| Oldman River | |
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Oldman River seen from Veteran Memorial Highway |
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| Origin | Canadian Rockies |
| Mouth | South Saskatchewan River |
| 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]
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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.
From headwaters to mouth, Oldman River receives:
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.
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.
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