Oldman River

See also: Old Man River (disambiguation)

Oldman River
Oldman River seen from Veteran Memorial Highway
Origin	Canadian Rockies 50°06′50″N 114°43′14″W / 50.11389°N 114.72056°W / 50.11389; -114.72056
Mouth	South Saskatchewan River 49°55′45″N 111°41′27.4″W / 49.92917°N 111.690944°W / 49.92917; -111.690944
Basin countries	Canada (Alberta)
Length	363 km
Source elevation	2100 m
Mouth elevation	701 m
Avg. discharge	95 m³/s.[1]
Basin area	26,700 km²[1]

The Oldman River is a river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake, where it joins with the Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into the Hudson Bay.

Oldman River has a total length of 362 km and a drainage area of 26,700 km². Its mean discharge is 95 m³/s.^[1]

History

High Level Bridge over Oldman River

In 1990, the Alberta government sought to dam the Oldman, which would have (among other things) flooded a Peigan/Blackfoot cemetery. In response, the Blackfoot, led by Milton Born With A Tooth, diverted the Oldman themselves, leading to an armed standoff.^[2] Eventually the dam was constructed where the Oldman, Crowsnest, and Castle river systems converge.

The Peigan Timber Limit B and Peigan 147 Indian reserves of the Piikani (Peigan) Nation and the Blood 148 reserve of the Blood (Kainai Nation) are located along the Oldman River.

Tributaries

Oldman River in Alberta

From headwaters to mouth, Oldman River receives:

• Livingstone River
• Crowsnest River
• Castle River
• Pincher Creek
• Beaver Creek
• Willow Creek
• Belly River
  • Waterton River
• St. Mary River
  • Lee Creek
• Little Bow River

Nature

Oldman River originates in the Beehive Natural Area,^[3] an area of alpine tundra and old-growth spruce and fir forests. Downstream it flows through Bob Creek Wildland Park^[4] and Black Creek Heritage Rangeland.^[5] Oldman Dam and Oldman River are other Provincial Recreation Areas established along the river.

Fish

The Oldman River contains fish species such as rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout, brown trout, hybrid trout species ("cutbow" rainbow and cutthroat cross), mountain whitefish, pike, walleye, lake sturgeon, suckers, goldeye, and minnows.

See also

• Oldman River valley parks system

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Atlas of Canada. "Rivers in Canada". http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/rivers.html. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
2. ^ University of Lethbridge. "Oldman River Dam". http://www.uleth.ca/vft/Oldman_River/OldmanDam.html. Retrieved 2006-11-10. 
3. ^ Alberta Community Development. "Beehive Natural Area". http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/enjoying_alberta/parks/planning/gateway/siteinformation.asp?id=426. Retrieved 2006-11-12. 
4. ^ Alberta Community Development. "Bob Creek Wildland Park". http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/enjoying_alberta/parks/planning/gateway/siteinformation.asp?id=365. Retrieved 2006-11-12. 
5. ^ Alberta Community Development. "Black Creek Heritage Rangeland". http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/enjoying_alberta/parks/planning/gateway/siteinformation.asp?id=430. Retrieved 2007-11-12. 

External links

• Oldman River Basin