Pouce Coupe River
Encyclopedia
Pouce Coupe is a river
in Alberta
and British Columbia
, Canada
. It is a major tributary of the Peace River
.
Originating in Alberta's Saddle Hills County
, it flows into British Columbia's Peace River Regional District
, then returns in Alberta in Clear Hills County
, where it empties into the Peace River.
The region of Pouce Coupe Prairie, from which the river and village of Pouce Coupe
take their names, was called that for a Beaver Indian
Chief named 'Pouscapee'. The first European settler in the region was Hector Tremblay, who built a cabin there in 1898. Mr. Tremblay, of French
origin, translated 'Pouskapee's Prairie' into the nearest French words of similar sound .
, at an elevation of 860 metres (2,821.5 ft), in the Pouce Coupe Prairie of the southern Peace River Country
, west of Spirit River
and Woking, between Saddle Hills and Blueberry Hill. It flows west and receives the waters of Boone Creek before reaching the British Columbia/Alberta border.
The river then turns north-west to the village of Pouce Coupe
. The Pouce Coupe Regional Park is established on the banks of the river east of the village and Highway2, at the confluence with Bissette Creek.
It receives the waters of Dawson Creek east of the city of Dawson Creek
, then turns north-east, entering once again the province of Alberta, north of Highway 49. The course runs through a canyon that reaches depths of 220 metres (721.8 ft) in this section. Ammonite
fossils harvested from the geological formations opened in the canyon can be found in the Dawson Creek Northern Alberta Railways Park museum. The river continues north and empties into the Peace River
, south of Highway 64, at an elevation of 380 metres (1,246.7 ft).
and crossings:
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 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...
and 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a major tributary of the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
.
Originating in Alberta's Saddle Hills County
Saddle Hills County, Alberta
Saddle Hills County is a municipal district situated in the Central Peace Country of west-northern Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately north-west of Edmonton and north of Grande Prairie....
, it flows into British Columbia's Peace River Regional District
Peace River Regional District, British Columbia
The Peace River Regional District is a regional district in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The regional district comprises seven municipalities and four electoral areas. Its member municipalities are the cities of Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, the district municipalities of Tumbler Ridge,...
, then returns in Alberta in Clear Hills County
Clear Hills County, Alberta
Clear Hills County is a municipal district in north western Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 17.On Jan 01, 2006, the name was changed from Municipal District of Clear Hills No...
, where it empties into the Peace River.
The region of Pouce Coupe Prairie, from which the river and village of Pouce Coupe
Pouce Coupe, British Columbia
The Village of Pouce Coupe is a small town in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. It was originally named 'Pouskapie's Prairie', after the name of the local native band chief...
take their names, was called that for a Beaver Indian
Dunneza
The Dane-zaa are a First Nation of the large Athapaskan language group; their traditional territory is around the Peace River of the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada...
Chief named 'Pouscapee'. The first European settler in the region was Hector Tremblay, who built a cabin there in 1898. Mr. Tremblay, of French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
origin, translated 'Pouskapee's Prairie' into the nearest French words of similar sound .
Course
Pouce Coupe originates in a small lake in northern AlbertaNorthern Alberta
Northern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Its primary industry is oil and gas, with large heavy oil reserves being exploited at the Athabasca Oil Sands and Wabasca Area in the east of the region...
, at an elevation of 860 metres (2,821.5 ft), in the Pouce Coupe Prairie of the southern Peace River Country
Peace River Country
The Peace River Country is an aspen parkland region around the Peace River in Canada. It spans from northwestern Alberta to the Rocky Mountains in northeastern British Columbia, where the region is also referred to as the Peace River Block.- Geography :The Peace River Country includes the...
, west of Spirit River
Spirit River, Alberta
Spirit River is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located north of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 49 and Highway 731.The community is largely agricultural, being located in the fertile Peace Country. Together with neighboring Rycroft, it is a service centre for the oil and gas...
and Woking, between Saddle Hills and Blueberry Hill. It flows west and receives the waters of Boone Creek before reaching the British Columbia/Alberta border.
The river then turns north-west to the village of Pouce Coupe
Pouce Coupe, British Columbia
The Village of Pouce Coupe is a small town in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. It was originally named 'Pouskapie's Prairie', after the name of the local native band chief...
. The Pouce Coupe Regional Park is established on the banks of the river east of the village and Highway2, at the confluence with Bissette Creek.
It receives the waters of Dawson Creek east of the city of Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Dawson Creek is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The municipality of had a population of 11,529 in 2009. Dawson Creek derives its name from the creek of the same name that runs through the community. The creek was named after George Mercer Dawson by a member of his land...
, then turns north-east, entering once again the province of Alberta, north of Highway 49. The course runs through a canyon that reaches depths of 220 metres (721.8 ft) in this section. Ammonite
Ammonite
Ammonite, as a zoological or paleontological term, refers to any member of the Ammonoidea an extinct subclass within the Molluscan class Cephalopoda which are more closely related to living coleoids Ammonite, as a zoological or paleontological term, refers to any member of the Ammonoidea an extinct...
fossils harvested from the geological formations opened in the canyon can be found in the Dawson Creek Northern Alberta Railways Park museum. The river continues north and empties into the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
, south of Highway 64, at an elevation of 380 metres (1,246.7 ft).
Tributaries and crossings
From its origin to its mouth, Pouce Coupe River encounters the following tributariesTributary
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...
and crossings:
| Tributary/crossings | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Lake | 55.67064°N 119.34843°W | Origin |
| Forestry Road | 55.67594°N 119.68626°W | Bridge |
| Boone Creek | 55.66680°N 119.88655°W | From South, left tributary |
| Tupper River | 55.66897°N 120.03426°W | From South, left tributary |
| 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... border |
55.66334°N 120.00092°W | |
| Bissette Creek | 55.71124°N 120.12232°W | From West, left tributary |
| Pouce Coupe Pouce Coupe, British Columbia The Village of Pouce Coupe is a small town in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. It was originally named 'Pouskapie's Prairie', after the name of the local native band chief... Regional Park |
55.71168°N 120.12303°W | Camping |
| Briar Ridge Road | 55.71318°N 120.12156°W | Bridge |
| Dawson Creek | 55.74090°N 120.11801°W | From West, left tributary |
| Highway 49 | 55.75138°N 120.10638°W | Bridge |
| Henderson Creek | 55.84762°N 120.01283°W | From East, right tributary |
| Landry Road | 55.86501°N 120.03057°W | Bridge |
| Saskatoon Creek | 55.86964°N 120.03057°W | From West, left tributary |
| 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... border |
55.88106°N 120.00027°W | |
| Doe Creek | 55.99577°N 119.89380°W | From West, left tributary |
| Broche Creek | 55.99808°N 119.88461°W | From East, right tributary |
| Peace River Peace River (Canada) The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,... |
56.13158°N 119.91116°W | Mouth |