Alberta has seven major watersheds, also called basins: the Hay River Basin, Peace/Slave River Basin, Athabasca, Beaver, North Saskatchewan, South Saskatchewan, and Milk.
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common body of water, like a wetland, river, or lake. They come in many shapes and sizes and cross into national and international borders. Here are some facts about Alberta’s major watersheds. The Hay River The Hay River flows into east Alberta and into the Hay-Zama Lakes region. From there, the river continues to flow east and is joined by the Chinchaga River. The Hay River then begins to flow north for approximately 702 kilometres before discharging into the western basin of the Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories. The Peace/Slave River The Peace and Slave River Water Basin is the largest water basin in Alberta. The Peace River starts in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, and then flows into Alberta. The river flows into the northeast across the province, through the town of Peace River before emptying into the Slave River. The Slave River is a tributary to the Makenzie River, which is the longest river in Canada. The Peace and Slave River Basin includes inflows from Wapiti, Smoky, Little Smoky, and Wabasca rivers, and many others. The Athabasca River The Athabasca River starts at the Columbia Glacier in Jasper National Park. It travels approximately 1500 kilometres northeast across Alberta and drains into Lake Athabasca in the northeast. The Lake Athabasca flows into the Slave River, joining the Makenzie River, and eventually flowing into the Arctic Ocean. The Athabasca River Basin is approximately 159,000 kilometres, which is 24 per cent of Alberta’s landmass. The river is fed by ten smaller watersheds, also known as sub-watersheds, that eventually flow into the Athabasca River. They include McLeod, Pembina, La Biche, Lesser Slave, and Clearwater. The Beaver River The Beaver River is a large river located in east-central Alberta as well as central Saskatchewan. The Beaver River has a catchment area of approximately 14,500 kilometres and drains into the lake system Lac La Biche County. The North/South Saskatchewan River The North Saskatchewan River flows from the Canadian Rockies and divides east to central Saskatchewan. It then joins the South Saskatchewan River, making up the whole of the Saskatchewan River. It then flows into the Hudson Bay. The South Saskatchewan River begins where the Oldman and Bow Rivers come Together close to Grassy Lake, Alberta. The Milk River watershed The Milk River watershed is located in the southern-most part of Alberta. It’s known for its dry climate, landscape and diverse plant and wildlife. The Milk River is the only watershed in Alberta that drains south and into the Gulf of Mexico. The Milk River watershed is shared between Alberta, the province of Saskatchewan and the state of Montana in the U.S. It’s up to everyone to ensure that Alberta’s watersheds are well protected and healthy for our communities and those to come. For more information on how you can support Alberta’s watersheds, see paddlealberta.org. |
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August 2022
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