Mission Creek (British Columbia)

Mission Creek
Riviere L'Anse du Sable
Creek
Mouth of Mission Creek
Country Canada
State British Columbia
District Central Okanagan
City Kelowna
Length 75 km (47 mi)
Basin 200,000 km2 (77,220 sq mi)
Discharge for Lake Okanagan
 - average 6.81 m3/s (240 cu ft/s)

Mission Creek is a creek in the Okanagan Region of British Columbia. The Creek rises in the Greystoke Mountain Range and runs west about 43 km before emptying into Okanagan Lake south of Kelowna.[1] Its watershed covers about 200,000 square km.[1] Originally called L’Anse-au-Sable, the name Mission Creek was adopted in 1860 in honour of the Catholic Oblate Mission established by Father Pandosy and other settlers. Mission Creek was designated a BC Heritage River by the province in 1996.[2]

Mining

The creek was mined in the 1870s by people like McDougall. Later people such as Dan Gallagher mined the creek until the 1940s.[3] British Columbia historian Bill Barlee believes the lost McLean Mine is located between the headwaters of Mission Creek and Monashee Creek. McLean was a First Nations prospector who lived near Kelowna.[4]

Bridges

Several bridges span the Mission Creek. Here is a list starting from Lake Okanagan:

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Mission Creek". British Columbia, Ministry of Environment. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
  2. "About Mission Creek". Mission Creek Restoration Initiative. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
  3. N.L. Barlee (1973), Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns. Canada West Publications.
  4. N.L. Barlee (1976), Historic Treasures and Lost Mines of British Columbia. Canada West Publications.
  5. "Lakeshore Road Upgrades". City of Kelowna. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
  6. "Gordon Bridge (over Mission Creek) project info". City of Kelowna.

Mission Creek Greenway (follows Mission Creek)