Ecstall River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ecstall River |
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 Mouth of Ecstall River
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District | Range 5 Coast Land District |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ecstall Headwaters Conservancy Coast Mountains 800 m (2,600 ft) 53°56′4″N 129°22′57″W / 53.93444°N 129.38250°W |
| River mouth | Skeena River Port Essington 20 m (66 ft) 54°9′57″N 129°57′30″W / 54.16583°N 129.95833°W |
| Length | 110 km (68 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,485 km2 (573 sq mi) |
The Ecstall River is a river in British Columbia, Canada. It flows into the Skeena River. It starts in the Coast Mountains and flows for about 110 km (68 mi). It ends near Port Essington. This is about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Prince Rupert.
The area of land that drains into the river is about 1,485 km2 (573 sq mi). The name "Ecstall" comes from a Tsimshian word. It means "something from the side" or "a tributary".
The Ecstall River area is the traditional land of the Tsimshian First Nations people. The Gitzaxłaał Tsimshian had two main villages here. One was Spiksuut, at the river's mouth. The other was Txalmisso', near Big Falls Creek.
Journey of the Ecstall River
The Ecstall River begins in the Kitimat Ranges. These are part of the Coast Mountains. It starts from glaciers and icefields in the Ecstall Headwaters Conservancy.
The river first flows east, then south. After that, it makes a sharp turn. It then flows north and northwest. Finally, it reaches the Skeena River near Port Essington. Ecstall Island is right at the mouth of the Ecstall River.
Many small streams join the Ecstall River. These streams come from the high, glaciated mountains. Waters from Lower Lake and Ecstall Lake also join the river. As it flows north, more streams like Johnston Creek and Sparkling Creek add to it.
The Ecstall River flows through some Indian reserves. These are Iakvas 68 and Knokmolks 67. They belong to the Tsimshian Lax-kw'alaams First Nation. The Port Essington Indian Reserve is also nearby. It belongs to the Tsimshian Kitsumkalum and Kitselas people.
Nature and Wildlife
The forests along the Ecstall River are very old. They have tall trees like Western hemlock, western red cedar, and Sitka spruce. These trees grow up to about 400 m (1,300 ft) high.
Higher up the mountains, you'll find different trees. These include mountain hemlock and amabilis fir. The ground is covered with plants like Alaska blueberry and Red huckleberry.
The river's floodplains are rich in plant life. They have large spruce and hemlock trees. You can also find Salmonberry plants and ferns there. The floodplain above Muddy Creek is especially diverse. It's one of the richest ecosystems on the northern coast of British Columbia.
The Ecstall River is very important for fish. Many types of salmon come here to lay their eggs. These include sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon. You can also find steelhead trout and rainbow trout.
Eulachon fish also spawn in the river's tidal parts. Historically, the Tsimshian people caught eulachon. They traded the oil from these fish using special trails. These trails were known as grease trails.
River Use and History
The Tsimshian people used the Ecstall River for many years. They caught salmon using weirs or spears. They also harvested other fish, shellfish, and sea mammals. Eulachon fish were very important for trade.
A major aboriginal trail, or grease trail, followed the Ecstall Valley. It linked the lower Skeena River to the Douglas Channel. This trail helped people travel and trade.
There are two hydroelectric projects on the Ecstall River. These projects use the river's water to make electricity.
- The Falls River Project was built in the 1930s. It has a dam and a power plant that makes 7 MW of power.
- The Brown Lake Project was built in 1997. It also has a dam and a powerhouse. It generates 7.2 MW of electricity. This electricity is sent to the power grid.
