The Nicomekl River springs from the ground in Langley, British Columbia and travels west through the city to Surrey's Crescent Beach, where it empties into Mud Bay, the northernmost section of the Boundary Bay of the Strait of Georgia.[1] It has a total length of 34 km, with a drainage area of 149 km².[3]

Nicomekl River
Nicomekl River, May 2006, looking west from 152nd St. Surrey, BC
Mouth of Nicomekl River
Location
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Physical characteristics
Source	Langley
• location	Lower Mainland
Mouth	Mud Bay
• location	Boundary Bay
• coordinates	49°3′28″N 122°52′10″W[1]
• elevation	4 m (13 ft)[2]
Length	34 km (21 mi)
Basin size	149 km2 (58 sq mi)

History and origins

The word Nicomekl is from the Halq'emeylem used by the Stó:lō people, meaning "the route to go" or "the pathway." The area from Mud Bay, British Columbia along the Nicomekl river, and portage area to the Salmon River and Derby, British Columbia was once occupied by Snokomish people, who were largely wiped out by a smallpox epidemic in the 18th century.[4] Surviving members joined the surrounding Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo peoples.

The river was first documented in writing on December 13, 1824, when James McMillan's Hudson's Bay Company expedition used the Nicomekl River to travel inland. They went up the Nikomekl to the portage area to the Salmon River which connected to the Fraser River 50 miles inland. McMillan built the first Fort Langley at that location two and a half years later.[5] John Work, a clerk with the party, described the Nicomekl as thick with willows and with low banks "well wooded with pine, cedar, alder and some other trees." Work also noted signs of there being numerous beavers on the river.[6]

Nicomekl was more navigable than other nearby rivers so was important to Surrey pioneers.[7]

In 1911, Surrey council barred navigation up the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers due to construction of dams to reclaim land. This ended use of the rivers by steamboats and log booms.[5]

In December 1951, high tides up the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers combined with gale-force winds to flood 490 hectares of farmland under 1.5 metres of salt water. Repairs cost about $20,000 and the salt residue affected farm production for a few years. In the 1960s, river pollution caused the closure of thriving oyster farming businesses.[5]

Tributaries (listed from the mouth up)

• Chantrell Creek
• Anderson Creek
• Muckle Creek
• Pleasantdale Creek
• Langley Creek
• Newlands Brook

References

External links

• Nicomekl Enhancement Society
• History of Transportation on the Nikomekl
• Paddling the Nikomekl River