Vedder River
Encyclopedia
The Vedder River, called the Chilliwack River above Vedder Crossing, is a river
in the Canadian province
of British Columbia
and the U.S. state
of Washington.
The name Chilliwack comes from the Halkomelem
word Tcil'Qe'uk, meaning "valley of many streams".
, the river begins at Hannegan Pass and flows north across the Canada–United States border and into Chilliwack Lake
. The river flows through Hells Gorge, a deep, dangerous-to-access gorge just below the river's headwaters that is home of a waterfall that the river drops over. The river picks up the Little Chilliwack River
before crossing the border. There is a large sandy beach located where the river enters the lake, a popular place for people to party at. The river exits the north end of the lake and flows generally west via the Chilliwack River Valley to emerge on the Fraser Lowland
on the south side of the City of Chilliwack
. At Vedder Crossing, the river is joined by the Sweltzer River
before flowing under a bridge at which its name changes to the Vedder River, after which is flows west and north to join the Sumas River
just before that river's confluence with the Fraser River
at the northeast end of Sumas Mountain
. The river crosses the Fraser floodplain from Vedder Crossing to its confluence with the Sumas via the Vedder Canal, which prevents the river's considerable spring freshet
from flooding the surrounding farmlands and towns, and which is part of the drainage system that turned Sumas Lake
into Sumas Prairie
.
Downstream from the Vedder Crossing Bridge, the Vedder River marks the boundary between Yarrow
to the south and Greendale
to the north (both are separate semi-rural communities that are now part of the City of Chilliwack).
to the Fraser River. In 1875 heavy rains caused a logjam that diverted the river into two small streams, called Vedder Creek and Luckakuk Creek. This caused hardship for the area's farmers. In 1882 a new logjam was deliberately created which caused the waters of several streams to shift course toward the west, flowing into the now-drained Sumas Lake. A freshet
in 1894 caused the new course to become permanent. In the early 20th century the diverted river was diked and channelized. Today the Chilliwack River changes into the Vedder River at Vedder Crossing, and then becomes the Vedder Canal farther downstream. The Vedder Canal was created in the 1920s as part of the effort to drain Sumas Lake
. The former course of the Chilliwack River below Vedder Crossing is now known as Chilliwack Creek, which flows north to the Fraser River.
The Chilliwack River was heavily used by the Northwest Boundary Survey of 1857-1862 as a means of accessing the 49th parallel north
in order to survey and map the border between American and British-Canadian sovereignty. A number of the Chilliwack's tributaries cross the 49th parallel, including Liumchen Creek, Tamihi Creek, Damfino Creek, Slesse Creek, Nesakwatch Creek, and, from Chilliwack Lake, Klahailhu Creek and Depot Creek. Both American and British surveying parties established base camps on Chilliwack Lake from which they sent field parties through the Chilliwack drainage and east to the Skagit River
drainage. In addition, the Whatcom Trail
followed much of the Chilliwack River's course.
The Vedder River Campground, operated by Cultus Lake Parks, is open from May 1 to October 31.
The Vedder-Chilliwack River is well known for its runs of chinook
, coho
, chum
, pink
and sockeye
salmon
in the fall, along with winter and spring steelhead fishing.
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
' rowing events were held on the Vedder Canal. Canadians Bobby Williams in single sculls, and Donald Guest & Lawrence Stephan in double sculls won bronze medals. Canada won the gold medal in eights rowing.
Tributaries in Canada
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 the Canadian province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of 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...
and the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington.
The name Chilliwack comes from the Halkomelem
Halkomelem language
Halkomelem is a language of the First Nations peoples of southeastern Vancouver Island from the west shore of Saanich Inlet northward beyond Nanoose Bay, and of the mainland around the Fraser River Delta upriver to Harrison Lake and the lower...
word Tcil'Qe'uk, meaning "valley of many streams".
Course
Originating as the Chilliwack River in Washington's North Cascades National ParkNorth Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the state of Washington. The park is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Several national wilderness areas and British Columbia parkland adjoin the...
