The Elk River is a short river rising in the eastern portion of the Alberta

Alberta

Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

 foothills

Foothills

Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills to the adjacent topographically high mountains.-Examples:...

. The river begins south of the ghost town

Ghost town

A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...

 of Coalspur

Coalspur, Alberta

Coalspur is an abandoned coal-mining community in Yellowhead County, Alberta. Situated in the Alberta foothills, the community was home to a substantial coal mine, and acted as a transportation hub for the Alberta Coal Branch. The community began after a group of British financiers founded the...

 and heads East before draining into the Brazeau Reservoir

Brazeau Reservoir

Brazeau Reservoir is a large man made reservoir in Alberta, Canada.It is located in Brazeau County of central Alberta, south-west of Drayton Valley....

 created by the Brazeau Dam on the Brazeau River

Brazeau River

The Brazeau River is a river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.The river was named for Joseph Brazeau, a linguist associated with the Palliser Expedition.-Course:...

, a tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the North Saskatchewan River

North Saskatchewan River

The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....

.

The river follows the Elk River Road for much of its course. The Elk River Provincial Recreation Area is also located on the river.

Physical Characteristics

Alberta Environment, a Ministry of the Government of Alberta, undertook a survey of the Elk River in the 1980s. The following data was generated from the survey:
Reach Number 1

• Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills
  Hill
  A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
  
  , ground moraine
  Moraine
  A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
  
  

Valley Characteristics

• Description: Wide, stream cut valley
  Valley
  In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
  
  
• Terraces: 2 fragmentary levels

Valley Flat

• Width: 750 m
• Description: Broad alluvial floodplain
  Floodplain
  A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
  
   occasionally marked by oxbow
  Oxbow
  An oxbow is a U-shaped wooden or metal frame that fits under and around the neck of an ox or bullock, with its upper ends passing through the bar of the yoke and held in place with a metal key, called a bow pin. The wood most often used is hardwood steamed into shape, like elm or hickory and...
  
   cutoffs

River Channel

• Pattern: Irregular meanders
• Islands: None
• Bar Type: Point bars
• Bed Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
   with local gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  
• Bank Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
   and gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
   overlain by silt
  Silt
  Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
  
  

Reach Number 2

• Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills
  Hill
  A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
  
  , ground moraine
  Moraine
  A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
  
  

Valley Characteristics

• Description: Broad glacial spillway channel now occupied by a smaller underfit stream
• Terraces: None

Valley Flat

• Width: 500 m
• Description: Broad alluvial floodplain
  Floodplain
  A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
  
   marked by numerous cutoffs

River Channel

• Pattern: Irregular to tortuous meanders
• Islands: None
• Bar Type: Point bars
• Bed Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
   with local gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  
• Bank Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
   and gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
   overlain by silt
  Silt
  Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
  
  , occasional till
  Till
  thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
  
   where channel is confined

Reach Number 3

• Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills
  Hill
  A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
  
  , fluted ground moraine
  Moraine
  A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
  
  

Valley Characteristics

• Description: Wide, stream cut valley
  Valley
  In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
  
  
• Terraces: None

Valley Flat

• Width: 400 m
• Description: Alluvial valley
  Valley
  In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
  
   marked by oxbow
  Oxbow
  An oxbow is a U-shaped wooden or metal frame that fits under and around the neck of an ox or bullock, with its upper ends passing through the bar of the yoke and held in place with a metal key, called a bow pin. The wood most often used is hardwood steamed into shape, like elm or hickory and...
  
   cutoffs

River Channel

• Pattern: Irregular meanders
• Islands: None
• Bar Type: Point bars, side bars
• Bed Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
   with local gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  
• Bank Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
  , gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  , and till
  Till
  thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
  
  

Reach Number 4

• Terrain Surrounding Valley: Fluted ground moraine
  Moraine
  A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
  
  , some outwash

Valley Characteristics

• Description: Narrow stream cut valley
  Valley
  In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
  
  
• Terraces: None

Valley Flat

• Width: >100 m
• Description: Highly variable

River Channel

• Pattern: Irregular
• Islands: None
• Bar Type: Point bars, side bars
• Bed Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
   with local gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  
• Bank Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
  , gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  , and till
  Till
  thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
  
  

Reach Number 5

• Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling hills
  Hill
  A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
  
  , ground moraine
  Moraine
  A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
  
  

Valley Characteristics

• Description: Narrow stream cut valley
  Valley
  In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
  
  
• Terraces: None

Valley Flat

• Width: >100 m
• Description: Fragmentary

River Channel

• Pattern: Irregular to sinous
• Islands: None
• Bar Type: Side bars
• Bed Material: Gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  
• Bank Material: Gravel
  Gravel
  Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
  
  , outwash, and till
  Till
  thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
  
  

Reach Number 6

• Terrain Surrounding Valley: Rolling upland, ground moraine
  Moraine
  A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
  
  

Valley Characteristics

• Description: Wide, stream cut valley
  Valley
  In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
  
  
• Terraces: None

Valley Flat

• Width: 400 m
• Description: Wide alluvial flat marked by oxbow
  Oxbow
  An oxbow is a U-shaped wooden or metal frame that fits under and around the neck of an ox or bullock, with its upper ends passing through the bar of the yoke and held in place with a metal key, called a bow pin. The wood most often used is hardwood steamed into shape, like elm or hickory and...
  
   cutoffs

River Channel

• Pattern: Tortuous meanders
• Islands: None
• Bar Type: Point bars
• Bed Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
  
• Bank Material: Sand
  Sand
  Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
  
   overlain by silt
  Silt
  Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...