Duncan River
Encyclopedia
The Duncan River is a 128 miles (206 km) long river
in the Canadian province
of British Columbia
. Its drainage basin
is 2443 square kilometres (943.2 sq mi) in area. It is part of the Columbia River
basin, being tributary via Kootenay Lake
to the Kootenay River
, which is a tributary of the Columbia River. It forms part of the boundary between the Selkirk Mountains
, to its west, and the Purcell Mountains
, to its east (the boundary northwards is the Beaver River).
and Purcell Mountains
. It flows into Duncan Lake
, a natural lake that has been enlarged by Duncan Dam
. A short distance below the dam, the Duncan River is joined by the Lardeau River, its largest single tributary. From here the river continues south to join the Kootenay River at the North Arm of Kootenay Lake
.
from the Kootenay Land District in the 1866.
On some early maps Duncan Lake is shown with the name "Upper Kootenay Lake" or "Howser Lake", but since 1912 the name Duncan has prevailed.
Before Duncan Dam was built the river served as the main navigation route into the valley, used by mining and logging industries. The route was navigable
via Kootenay Lake
as far as Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, on the Kootenai River.
Duncan Dam was finished in 1967, the first of the three Canadian Columbia River Treaty
dams to be built. Its purpose is to regulate flow into Kootenay Lake, in coordination with Libby Dam
, to assure sufficient water flow for the Kootenay Canal
and Corra Linn Dam
projects. Duncan Dam does not produce any electricity. Duncan Lake, originally 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) in length, is now 45 kilometres (28 mi) long.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Canadian province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Its drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
is 2443 square kilometres (943.2 sq mi) in area. It is part of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
basin, being tributary via Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
to the Kootenay River
Kootenay River
The Kootenay is a major river in southeastern British Columbia, Canada and the northern part of the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho. It is one of the uppermost major tributaries of the Columbia River, which is the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
, which is a tributary of the Columbia River. It forms part of the boundary between the Selkirk Mountains
Selkirk Mountains
The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. They begin at Mica Peak near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and extend approximately 320 km north from the border. The range is bounded on its west,...
, to its west, and the Purcell Mountains
Purcell Mountains
The Purcell Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains, which includes the Selkirk, Monashee, and Cariboo Mountains. They are located on the west side of the Rocky Mountain Trench in the area of the Columbia Valley, and on...
, to its east (the boundary northwards is the Beaver River).
Course
The Duncan River originates near Mount Dawson and flows south through the Purcell Trench between the Selkirk MountainsSelkirk Mountains
The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. They begin at Mica Peak near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and extend approximately 320 km north from the border. The range is bounded on its west,...
and Purcell Mountains
Purcell Mountains
The Purcell Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains, which includes the Selkirk, Monashee, and Cariboo Mountains. They are located on the west side of the Rocky Mountain Trench in the area of the Columbia Valley, and on...
. It flows into Duncan Lake
Duncan Lake (British Columbia)
Duncan Lake is a man-made reservoir lake in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada, formed by Duncan Dam and about 45 km in length. It is fed by the Duncan River, which forms part of the boundary between the Selkirk Mountains to the west and the Purcell Mountains to the east...
, a natural lake that has been enlarged by Duncan Dam
Duncan Dam
Duncan Dam is a dam spanning the Duncan River in the Canadian province of British Columbia.Duncan Dam was the first dam built to satisfy the Columbia River Treaty, initiated after the 1948 Vanport Oregon flood. Construction began in 1965 and was completed in 1967. It is an earthfill dam with no...
. A short distance below the dam, the Duncan River is joined by the Lardeau River, its largest single tributary. From here the river continues south to join the Kootenay River at the North Arm of Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
.
History
Duncan River was named for John ("Jack") Duncan, a prospector and candidate for the colonial Legislative CouncilLegislative Council of British Columbia
The Legislative Council of British Columbia was an advisory body created in 1867 to the Governor of the "new" Colony of British Columbia, which had been created from the merger of the old Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia...
from the Kootenay Land District in the 1866.
On some early maps Duncan Lake is shown with the name "Upper Kootenay Lake" or "Howser Lake", but since 1912 the name Duncan has prevailed.
Before Duncan Dam was built the river served as the main navigation route into the valley, used by mining and logging industries. The route was navigable
Steamboats of the upper Columbia and Kootenay Rivers
From 1886 to 1920, steamboats ran on the upper reaches of the Columbia and Kootenay in the Rocky Mountain Trench, in western North America. The circumstances of the rivers in the area, and the construction of transcontinental railways across the trench from east to west made steamboat navigation...
via Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
as far as Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, on the Kootenai River.
Duncan Dam was finished in 1967, the first of the three Canadian Columbia River Treaty
Columbia River Treaty
The Columbia River Treaty is an agreement between Canada and the United States of America on the development and operation of dams in the upper Columbia River basin for power and flood control benefits in both countries. For more information about the Columbia River Treaty, visit Columbia Basin...
dams to be built. Its purpose is to regulate flow into Kootenay Lake, in coordination with Libby Dam
Libby Dam
Libby Dam is a dam on the Kootenai River in the U.S. state of Montana.Dedicated on August 24, 1975, Libby Dam spans the Kootenai River upstream from the town of Libby, Montana. Libby Dam is tall and long. Lake Koocanusa is the name of the reservoir behind the dam; it extends upriver from...
, to assure sufficient water flow for the Kootenay Canal
Kootenay Canal
The Kootenay Canal is 19km downstream of Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. Where the Kootenay River flows out of the reservoir formed by the Corra Linn Dam on Kootenay Lake., a canal diverts water to BC Hydro's Kootenay Canal Generating Station...
and Corra Linn Dam
Corra Linn Dam
Corra Linn Dam is a concrete hydroelectric dam on the Kootenay River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located where the West Arm Kootenay Lake flows into the Kootenay River. The dam's powerplant has a generating capacity of 49 MW. The dam was formerly owned by West Kootenay Power...
projects. Duncan Dam does not produce any electricity. Duncan Lake, originally 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) in length, is now 45 kilometres (28 mi) long.