, the river begins at Hannegan Pass and flows north across the Canada–United States border and into Chilliwack Lake
Chilliwack Lake
Chilliwack Lake is a lake in the upper basin of the Chilliwack River southeast of the city of the same name in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada...
. The river flows through Hells Gorge, a deep, dangerous-to-access gorge just below the river's headwaters that is home of a waterfall that the river drops over. The river picks up the Little Chilliwack River
Little Chilliwack River
The Little Chilliwack River is a small river in Whatcom County, Washington. It is a tributary of the Chilliwack River, entering the river just below the United States/Canada Border.-Course:The river originates at a ridge between it and Silesia Creek...
before crossing the border. There is a large sandy beach located where the river enters the lake, a popular place for people to party at. The river exits the north end of the lake and flows generally west via the Chilliwack River Valley to emerge on the Fraser Lowland
Fraser Lowland
The Fraser Lowland is a landform and physiographic region of the Pacific Northwest, in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington. It includes much of the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia and a portion of Whatcom County, south of the Canada–US border...
on the south side of the City of Chilliwack
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
. At Vedder Crossing, the river is joined by the Sweltzer River
Sweltzer River
The Sweltzer Creek is a creek in British Columbia, Canada, that drains the waters of Cultus Lake into the Chilliwack River. It is about 3 km long and much of it runs through Soowahlie Indian Reserve No. 14, which is under the administration of the Soowahlie Indian Band.The name Sweltzer Creek...
before flowing under a bridge at which its name changes to the Vedder River, after which is flows west and north to join the Sumas River
Sumas River
The Sumas River is a tributary of the Fraser River in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington.-Course:The Sumas River originates in Whatcom County, Washington just north of the Nooksack River and west of Sumas Mountain...
just before that river's confluence with the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
at the northeast end of Sumas Mountain
Sumas Mountain (British Columbia)
Sumas Mountain, aka referred to as Canadian Sumas to distinguish it from an identically-named mountain just south in Washington state, is a relatively large mountain rising from the floodplain of the Fraser River in the Lower Mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada...
. The river crosses the Fraser floodplain from Vedder Crossing to its confluence with the Sumas via the Vedder Canal, which prevents the river's considerable spring freshet
Freshet
A freshet can refer to one of two things:* A flood resulting from heavy rain or a spring thaw. Whereas heavy rain often causes a flash flood, a spring thaw event is generally a more incremental process, depending upon local climate and topography...
from flooding the surrounding farmlands and towns, and which is part of the drainage system that turned Sumas Lake
Sumas Lake
Sumas Lake was a body of water between Sumas and Vedder mountains, midway between the present-day cities of Chilliwack and Abbotsford, British Columbia. Its name means "a big level opening" and is a reference to the site of the lake, which lay between Sumas Mountain and its American counterpart,...
into Sumas Prairie
Sumas Prairie
Sumas Prairie is a landform in British Columbia, Canada and the State of Washington, United States. Part of the Fraser Lowland, it was created by the draining of Sumas Lake early in the 20th Century, and extends from the Vedder Canal southwestwards into northern Whatcom County, Washington...
.
Downstream from the Vedder Crossing Bridge, the Vedder River marks the boundary between Yarrow
Yarrow, British Columbia
Yarrow is a small community located 90 kilometres east of Vancouver and 12 km southwest of downtown Chilliwack, in British Columbia, Canada. It is in the Fraser Valley at the foot of Vedder Mountain. The village was first settled by Mennonites in the late 1920s, following the draining of...
to the south and Greendale
Greendale, British Columbia
Greendale is a primarily agricultural town within Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, located 92 kilometres east of the city of Vancouver. Greendale is located on the west side of Chilliwack, bordering the east side of the city of Abbotsford. Greendale, originally called Sumas until 1951, was...
to the north (both are separate semi-rural communities that are now part of the City of Chilliwack).
