West Road River
Encyclopedia
The West Road River or Blackwater River is a major tributary
of the Fraser River
, flowing generally north-eastward from the northern slopes of the Ilgachuz Range
and across the Fraser Plateau
in the Chilcotin
region of central British Columbia
, Canada
. With only one major tributary, the Nazko River ("river flowing from the south" in the Carrier language
), its confluence with the Fraser is approximately 40 km northwest of Quesnel
. It forms the division between the Chilcotin Plateau
(S) and the Nechako Plateau
(N), which are subdivisions of the Fraser Plateau.
The river is 280 km long, draining an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres, and dropping over 900 m before joining with the Fraser.
The river is of significant historical importance to both First Nations
and Canadian history. For centuries, the Dakelh
(Carrier) and Tsilhqot'in
peoples used a trail - the so-called "Grease Trail
" - on the northern side of the river in their trade with coastal First Nations communities. The name Grease Trail refers to one of the main commodities transported along the route - eulachon
grease, a highly prized staple - traces of which coated parts of the route after centuries of use. It was this trail that Sir Alexander Mackenzie used in his historic overland journey west to the Pacific Ocean
in 1793, traversing the river itself on his return.
The West Road (Blackwater) River has been designated as a heritage river
by the government of British Columbia.
The only major settlements along the river are the Indian Reserves of the Kluskus First Nation
in the area of the Kluskus Lakes
, which are a chain of lakes midway along its length. Near the river to its south, on the Nazko, is the settlement of Nazko
, a ranching community, the focus of which is the reserve of the Nazko First Nation
.
Tributary
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...
of 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...
, flowing generally north-eastward from the northern slopes of the Ilgachuz Range
Ilgachuz Range
The Ilgachuz Range is a name given to an extinct shield volcano in British Columbia, Canada. It is not a mountain range in the normal sense, because it was formed as a single volcano that has been eroded for the past 5 million years. It lies on the Chilcotin Plateau, located some north-northwest...
and across the Fraser Plateau
Fraser Plateau
The Fraser Plateau is an intermontane plateau. It is one of the main subdivisions of the Interior Plateau located in the Central Interior of British Columbia, and includes the Cariboo and Chilcotin Plateaus and the adjoining Marble, Clear and Camelsfoot Ranges on its southwestern edge...
in the Chilcotin
Chilcotin District
The Chilcotin District of British Columbia is usually known simply as "the Chilcotin", and also in speech commonly as "the Chilcotin Country" or simply Chilcotin. It is a plateau and mountain region in British Columbia on the inland lea of the Coast Mountains on the west side of the Fraser River....
region of central 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...
. With only one major tributary, the Nazko River ("river flowing from the south" in the Carrier language
Carrier language
The Carrier language is a Northern Athabaskan language. It is named after the Dakelh people, a First Nations people of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, for whom Carrier is the usual English name. People who are referred to as Carrier speak two related languages. One,...
), its confluence with the Fraser is approximately 40 km northwest of Quesnel
Quesnel, British Columbia
-Demographics:Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709....
. It forms the division between the Chilcotin Plateau
Chilcotin Plateau
The Chilcotin Plateau is part of the Fraser Plateau, a major subdivision of the Interior Plateau of British Columbia. The Chilcotin Plateau is physically near-identical with the region of the same name, i.e...
(S) and the Nechako Plateau
Nechako Plateau
The Nechako Plateau is the northernmost subdivision of the Interior Plateau, one of the main geographic regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia...
(N), which are subdivisions of the Fraser Plateau.
The river is 280 km long, draining an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres, and dropping over 900 m before joining with the Fraser.
The river is of significant historical importance to both First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
and Canadian history. For centuries, the Dakelh
Dakelh
The Dakelh or Carrier are the indigenous people of a large portion of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada.Most Carrier call themselves Dakelh, meaning "people who go around by boat"...
(Carrier) and Tsilhqot'in
Tsilhqot'in
The Tsilhqot'in are a Northern Athabaskan First Nations people that live in British Columbia, Canada...
peoples used a trail - the so-called "Grease Trail
Grease trail
A grease trail is an overland trade route, part of a network of trails connecting the Pacific coast with the Interior in the Pacific Northwest. Trails were developed for trade between indigenous people, particularly the trade in eulachon oil. The grease from these small fish could be traded for...
" - on the northern side of the river in their trade with coastal First Nations communities. The name Grease Trail refers to one of the main commodities transported along the route - eulachon
Eulachon
The eulachon, also oolichan, hooligan, ooligan, or candlefish, is a small anadromous ocean fish, Thaleichthys pacificus, a smelt found along the Pacific coast of North America from northern California to Alaska....
grease, a highly prized staple - traces of which coated parts of the route after centuries of use. It was this trail that Sir Alexander Mackenzie used in his historic overland journey west to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in 1793, traversing the river itself on his return.
The West Road (Blackwater) River has been designated as a heritage river
Canadian Heritage Rivers System
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984 by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to conserve and protect the best examples of Canada's river heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them. It is a cooperative...
by the government of British Columbia.
The only major settlements along the river are the Indian Reserves of the Kluskus First Nation
Kluskus First Nation
The Kluskus First Nation is the band government of the Lhoosk’uz, a Dakelh people whose main reserve located on the Chilcotin Plateau 130 km west of the city of Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada...
in the area of the Kluskus Lakes
Kluskus Lakes
The Kluskus Lakes are a group of lakes on the northern perimeter of the Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. They are located east of Tsacha Lake and south of the Euchiniko Lakes and are part of the drainage of the West Road River...
, which are a chain of lakes midway along its length. Near the river to its south, on the Nazko, is the settlement of Nazko
Nazko, British Columbia
Nazko is a small First Nations community located 100 km west of Quesnel on the Nazko River in central British Columbia, Canada. Nazko means, "river flowing from the south".Nazko is the gateway to the Nuxalk Carrier Grease-Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail...
, a ranching community, the focus of which is the reserve of the Nazko First Nation
Nazko First Nation
The Nazko First Nation is a First Nations government of the Dakelh people in the north-central Interior of British Columbia. Its reserves are located around the community of Nazko, British Columbia, which is 120 km west of Quesnel and southwest of Prince George.Nazko is located on the Nazko...
.