Brazeau River
Encyclopedia
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
.
from the Brazeau Lake (which is fed by creeks that flow from the Coronet Glacier and Queen Elisabeth Ranges) and flows east through the Rocky Mountains
foothills until it merges into the North Saskatchewan River between Drayton Valley and Rocky Mountain House
at Brazeau Forks.
The upper course runs eastwards from Jasper National Park
into the Brazeau Canyon Wildland park. The O'Chiese Indian Reserve
is established at the confluence with Nordegg River.
The total length of the river is 210 km (130.5 mi). The river, and various other local geographic features, were named after Joseph Brazeau, a Missouri-born fur trader working for the Hudson's Bay Company
in the area between 1852-1864.
The Brazeau River has long been seen as a potential site for hydroelectric power generation. The earliest scheme to harness the power of the river
was hatched in 1913, it involved a dam
and storage on Brazeau Lake. The potential power generation was estimated at 5,000 to 10,000 kva
, and power would have been transmitted
to Edmonton
and Calgary
, both roughly 400 kilometres from the generator
(this was a relatively ambitious plan, long-distance transmission was not common at the time). The plan was scuttled after the discovery of a large underflow at Brazeau Lake, precluding its use as a storage facility.
The 99 square kilometres (38.2 sq mi) Brazeau Reservoir
was created on the lower course through the construction of the Brazeau Dam. Its hydroelectric power plant is Alberta's largest with a capacity of 355 MW and an annual production of about 394 000 MWH of electrical energy.
An unusual feature of this hydroelectric development commissioned in 1965 is a pump system capable of lifting water from the reservoir into the 20 km long canal leading to the power plant so that it can operate at low reservoir water levels.
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...
, 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 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 was named for Joseph Brazeau, a linguist associated with the Palliser Expedition
Palliser Expedition
The British North American Exploring Expedition, commonly called the Palliser Expedition, explored and surveyed the open prairies and rugged wilderness of western Canada from 1857 to 1860. The purpose was to explore possible routes for the Canadian Pacific Railway and discover new species of plants...
.
Course
The river originates in the heights of the Canadian RockiesCanadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
from the Brazeau Lake (which is fed by creeks that flow from the Coronet Glacier and Queen Elisabeth Ranges) and flows east through the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
foothills until it merges into the North Saskatchewan River between Drayton Valley and Rocky Mountain House
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Rocky Mountain House is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada, approximately west of the City of Red Deer. It is located at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan Rivers, and at the crossroads of Highway 22 and Highway 11 .- History :The town has a long history dating to the...
at Brazeau Forks.
The upper course runs eastwards from Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 km² . It is located in the province of Alberta, north of Banff National Park and west of the City of Edmonton. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and...
into the Brazeau Canyon Wildland park. The O'Chiese Indian Reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
is established at the confluence with Nordegg River.
The total length of the river is 210 km (130.5 mi). The river, and various other local geographic features, were named after Joseph Brazeau, a Missouri-born fur trader working for the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
in the area between 1852-1864.
Hydroelectric Development
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
was hatched in 1913, it involved a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
and storage on Brazeau Lake. The potential power generation was estimated at 5,000 to 10,000 kva
KVA
KVA may refer to:*Kavala International Airport "Alexander the Great", IATA airport code* kilovolt-ampere* Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences* Kings View Academy, Private School...
, and power would have been transmitted
Power transmission
Power transmission is the movement of energy from its place of generation to a location where it is applied to performing useful work.Power is defined formally as units of energy per unit time...
to Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, both roughly 400 kilometres from the generator
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
(this was a relatively ambitious plan, long-distance transmission was not common at the time). The plan was scuttled after the discovery of a large underflow at Brazeau Lake, precluding its use as a storage facility.
The 99 square kilometres (38.2 sq mi) 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....
was created on the lower course through the construction of the Brazeau Dam. Its hydroelectric power plant is Alberta's largest with a capacity of 355 MW and an annual production of about 394 000 MWH of electrical energy.
An unusual feature of this hydroelectric development commissioned in 1965 is a pump system capable of lifting water from the reservoir into the 20 km long canal leading to the power plant so that it can operate at low reservoir water levels.
Tributaries
- Boulder Creek
- Four Point Creek
- Brazeau Lake
- John-John Creek
- Upper Longview Lake
- Job Creek
- Whisker Creek, Whisker Lakes, Job Lake, Leah Lake, Samson Lake
- Isaac Creek
- Race Creek
- Southesk River
- Southesk Lake
- Thistle Creek
- Chimney Creek
- Marshybank Creek
- Marshybank Lake
- Canyon Creek
- Moosehound Creek
- Cardinal RiverCardinal RiverCardinal River is a short river in western Alberta, Canada. It flows from the Canadian Rockies, and empties into the Brazeau River, itself a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River....
- Blackstone River
- Elk RiverElk River (Alberta)The Elk River is a short river rising in the eastern portion of the Alberta foothills. The river begins south of the ghost town of Coalspur and heads East before draining into the Brazeau Reservoir created by the Brazeau Dam on the Brazeau River, a tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.The...
- Nordegg River