Waterhen Lake (Saskatchewan)
Waterhen Lake[1] is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, located about 40 km (25 mi) north of the city of Meadow Lake.[2][3] The lake is situated along the course of the Waterhen River in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada.[4]
| Waterhen Lake | |
|---|---|
  Location of Waterhen Lake in Saskatchewan  Waterhen Lake (Saskatchewan) (Canada) | |
| Location |  Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 54°28′0″N 108°25′3″W |
| Primary inflows | Waterhen River (from Lac des Îles) |
| Primary outflows | Waterhen River (to Beaver River) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 10,023.2 ha (24,768 acres) |
| Max. depth | 30.5 m (100 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 461.01 km (286.46 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 469 m (1,539 ft) |
| Settlements | Waterhen Lake First Nation |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
At just over 10,000 ha (25,000 acres) in size, it is the second largest lake at least partially within Meadow Lake Provincial Park–the largest being Cold Lake at the far western end of the park.[5]
Waterhen Indian Reserve No. 130, the reserve community of the Waterhen Lake First Nation, surrounds most of the eastern portion of the lake[6] and the western half of the lake and the far eastern shore are in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. Highways 904, 941, and 951 provide access to the lake.
Description
Waterhen Lake's primary tributary, the Waterhen River, flows east from Lac des Îles for about 65 km (40 mi) into the southern shore of Waterhen Lake. The Waterhen River then flows out of the lake at the north-east corner in a northeasterly direction for approximately 50 km (31 mi) into Beaver River, which flows into the Churchill River at Lac Île-à-la-Crosse. The Churchill River is a major river in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.[3]
At the point where the Waterhen River flows into Waterhen Lake, it's a shallow, marshy delta with several other smaller lakes in the vicinity, including Niven Lake, which both Matkin and Iskwayach Lakes flow into, and Redmond Lake. Otter Creek, a tributary of Waterhen River, also flows into the delta.[7] at the eastern end, Jarvis Lake opens up into Waterhen Lake. At the northern end of the lake, two notable tributaries flow into the lake in another marshy delta. Flotten River flows in from Flotten Lake and Short Creek drains Nesootao (Twin) Lakes and Little Lake.
Recreation
Situated in a provincial park, there are many recreational opportunities at Waterhen Lake, including boating, camping, fishing, and swimming.
On the western shore of the lake there is Waterhen Lake Campground,[8] Tawaw Cabins,[9][10] Tawaw Outfitters, and M & N Resort.[11] Tawaw Cabins offers 14 cabins, 27 campsites, showers, washrooms, beach access, boat rentals, and a store at the outfitters.[12] M & N also has beach access with rentals, fuel, long term and short term cabin rentals, and a store.
Fish species
Fish commonly found in the lake include the northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, and burbot.[13][14]
References
- Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Waterhen Lake". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
- "Waterhen Lake Fishing Map | Nautical Charts App".
- Google (22 February 2018). "Google Length Calculator" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- "Boreal Plains Ecozone". ecozones. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- "Meadow Lake Provincial Park | Tourism Saskatchewan".
- MapArt (2007). Saskatchewan Road Atlas (Map) (2007 ed.). 1:540,000. Oshawa, ON: Peter Heiler Ltd. p. 11. ISBN 1-55368-020-0.
- Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Otter Creek". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
- "Waterhen Lake Campground". Tourism Saskatchewan. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- "Tawan Cabins". Tawan Cabins. Tawan Cabins. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "Tawaw Cabins 2004 Ltd | Tourism Saskatchewan".
- "M N Resort | Tourism Saskatchewan".
- "Tawaw Outfitters | Tourism Saskatchewan".
- "Angler's Atlas".
- "Fishing in Waterhen Lake".