Exchamsiks River
| Exchamsiks River | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District | Range 5 Coast Land District |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Kitimat Ranges |
| • coordinates | 54°36′44″N 129°36′19″W / 54.61222°N 129.60528°W |
| • elevation | 547 m (1,795 ft) |
| Mouth | Skeena River |
• coordinates | 54°19′54″N 129°17′44″W / 54.33167°N 129.29556°W |
• elevation | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Length | 58 km (36 mi) |
| Basin size | 514 km2 (198 sq mi), |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 62.4 m3/s (2,200 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 864 m3/s (30,500 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Topo map | NTS103I6 Salvus |
The Exchamsiks River is a right bank tributary of the Skeena River in northwestern part of the province of British Columbia, Canada.
From its source in the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains the Exchamsiks River flows southeast for about 58 km (36 mi) to empty into the Skeena River in Exchamsiks River Provincial Park and the Exchamsiks River Protected Area.
The Exchamsiks River's drainage basin covers 514 km2 (198 sq mi). The river's mean annual discharge is estimated at 62.4 m3/s (2,200 cu ft/s), with most of the flow occurring between May and October. According to the stream gauge "08EG012 Exchamsiks River Near Terrace", the Exchamsiks' maximum recorded instantaneous discharge was 864 m3/s (30,500 cu ft/s), on 1 November 1978.
The Exchamsiks watershed's land cover is classified as 33.8% barren, 22.8% snow/glacier, 17.4% conifer forest, 9.3% herbaceous, and small amounts of other cover. The Exchamsiks River is glacially-turbid and moderately braided, and drains an essentially pristine watershed. The mouth of the Exchamsiks River is located about 50 km (31 mi) west of Terrace, British Columbia, 53 km (33 mi) northwest of Kitimat, about 68 km (42 mi) east of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and about 430 km (270 mi) northwest of Prince George, British Columbia.
The Exchamsiks River's drainage basin lies within the asserted traditional territory of the Tsimshian Ginaxangiik First Nations people. The lower Exchamsiks River basin contains many Tsimshian archaeological sites.