Zymoetz River

Zymoetz River
Copper River
Mouth of the Zymoetz River
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictRange 5 Coast Land District
Physical characteristics
SourceBulkley Ranges
  locationHazelton Mountains
  coordinates54°44′1″N 127°22′25″W / 54.73361°N 127.37361°W / 54.73361; -127.37361
  elevation1,078 m (3,537 ft)
MouthSkeena River
  location
Just east of Terrace, British Columbia
  coordinates
54°32′42″N 128°29′9″W / 54.54500°N 128.48583°W / 54.54500; -128.48583
  elevation
78 m (256 ft)
Length145 km (90 mi)
Basin size3,026 km2 (1,168 sq mi),
Discharge 
  average114 m3/s (4,000 cu ft/s)
  maximum3,140 m3/s (111,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftSerb Creek, Blackberry Creek, Miligit Creek, Many Bear Creek, Limonite Creek, Kitnaykwa River, Clore River, Mattson Creek, Eight Mile Creek, Magee Creek
  rightSpruce Camp Creek, Henderson Creek, Silvern Creek, Passby Creek, Sandstone Creek, Coal Creek, Mulwain Creek, Red Canyon Creek, Treasure Creek, Nogold Creek, Mattock Creek, Harvey Creek, Salmon Run Creek, McNeil Creek, Dardanelle Creek, O.K. Creek
Topo mapNTS103I9 Usk

The Zymoetz River (formerly Copper River) is a tributary of the Skeena River in northwestern part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. From its source in the Bulkley Ranges of the Hazelton Mountains the Zymoetz River flows southeast for about 145 km (90 mi) to empty into the Skeena River in the Zaimoetz 5 Indian Reserve of the Kitselas First Nation.

The Zymoetz River's drainage basin covers 3,026 km2 (1,168 sq mi). The river's mean annual discharge is estimated at 114 m3/s (4,000 cu ft/s), with most of the flow occurring between May and October. According to the stream gauge "08EF005 Zymoetz River Above O.K. Creek", the Zymoetz's maximum recorded instantaneous discharge was 3,140 m3/s (111,000 cu ft/s), on 1 November 1978. The Zymoetz watershed's land cover is classified as 56.8% conifer forest, 17.8% barren, 13.3% snow/glacier, and small amounts of other cover. The mouth of the Zymoetz River is located about 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Terrace, British Columbia, about 57 km (35 mi) north of Kitimat, about 120 km (75 mi) east of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and about 380 km (240 mi) west of Prince George, British Columbia.

Most of the Zymoetz River's drainage basin lies within the traditional territory of the Tsimshian Kitselas First Nation of the Kitselas people. The Burnie River tributary area is part of the traditional terrritory of the Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation.

The meaning of "Zymoetz" is unclear. It may come from a Tsimshianic word meaning "palm of the hand".