm which translates to "Red fish up the river". The name is a reference to a sockeye salmon species that once occupied the river's waters.
| Coquitlam River | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District | New Westminster Land District |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • coordinates | 49°33′13″N 122°45′59″W |
| • elevation | 1,034 m (3,392 ft) |
| Mouth | Fraser River |
• location | Port Coquitlam, Metro Vancouver |
• coordinates | 49°13′30″N 122°48′18″W |
• elevation | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Port Coquitlam |
| • average | 6.04 m3/s (213 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 0.025 m3/s (0.88 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 476 m3/s (16,800 cu ft/s) |
The river is an 18 km meandering river with 30 tributaries and various morphological features. Owing to the size and area of its location, the river has a history of disastrous floods.
The Kwikwetlem first nations were the first humans to live in the area, followed by settlers thousands of years later. After settlers arrived the river would soon be altered many times for the resources it holds. The most recent changes are the generation of hydro-electricity with a dam.
The river's long history and importance have led to conservation efforts by different organizations for some of the various mammals, birds, fish, and plants. Some attempts have been made to rejuvenate the salmonid species with hatcheries and direct human intervention to assist wild salmonids. The area is also known to have some species which are included on the BC Species at Risk Act and The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists.