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46-668: The Frog River is a tributary of the Kechika River in Northern British Columbia , Canada . The river originates from the Frog Lakes , and goes on to Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park and Protected Area , and acts as the border of the park for an extended area of land. The river then feeds into the Kechika River . 58°30′17″N 126°52′04″W  /  58.5047°N 126.8678°W  / 58.5047; -126.8678 Kechika River Inhabited for thousands of years by

92-402: A rating curve must be constructed. A rating curve is the functional relation between stage and discharge. It is determined by making repeated discrete measurements of streamflow discharge using a velocimeter and some means to measure the channel geometry to determine the cross-sectional area of the channel. The technicians and hydrologists responsible for determining the rating curve visit

138-561: A current meter or Acoustic Doppler current profiler . One informal methods that is not acceptable for any official or scientific purpose, but can be useful is the float method , in which a floating object such as a piece of wood or orange peel is observed floating down the stream. The first routine measurements of river flow in England began on the Thames and Lea in the 1880s, and in Scotland on

184-429: A branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada . As of 2021, it operates or collects data from more than 2800 gauges across Canada. This data is used by provincial and territory governments to inform flood predictions and water management. In Sri Lanka stream and rivers are monitored by Hydrology and Disaster Management Division a branch of Irrigation Department . It operates nearly 40 gauging station around

230-451: A central data logging facility. Automated direct measurement of stream discharge is difficult at present. Mathematically, measuring stream discharge is estimating the volumetric flow rate , which is in general a flux integral and thus requires many cross-sectional velocity measurements. In place of the direct measurement of stream discharge, one or more surrogate measurements can be used as proxy variables to produce discharge values. In

276-520: A few gauges to provide advisories for navigational purposes. In the Czech Republic, in some measuring places (profiles) are defined three levels which define three degrees of flood-emergency activity. The degree I is a situation of alertness, the degree II is a situation of readiness, the degree III is a situation of danger. Canadian streams and rivers are monitored by the Water Survey of Canada ,

322-498: A high of 768.18 m /s (27,128 cu ft/s) in June to a low of 48.44 m /s (1,711 cu ft/s) in February. The highest flow month on record was June 1964, at 1,250 m /s (44,000 cu ft/s), and the lowest was March 1972, at 26.5 m /s (940 cu ft/s). The highest flow year was 1974, with an annual mean of 280.24 m /s (9,897 cu ft/s), and

368-684: A liaison between local tribes and European explorers. The first white man to reach the Kechika River basin was Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) fur trader Samuel Black , who in 1824 ascended the Finlay River scouting northern BC for a route westward to the Pacific Ocean. At the confluence of the Fox River with the Finlay he noted "it heads at a pass two days' travel northward, whence a river flows northward into

414-526: A result of First Nation territorial changes during the fur trade. In the Sekani language the river is Tah Chow Gàh , ("big windy" or "windy valley"). The Altse Dene Tunna or Davie Trail historically ran up the Kechika River valley, connecting Kwadacha , on the Finlay River, with Lower Post , at the confluence of the Liard and Dease Rivers . The trail is named after Old Davie, a half-Sekani prophet who became known as

460-448: A stream where the geometry is relatively stable and there is a suitable location to make discrete direct measurements of streamflow using specialized equipment. Many times this will be at a bridge or other stream crossing. Technicians then install equipment that measures the stage (the elevation of the water surface) or, more rarely, the velocity of the flow. Additional equipment is installed to record and transmit these readings (via

506-484: Is an extensive network covering all major rivers and catchments in the country. However, a review of existing gauges raised serious concerns about the reliability of the data of a minority of stations, due in part to ongoing funding problems. The largest stream gauge network in Bangladesh is maintained by Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). At few other locations, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority maintains

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552-409: Is constructed that relates stage of the stream to cross-sectional area. Using these two ratings, the automatically collected stage produces an estimate of the cross-sectional area, and the automatically collected index velocity produces an estimate of the mean velocity of the cross section . The streamflow discharge is computed as the product of the estimate of the cross section area and the estimate of

598-695: The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite ) to the Water Science Center office where the records are kept. The USGS has a Water Science Center office in every state within the United States. Current streamflow data from USGS streamgages may be viewed in map form at: [2] . In Zimbabwe , the national stream gauge network is the responsibility of the Zimbabwe National Water Authority . This

644-658: The Kaska Dena , the Kechika was explored by fur traders in the 1800s and was one of the routes to gold strikes in the Yukon. The difficulty of accessing the remote Kechika country made it an unappealing location for European settlement. Today, the Kechika River basin includes a number of large parks and protected areas, most of which are administered under the umbrella of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area , which includes almost

690-819: The Muskwa Ranges (part of the northern Rocky Mountains ) to the east, and the Sifton, Thudaka and Kechika Ranges (all part of the greater Cassiar Mountains ) to the west. The Cassiar Mountains in this area are higher than the Rockies and are extensively glaciated. The Turnagain River drains an area west of the Kechika Ranges, stretching as far as the Three Sisters Range at the edge of the Stikine Plateau . The southern part of

736-552: The River Garry in 1913. The national gauging station network was established in its current form by the early 1970s and consists of approximately 1500 flow measurement stations supplemented by a variable number of temporary monitoring sites. The Environment Agency is responsible for collection and analysis of hydrometric data in England, Natural Resources Wales in Wales, whilst responsibility for Scotland and Northern Ireland rests with

782-545: The Royal Geographical Society noted that the inhabitants of the area pronounced the river with an 'e' rather than an 'a' sound and proposed the spelling "Kechika", which was officially adopted by the BC Geographic Division on March 3, 1925. However, as late as 1949 the river was still colloquially known as "Big Muddy". In 1939, John Ogilvie "Skook" Davidson , a northern BC packer and guide, settled in

828-596: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Rivers Agency respectively. In the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the principal federal agency tasked with maintaining records of natural resources . Within the USGS, the Water Resources Division carries the responsibility for monitoring water resources. To establish a stream gauge, USGS personnel first choose a site on

874-612: The 1800s often called the Kechika River the "Muddy River" or "Big Muddy River" due to the heavy silt loads the river brought down in floods. In 1898 the Klondike Gold Rush spurred interest in finding a route from Alberta to the Yukon. Inspector J.D. Moodie of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) explored the Kechika valley as a potential route for prospectors traveling from Edmonton, Alberta . Hedley (1941) called Moodie's report "the first authoritative description of

920-577: The Finlay River, which flows into the Mackenzie via the Peace and Slave Rivers . The primary source of water for the Kechika River is snowmelt, although there are also a few small glaciers that contribute water to the river. A stream gauge operated by Water Survey of Canada recorded discharge data at the mouth of the Kechika River from 1962 to 1995. The gauge recorded a mean annual flow of 244.75 m /s (8,643 cu ft/s). Mean monthly flows range from

966-514: The Gataga River and Frog River. Almost the entire Kechika River basin is within the western part of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA), which includes four of fourteen biogeoclimatic zones in British Columbia . The Alpine Tundra zone, consisting mainly of shrubs, grasses mosses and lichens, occupies elevations higher than 1,400 metres (4,600 ft). Mid-elevations are occupied by

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1012-516: The Kechika River valley and established Diamond J Ranch. For more than thirty years Davidson supported packing expeditions for geology and survey crews, as well as guiding hunting expeditions. Davidson helped scout the route for the Alaska Highway , which was built past the Kechika–Liard confluence in the 1940s, and helped transport supplies for construction crews. The confluence of the Kechika with

1058-678: The Kechika basin is mountainous, while the northern part, extending into the Liard Plain , is characterized by rolling hills and muskegs . The Kechika basin is bordered by the drainage basins of the Dease River to the west and the Rabbit , Toad and Fort Nelson Rivers to the east, all tributaries of the Liard. To the south are the basins of the Stikine River , which flows into the Pacific Ocean , and

1104-556: The Kechika turns to the northeast and flows into the Liard River near the unincorporated community of Fireside , about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Watson Lake, Yukon and 250 kilometres (160 mi) northwest of Fort Nelson, BC . The Kechika drainage basin includes about 22,700 square kilometres (8,800 sq mi) in BC's Stikine Region and Northern Rockies Regional Municipality . The main Kechika River valley sits between

1150-461: The Liard, where supplies were offloaded from boats on the latter river, became known as Skook's Landing. In 1970, Davidson retired to Vancouver after a fire destroyed the ranch. Skooks Landing is still regularly used by hunters to access the Kechika River, particularly during the elk season in September. In 1996, the Kechika River was designated a BC Heritage River along with two of its tributaries,

1196-581: The Liard." Black never saw this northward-flowing river (which would be the Kechika), instead heading west into the Stikine Country and turning back at a stream that he named the Turnagain River , which flows northeast into the Kechika. In 1831, HBC trader John McLeod ascended the Liard River and in passing by the mouth of the Kechika River, correctly guessed that it was the outlet of what Black had called

1242-517: The Spruce-Willow-Birch and Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir zones, where the dominant trees are white spruce and subalpine fir , with Engelmann spruce frequently found along steeper, more rugged slopes. The lower valleys are part of the Boreal White and Black Spruce zone, which is dominated by white and black spruce , paper birch and subalpine fir. In addition, muskeg flats are common in

1288-796: The Trench into the Finlay River . The Kechika turns northwest down the Rocky Mountain Trench and flows through Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park and Protected Area , where it receives the Frog River from the west and the Gataga River from the east. Further downstream, it receives its largest tributary, the Turnagain River , from the west, then the Red River also from the west. After the Red River confluence

1334-849: The Turnagain River, and so named the stream "Black's River". The 1873 Cassiar Gold Rush was centered on a tributary of the Turnagain, the Cassiar River . Between 1873 and 1886, prospectors explored large areas of the Turnagain and upper Kechika River basins. Although the area is rich in minerals, no mines were ever developed along the Kechika River corridor. Minerals documented in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area include "copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gold, tungsten, chalcopyrite, pyrite, dolomite, quartz crystals, malachite, aragonite, mica and azurite." Fur trappers and prospectors of

1380-445: The area. Floatplanes or helicopters can be used to access the interior, which otherwise takes days to reach by foot or on horseback. The Kechika can sometimes be navigated by jetboat from its mouth to Dune Za Keyih Park, but is often blocked by log jams . Backcountry survival skills are essential for travel in the Kechika River country, as there are no developed trails, campsites or settlements. The Kaska tribe has considered improving

1426-459: The entire Kechika basin and parts of several adjacent river systems. The Kechika River begins more than 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level in the Sifton Ranges about 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Mount Slocomb. It flows north to the Rocky Mountain Trench at Sifton Pass , which marks the divide between the drainage basins of the Kechika and the Fox River, which flows southeast along

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1472-530: The largest intact wilderness areas in the world. Eleven protected areas, including provincial parks and wilderness, account for 27 percent of the M-KMA while the remainder is in Special Management Areas that regulate the type and intensity of allowed development. Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park and Protected Area, which encompasses 3,468 square kilometres (1,339 sq mi) of the Kechika River basin,

1518-451: The lowest was 1978, with an annual mean of 180.05 m /s (6,358 cu ft/s). Kechika River monthly mean discharge at Liard River (m /s) The Kechika River is within the traditional lands of the Kaska Dena people, whose ancestors have lived in the area for about 4,500 years. Although the Kechika is more navigable than most rivers in the northern Rockies, the Kaska traveled along

1564-434: The majority of cases, a stage (the elevation of the water surface) measurement is used as the surrogate. Low gradient (or shallow-sloped) streams are highly influenced by variable downstream channel conditions. For these streams, a second stream gauge would be installed, and the slope of the water surface would be calculated between the gauges. This value would be used along with the stage measurement to more accurately determine

1610-419: The mean velocity of the streamflow. A variety of hydraulic structures / primary device are used to improve the reliability of using water level as a surrogate for flow (improving the accuracy of the rating table), including: Other equipment commonly used at permanent stream gauge include: Water level gauges: Discharge measurements of a stream or canal without an established stream gauge can be made using

1656-405: The northern half of the basin. The wide, open valleys of the Kechika and its tributaries are home to an abundance of wildlife including moose, caribou, Stone sheep , mountain goat, grizzly bear, black bear, wolf and elk. In 2000 BC's Land and Resource Management Plan identified the Kechika River for "special protection of its natural, cultural heritage and recreation values", and the lower part of

1702-763: The old Davie Trail to provide better recreational access to the region. 59°37′27″N 127°8′48″W  /  59.62417°N 127.14667°W  / 59.62417; -127.14667 Stream gauge A stream gauge , streamgage or stream gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water . Hydrometric measurements of water level surface elevation (" stage ") and/or volumetric discharge (flow) are generally taken and observations of biota and water quality may also be made. The locations of gauging stations are often found on topographical maps . Some gauging stations are highly automated and may include telemetry capability transmitted to

1748-574: The region". Moodie's route followed the Peace River to Fort Ware (Kwadacha) and then followed the old Davie Trail through the Kechika valley up towards the Yukon. The "Old Moodie Trail" was considered one of the most difficult routes to the Klondike gold fields, compared to sea routes starting in Victoria, British Columbia and landing in northern BC or Alaska , and only a few prospectors successfully completed

1794-426: The river has been designated "a special resource management zone, with particular commitments to protection of visual qualities, protection of wildlife habitat, and the sustained opportunities for recreation." The 63,000 km (24,000 sq mi) M-KMA was established in 1998 to oversee land use in the region of the Kechika River and Muskwa River . About 98 percent of the M-KMA is roadless, making it one of

1840-507: The river via trails rather than canoes. The Kechika River valley was used for hunting, fishing and trapping (particularly for beaver ), with major camps near the Kechika-Turnagain confluence, Graveyard Lake and Aeroplane Lake. The river is Tadahzeh' , "long inclining river", in the Kaska language . In the 19th century, the Sekani people were displaced west into the Rocky Mountain Trench as

1886-406: The site routinely, with special trips to measure the hydrologic extremes (floods and droughts), and make a discharge measurement by following an explicit set of instructions or standard operating procedures (SOPs). Once the rating curve is established, it can be used in conjunction with stage measurements to determine the volumetric streamflow discharge. This record then serves as an assessment of

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1932-403: The streamflow discharge. Improvements in the accuracy of velocity sensors have also allowed the use of water velocity as a reliable surrogate for streamflow discharge at sites with a stable cross-sectional area. These sensors are permanently mounted in the stream and measure velocity at a particular location in the stream. In those instances where only a stage measurement is used as the surrogate,

1978-424: The technician or hydrologist at a variety of stages. For each discrete determination of streamflow discharge, the mean velocity of the cross section is determined by dividing streamflow discharge by the cross-sectional area. A rating curve, similar to that used for stage-discharge determinations, is constructed using the mean velocity and the index velocity from the permanently mounted meter. An additional rating curve

2024-403: The trip. In 1900 a cattle drive to the Yukon was attempted via this trail from Vanderhoof, British Columbia and in 1905 the BC government attempted to improve the trail, though the effort was abandoned in 1907 due to high costs. Moodie recorded the name as "Ta-ta-chi-ca" during his explorations of the region and later produced a map labeling the river as "Kachika". In 1914 Major E.B. Hart of

2070-475: The volume of water that passes by the stream gauge and is useful for many tasks associated with hydrology. In those instances where a velocity measurement is additionally used as a surrogate, an index velocity determination is conducted. This analysis uses a velocity sensor, often either magnetic or acoustic, to measure the velocity of the flow at a particular location in the stream cross section. Once again, discrete measurements of streamflow discharge are made by

2116-499: Was first proposed in the 1970s but was not formally established until 2001. Recreational activities along the river include hunting, hiking, horseback riding, boating, wildlife viewing, fishing, and caving. Most of the Kechika River basin is extremely remote, with the closest road access being the Alaska Highway on the opposite side of the Liard from the mouth of the Kechika. A number of local guides and outfitters provide tours of

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