History
Historically the Chilliwack River flowed north from Vedder Crossing, over a broad alluvial fanAlluvial fan
An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain. A convergence of neighboring alluvial fans into a single apron of deposits against a slope is called a bajada, or compound alluvial...
to the Fraser River. In 1875 heavy rains caused a logjam that diverted the river into two small streams, called Vedder Creek and Luckakuk Creek. This caused hardship for the area's farmers. In 1882 a new logjam was deliberately created which caused the waters of several streams to shift course toward the west, flowing into the now-drained Sumas Lake. A freshet
Freshet
A freshet can refer to one of two things:* A flood resulting from heavy rain or a spring thaw. Whereas heavy rain often causes a flash flood, a spring thaw event is generally a more incremental process, depending upon local climate and topography...
in 1894 caused the new course to become permanent. In the early 20th century the diverted river was diked and channelized. Today the Chilliwack River changes into the Vedder River at Vedder Crossing, and then becomes the Vedder Canal farther downstream. The Vedder Canal was created in the 1920s as part of the effort to drain Sumas Lake
Sumas Lake
Sumas Lake was a body of water between Sumas and Vedder mountains, midway between the present-day cities of Chilliwack and Abbotsford, British Columbia. Its name means "a big level opening" and is a reference to the site of the lake, which lay between Sumas Mountain and its American counterpart,...
. The former course of the Chilliwack River below Vedder Crossing is now known as Chilliwack Creek, which flows north to the Fraser River.
The Chilliwack River was heavily used by the Northwest Boundary Survey of 1857-1862 as a means of accessing the 49th parallel north
49th parallel north
The 49th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 49 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
in order to survey and map the border between American and British-Canadian sovereignty. A number of the Chilliwack's tributaries cross the 49th parallel, including Liumchen Creek, Tamihi Creek, Damfino Creek, Slesse Creek, Nesakwatch Creek, and, from Chilliwack Lake, Klahailhu Creek and Depot Creek. Both American and British surveying parties established base camps on Chilliwack Lake from which they sent field parties through the Chilliwack drainage and east to the Skagit River
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
drainage. In addition, the Whatcom Trail
Whatcom Trail
The Whatcom Trail was an overland trail from the Puget Sound area of Washington Territory during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858. Named for the then-chief of the Nooksack people on Bellingham Bay, where the trail began at Fairhaven , the route used went via a route known as the Columbia...
followed much of the Chilliwack River's course.
Recreation
The Vedder-Chilliwack River is well known for its runs of chinook
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
, coho
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, 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...
, 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 sockeye
Sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon , also called red salmon or blueback salmon in the USA, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Northern Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it...
salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
in the fall, along with winter and spring steelhead fishing.
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 30 July-7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952....
' rowing events were held on the Vedder Canal. Canadians Bobby Williams in single sculls, and Donald Guest & Lawrence Stephan in double sculls won bronze medals. Canada won the gold medal in eights rowing.
Major Tributaries
Tributaries in the United States- Indian Creek
- Bear Creek
- Little Chilliwack RiverLittle Chilliwack RiverThe Little Chilliwack River is a small river in Whatcom County, Washington. It is a tributary of the Chilliwack River, entering the river just below the United States/Canada Border.-Course:The river originates at a ridge between it and Silesia Creek...
Tributaries in Canada
- Centre Creek
- Nesakwatch Creek
- Foley Creek
- Chipmunk Creek
- Slesse CreekSlesse CreekSlesse Creek is a creek in Whatcom County, Washington and British Columbia. It is a tributary of the Chilliwack River and is known as Silesia Creek south of the border and Slesse Creek north of it.-East Fork:...
- Tamihi Creek
- Liumchen Creek
- Sweltzer RiverSweltzer RiverThe Sweltzer Creek is a creek in British Columbia, Canada, that drains the waters of Cultus Lake into the Chilliwack River. It is about 3 km long and much of it runs through Soowahlie Indian Reserve No. 14, which is under the administration of the Soowahlie Indian Band.The name Sweltzer Creek...