Torch River (Saskatchewan) Explained

Torch River
Map:Saskatchewan basin map.png
Map Size:250px
Pushpin Map:Saskatchewan#Canada
Pushpin Map Size:250px
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the mouth in Saskatchewan
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Canada
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Saskatchewan
Source1 Location:Candle Lake
Source1 Coordinates:53.7591°N -105.1584°W
Mouth:Saskatchewan River
Mouth Location:Saskatchewan River Delta
River System:Nelson River
Tributaries Left:White Gull Creek, Stewart Creek, Missipuskiow River
Tributaries Right:White Fox River

Torch River[1] is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is the dam at Candle Lake, near Candle Lake Provincial Park,[2] and it travels east through boreal forest[3] and muskeg en route to its mouth in the Saskatchewan River Delta. Torch River Provincial Forest, a conservation area, is located along the course of the river, near where White Fox River flows into Torch River. Torch River is a significant tributary of the Saskatchewan River and it is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

Description

The Torch River is a tributary of the Saskatchewan River and it flows into one of North America's largest inland fresh water deltas, the Saskatchewan River Delta.[4] The river begins at the south-east corner of Candle Lake from a dam at Hanson Bay near Minowakaw Beach Campground[5] in the RM of Paddockwood No. 520. The dam is a 3.1-metre high concrete dam that was constructed in 1978–1979 and is operated by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.[6] Less than a mile after the river starts, it crosses Highway 120, leaves the RM of Paddockwood, and enters the RM of Torch River No. 488.

It travels in a generally eastward direction through muskeg and boreal forest and along the way, it is joined by several tributaries, including White Gull Creek, Stewart Creek, White Fox River, and Missipuskiow River and crosses Highway 106 near Fyson Lake. Stewart Creek has its headwaters in the Cub Hills[7] and Narrow Hills Provincial Park. At the confluence of Torch and White Fox Rivers, the course takes it through the Torch River Provincial Forest and as it approaches Tobin Lake, it starts to parallel the Saskatchewan River. As it passes Tobin Lake, it enters into the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and meets up with the Saskatchewan River downstream shortly thereafter.[8]

Tributaries

The following is a list of tributaries of Torch River from the upper part of the watershed to the lower part:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Place names - Torch River. Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada. www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  2. Web site: Candle Lake Provincial Park . Tourism Saskatchewan . 18 February 2022.
  3. Web site: Boreal Plains Ecozone . ecozones . 16 February 2022.
  4. Web site: Sask River Delta Conservation Initiative . Sask River Delta . 17 February 2022.
  5. Web site: Minowukaw Beach Campground . Tourism Saskatchewan . 18 February 2022.
  6. Web site: Dams & Reservoirs .
  7. Web site: Trout Streams of the Cub Hills . environment.gov.sk . Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.
  8. Web site: Torch River Provincial Forest, Saskatchewan Map . Geodata.us . 18 February 2022.