Norrish Creek facts for kids

Norrish Creek is a stream in British Columbia, Canada. It flows into the Fraser River, which is a very important river in the province. Norrish Creek is found in the Coast Mountains, specifically in the Douglas Ranges. This area is north of Nicomen Island.

Where Norrish Creek Starts and Flows

Norrish Creek begins at a place called Dickson Lake. This lake is a medium-sized reservoir, which is like a natural storage area for water. It sits at the base of two mountains, Mount Wardrop and Catherwood.

The stream flows downwards from Dickson Lake. For much of its journey, it follows alongside the Norrish Creek Forest Service Road (FSR). The end of Norrish Creek is near a town called Dewdney. This town is east of Vancouver in the Lower Fraser Valley. Many smaller streams also flow into Norrish Creek along its path, adding more water to it.

Norrish Creek actually flows into the Nicomen Slough. A slough is a slow-moving channel of water. The Nicomen Slough is a large channel that connects directly to the Fraser River.

The West Fork

Norrish Creek has a western branch, or "fork." This west fork starts at a small lake called Sonny Lake. It flows east from Sonny Lake. Then, it joins the main Norrish Creek just below where Dickson Lake empties out.

Fun Things to Do at Norrish Creek

In the lower parts of Norrish Creek, there are small pools. These pools are great for swimming! You can reach these swimming spots without needing a vehicle. There is also a water treatment plant located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) up the creek. This plant helps clean water.

How to Get to Norrish Creek

The mountain areas near the Lower Fraser Valley get a lot of rain and heavy snow in the winter. Because of this, roads can sometimes get washed out. This means parts of the road can be damaged or disappear due to strong water flow.

The road along Norrish Creek was first built about 50 years ago. It was made to help loggers cut down trees in the valley. Many of the old bridges and culverts (tunnels for water under a road) became unsafe. So, in 2007 and 2008, new and safer bridges were built.

The forest service road along Norrish Creek usually has a gate. This gate is often closed to the public. However, during the day, the gates are opened for workers. When the gates are open, the public can also use the road. People often use this area for riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and for hunting.