| Makwa River | |
| Map: | Churchill river hudson basin map.png |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Pushpin Map: | Saskatchewan#Canada |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth in Saskatchewan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Saskatchewan |
| Source1: | Makwa Lake |
| Source1 Location: | Makwa Lake Provincial Park |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 54.0801°N -109.2069°W |
| Mouth: | Beaver River |
| Mouth Location: | RM of Meadow Lake No. 588 |
| River System: | Beaver River |
Makwa River[1] (also called the Loon River) is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the transition zone between parkland and boreal forest. Makwa is Cree for Loon. The upper reaches of the Makwa River's watershed reach just across the border into Alberta and includes lakes such as Hewett, Ministikwan, Makwa, and Jumbo.[2]
Makwa River begins at the north-east corner of Makwa Lake in Makwa Lake Provincial Park[3] and flows east then north-east to meet the Beaver River. Downstream water flows are controlled by Makwa Lake Control dam at the outflow point of Makwa Lake.[4] The main tributary for Makwa Lake is Ministikwan Creek,[5] which has its source at Ministikwan Lake. As Makwa River heads east, it is met by the south-flowing Horsehead Creek.[6]
Makwa Lake Control was originally built as a timber dam in 1965. It is about north-west of the village of Loon Lake at the outflow of Makwa Lake in Makwa Lake Provincial Park.[7] In 2010, the dilapidated timber dam was replaced by a concrete one. The dam is high and has two radial gates and a riparian outlet. The original dam did not have a fish ladder but one was built for the 2010 concrete one. The dam regulates water levels on Makwa, Upper Makwa, Jumbo, and Little Jumbo Lakes. Access to the dam is from Highway 26.[8]