Kowee Creek
Encyclopedia
Kowee Creek is a river
on Douglas Island
in the City and Borough of Juneau
, Alaska
, United States. Its origin is southeast of Mount Troy
and it flows north-northeast to Gastineau Channel
near West Juneau
; it is 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) southwest of the city of Juneau. Kowee Creek is nearly 10 miles (16.1 km) long. It has a drainage basin
of about 50 square miles (129.5 km²) and two transverse tributaries.
The creek is named for Chief Kowee, a leader of the Auke people
of the late 19th century. He is credited with guiding Juneau founders Joe Juneau
and Richard Harris
to gold at Quartz Gulch
in 1880. Kowee had a summer home at the mouth of the creek. Juneau-area miners spelled the creek as "Kow-eeh" or "Kowie"; when the United States Geological Survey
mapped the area in 1903, it was spelled "Cowee". The naming issue was settled by the United States Board on Geographic Names
in 1964 and entered into the Geographic Names Information System
on January 1, 2000.
In addition to Chief Kowee's use of the area, other Tlingit hunted and trapped throughout the Douglas Island area from the creek to Point Hilda.
Dolly Varden trout
have been noted in the stream. It also formerly hosted a hatchery for pink
and chum
salmon and University of Alaska Southeast
research facility. Salmon fishing in Kowee Creek is prohibited.
A trail runs near the river 3.3 miles (5.3 km) to the Dan Moller Cabin.
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...
on Douglas Island
Douglas Island
Douglas Island is a tidal island in the U.S. state of Alaska, just west of downtown Juneau and east of Admiralty Island. It is separated from mainland Juneau by the Gastineau Channel. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge, connecting the island with Juneau, provides a two lane road to and from the island and...
in the City and Borough of Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, United States. Its origin is southeast of Mount Troy
Mount Troy
Mount Troy is a mountain in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, United States. It is a peak of the Boundary Ranges, located on Douglas Island, west of the head of Kowee Creek and southwest of the city of Juneau....
and it flows north-northeast to Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel is a channel between the mainland of the U.S. state of Alaska and Douglas Island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska. It separates Juneau on the mainland side from Douglas , on Douglas Island. The first European to sight the channel was Joseph Whidbey early in...
near West Juneau
West Juneau, Alaska
West Juneau is a populated place in Juneau, Alaska, United States. It is located on Douglas Island northwest of Douglas. The name was first published by the United States Geological Survey in 1948 and entered into the Geographic Names Information System on March 31, 1981...
; it is 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) southwest of the city of Juneau. Kowee Creek is nearly 10 miles (16.1 km) long. It has a 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...
of about 50 square miles (129.5 km²) and two transverse tributaries.
The creek is named for Chief Kowee, a leader of the Auke people
Auke people
The Auke are an Alaskan Native people, a subgroup of the Tlingit whose name for thesmelves Aakʼw Ḵwáan means "Small Lake People". The Auke lived along the northwestern coast of North America, in the area that is now the Alexander Archipelago and adjoining mainlaind of the Alaska Panhandle around...
of the late 19th century. He is credited with guiding Juneau founders Joe Juneau
Joe Juneau (prospector)
Joseph Juneau was a miner and prospector from Canada who was born in the Quebec town of Saint-Paul-l'Ermite to François Xavier Juneau dit Latulippe and Marguerite Thiffault Juneau. He is best known for co-founding, with Richard Harris, the city of Juneau, Alaska, United States...
and Richard Harris
Richard Harris (prospector)
Richard Tighe Harris was a Canadian miner and prospector.Richard Harris was born in Dummadonald, County Down, Ireland. However, attended Girard College, a private boarding school in Philadelphia, PA ....
to gold at Quartz Gulch
Quartz Gulch
Quartz Gulch was a small gulch on the eastern side of Mount Roberts, about 2.5 miles east of Juneau, Alaska. The gulch flowed into Silver Bow Basin. Richard Harris and Joe Juneau, with Chief Kowee, discovered gold in the gulch on October 3, 1880...
in 1880. Kowee had a summer home at the mouth of the creek. Juneau-area miners spelled the creek as "Kow-eeh" or "Kowie"; when the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
mapped the area in 1903, it was spelled "Cowee". The naming issue was settled by the United States Board on Geographic Names
United States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government.-Overview:...
in 1964 and entered into the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
on January 1, 2000.
In addition to Chief Kowee's use of the area, other Tlingit hunted and trapped throughout the Douglas Island area from the creek to Point Hilda.
Dolly Varden trout
Dolly Varden trout
The Dolly Varden trout, Salvelinus malma malma, is a subspecies of anadromous fish in the salmon family, and is technically a char. Although many of the fish are anadromous, the fish also exists in landlocked waters.- Range :The subspecies S. m...
have been noted in the stream. It also formerly hosted a hatchery for pink
Pink salmon
Pink salmon or humpback salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon.- Appearance :...
and chum
Chum salmon
The chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is a Pacific salmon, and may also be known as dog salmon or Keta salmon, and is often marketed under the name Silverbrite salmon...
salmon and University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
The University of Alaska Southeast is a regional university in the University of Alaska System. Its main campus is located in Juneau and it has extended campuses in Sitka and Ketchikan....
research facility. Salmon fishing in Kowee Creek is prohibited.
A trail runs near the river 3.3 miles (5.3 km) to the Dan Moller Cabin.
See also
- Cowee Creek is another steam named for Chief Kowee, 30 miles (48.3 km) northwest of Juneau.