The Highwood River is a tributary of the Bow River in southwestern Alberta, Canada.
Course
The Highwood originates in the
Canadian Rockies in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, in the
Highwood Pass below
Mount Arethusa. It flows south and is paralleled by the Kananaskis Trail between Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park, Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park, and
Emerson Creek Park. It turns east and flows along Highway 541 and through the community of Longview. Continuing east, it passes through
High River, ending when it enters the
Bow River southeast of
Calgary.
Recreation
The river is known for
flyfishing. A variety of trout species live in the river, including native
bull trout. In springtime when the snow is melting the river offers white water rafting.
Flooding
The Highwood River is subject to frequent flooding. Flood events of exceptional magnitude occurred in 1894, 1899, 1902, 1908, 1912, 1923, 1929, 1932, 1942, 1995, 2005 and 2013.
["Little Bow Project/ Highwood Diversion Plan. Application to Construct a Water Management Project to Convey and Store Water Diverted from the Highwood River" Report of the NRCB/CEAA Joint Review Panel. Application #9601 - Alberta Public Works, Supply and Services. May 1998.] Most recently during the 2013 Alberta floods, thousands of people in Alberta were ordered to evacuate their homes after the rise of the Highwood River, Bow River,
Elbow River and numerous others.
[ Calgary neighbourhoods underwater as Bow River's rise continue ] Three people died as a result of the flooding of the Highwood River.
Tributaries and features
From origin to mouth, the Highwood River receives the following tributaries or passes through these geographic features:
|
|
| left tributary from Storm Mountain |
| Bridge |
| left tributary from Mist Mountain |
| left tributary |
| right tributary |
| right tributary |
| left tributary |
| right tributary |
| right tributary |
| right tributary |
| left tributary |
| right tributary |
| right tributary |
| left tributary |
| left tributary |
| enters indian reserve |
| leaves reserve |
| left tributary |
| left tributary |
| left tributary |
| left tributary |
| enters town limits |
| bridge |
| right tributary |
| right tributary |
| enters town limits |
| road and railroad bridge |
| left tributary |
| railroad bridge |
| bridge |
| bridge |
| left tributary |
| bridge |
| river mouth as right tributary of Bow River |
|
See also
-
List of rivers of Alberta
