Pepaw River,[1] also spelt Peepaw, is a river in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest[2] ecozone of Canada. It begins in the Porcupine Hills and flows northward and meets up with the Etomami River south of the town of Hudson Bay. Much of the river is within Saskatchewan's Porcupine Provincial Forest and as such has various recreational opportunities along its course.[3]
| Pepaw River Peepaw River | |
|---|---|
 Nelson River drainage basin | |
  Location of the mouth in Saskatchewan  Pepaw River (Saskatchewan) | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Provinces | |
| Rural municipality | RM of Hudson Bay No. 394 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Porcupine Hills |
| • coordinates | 52°21′25″N 102°31′04″W / 52.3570°N 102.5177°W |
| • elevation | 599 m (1,965 ft) |
| Mouth | Etomami River |
• coordinates | 52°40′23″N 102°22′23″W / 52.6730°N 102.3730°W |
• elevation | 386 m (1,266 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Red Deer River |
Pepaw River and its amenities are accessed from three different highways. The part of the river that runs west to east past McBride Lake is paralleled by Highway 983 and the north flowing leg at the lower end of the river is paralleled by Highway 982, also known as Little Swan Road. Highway 9 crosses the river near its mouth.
River's course
editThe course of the Pepaw River takes it through boreal forest, muskeg, glacier-formed valleys, and several lakes. The river begins at a small unnamed lake in the Porcupine Hills and flows north through forest and rolling hills before flowing into a valley and emptying into the western end of the narrow Eldredge Lake.[4] This valley runs in an east-west direction and to the west of where Pepaw River flows into the valley, is a portage to the Etomami River. At the eastern end of the lake, the Pepaw River continues and follows the valley and empties into McBride Lake. From the eastern end of McBride Lake, the river continues eastward through the valley until the east-west valley meets a north-south valley. To the south is Pepaw Lake and a portage to the Swan River and to the north, the Pepaw River continues and empties into Saginas Lake. A short distance downstream from Saginas Lake there is a small earthen dam (52°31′57″N 102°15′17″W / 52.5324°N 102.2547°W)[5] designed to increase the lake's water level for improved fish habitat. Continuing north from the dam, Pepaw River leaves the Porcupine Hills and meets up with the Etomami River near the intersection of Highway 9 and Little Swan Road and Dagg Creek Recreation Site.
Parks and recreation
editThree of the five sites that make up Porcupine Hills Provincial Park are along the course of Pepaw River.[6] These sites include McBride Lake Recreation Site,[7] Pepaw Lake Recreation Site,[8] and Saginas Lake Recreation Site.[9] At the mouth of Pepaw River is another recreation site called Dagg Creek Recreation Site,[10] which is part of Hudson Bay Regional Park.[11] These parks offer a variety of activities including camping, fishing, hiking, boating, and picnicking.
Fish species
editFish commonly found in the river include northern pike and walleye.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Pepaw River". www4.rncan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Boreal Plains Ecozone". ecozones. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Pepaw River". Geoview.info. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Eldredge Lake". www4.rncan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Saginas Lake". Sites.google. Google.sites. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Porcupine Hills Provincial Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - McBride Lake Recreation Site". www4.rncan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Pepaw Lake Recreation Site". www4.rncan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Saginas Lake Recreation Site". www4.rncan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Dagg Creek Recreation Site". www4.rncan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Hudson Bay Regional Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Pepaw River". Angler's Atlas. Angler's Atlas. Retrieved 10 April 2022.