Moose Jaw River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located in the southern part of the province in a region called the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, which extends throughout three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states. It is also within Palliser's Triangle and the Great Plains ecoregion.[2]

Moose Jaw River
The Red River drainage basin, with the Qu'Appelle River highlighted
Location
Country	Canada
Provinces	Saskatchewan
Physical characteristics
Source	Ibsen Lake
• coordinates	49°47′0″N 104°15′22″W
• elevation	575 metres
Mouth	Qu'Appelle River
• location	City of Moose Jaw
• coordinates	50°32′41″N 105°17′33″W
Basin size	9,360 km
Basin features
River system	Red River drainage basin
Tributaries
• left	Avonlea Creek
• right	Thunder Creek
[1]

The Moose Jaw River drainage basin is one of five sub-basins that make up the Upper Qu'Appelle Watershed.[3] Craven Dam at the village of Craven is the dividing point between the upper and lower watersheds of the Qu'Appelle River. The river and its tributaries drain a total of 9,360 square kilometres (3,610 sq mi).[4] The total combined drainage area for the five sub-basins of the Upper Qu'Appelle Watershed is 23,443 square kilometres (9,051 sq mi).[5] The Qu'Appelle River system is part of the much larger Hudson Bay drainage basin.

Course

The source of the Moose Jaw River is Ibsen Lake (49°47′0″N, 104°15′2″W),[6] which is about 4 miles west of Yellow Grass. From there, the river travels in a north-westerly direction following Highway 39 most of the way to the city of Moose Jaw. Once the river reaches the city, it heads east and then north where it meets the Qu'Appelle River about 2 miles east and downstream of Buffalo Pound Lake in the Nicolle Flats Marsh. Several highways cross the river's path, including Highways 6, 334, 623, 339, 2, 1, and 301.

Tributaries

There are two main tributaries of the Moose Jaw River. Avonlea Creek[7] begins near the Piapot Cree First Nation 75G and flows in a north-west direction paralleling Moose Jaw River until near the village of Avonlea where it turns north and meets Moose Jaw River about 4 miles south-west of Rouleau. Along the course of Avonlea Creek is Watson Reservoir (49°58′40″N, 104°59′47″W),[8] which is about 4 miles south-east of the town of Avonlea. At the north end of the reservoir is Dunnet Regional Park.[9]

The other main tributary is Thunder Creek.[10] Thunder Creek begins near Lake Diefenbaker and travels in a south-easterly direction and meets up with the Moose Jaw River in the city of Moose Jaw. There are three shallow, marshy lakes, Paysen (Horfield), Kettlehut, and Pelican along Thunder Creek's course and four tributaries, Allin Creek, Aquadell Creek, Sandy Creek, and Wilson Creek.

Moose Jaw River

• Avonlea Creek
• Thunder Creek
  • Allin Creek
  • Aquadell Creek
  • Sandy Creek
  • Wilson Creek

See also

• List of rivers of Saskatchewan
• Hudson Bay drainage basin

References