| San Juan River | |
|---|---|
 View up the San Juan River fromPacheena Reserve 1 | |
   | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Vancouver Island |
| District | Renfrew Land District |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Seymour Range |
| • coordinates | 48°43′39.5″N123°59′33″W / 48.727639°N 123.99250°W /48.727639; -123.99250 (San Juan River (source)) |
| • elevation | 735 m (2,411 ft) |
| Mouth | Port San Juan |
• location | Port Renfrew,British Columbia |
• coordinates | 48°33′33″N124°24′31″W / 48.55917°N 124.40861°W /48.55917; -124.40861 (San Juan River (outflow)) |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Harris Creek, Fairy Lake |
San Juan River is a river that flows from east to west through southernVancouver Island inBritish Columbia, Canada. The river originates in theSeymour Range, flows westward through theSan Juan Valley toPort San Juan atPort Renfrew.[1]
The First Nations of Vancouver Island have a legend of a Spanish trading schooner which arrived on the Island's southwestern coast in 1777. The Spanish anchored inthe harbour and traded with the Nitinat Natives. The Spanish discovered gold in the San Juan River and tried to recover the gold. The Nitinat Natives slaughtered the Spanish expedition. Two Spanish women were taken as slaves. The women were later released to another Spanish expedition who discovered them. The later expedition inadvertently infected the Nitinat Natives with smallpox. There is some evidence to support this story. Spanish ships such as the Santiago investigated the west coast in the 1700s. There are also records of attacks on Spanish by First Nations. This is the first alleged discovery of gold in the San Juan River.[2]
In 1885 an American prospector named Foster found gold in the San Juan River. Foster returned in 1907 to find more gold. Every year Foster returned looking for the gold. He returned year after year because he couldn't find the original spot on the San Juan River. Foster died in 1917 in Salt Lake City. The people of Port Renfrew heard about Foster's search. Many people from Port Renfrew searched all over the San Juan River looking for Foster's old gold site. It was never discovered.[2]
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The San Juan River's headwaters take drainage from the southern slopes of theSeymour Range. Its largest fork begins at a small unnamed pond inCowichan Valley Regional District and forms the primary headstream. From here the San Juan River flows southwest into "Pete's Pond" before continuing its descent south. It then enters theCapital Regional District before pooling briefly in a large unnamed pond. The river then continues south before meeting its first named tributary, Clapp Creek. From here the river swings west-southwest, growing considerably in size as continues down the valley. The San Juan River then meets its first major tributary, Fleet River. From here the river winds through a canyon before it opens up into a broad valley. It meets the major tributaries of Lens Creek and Harris Creek before meeting an outlet stream of Fairy Lake. From here the San Juan River meanders considerably and breaks off into a pair of major branches, forming a largeestuary. The smaller northern branch meanders west before sharing an outlet toPort San Juan with theGordon River. The larger southern branch meanders southwest and empties into Port San Juan just north ofPort Renfrew.
TheSan Juan River Estuary Ecological Reserve was established on 30 April 1996 in order to conserve the alluvial forest communities of the lower San Juan River and protect the red-listedtooth-leaved monkeyflower, endemic to British Columbia.[3] It is classified as astrict nature reserve (IUCN Category Ia).[4]
Theestuary is populated by a variety of trees, includingred alder,black cottonwood,Sitka spruce, andwestern hemlock. Shrubs present in the estuary includesalmonberry,stink currant,piggyback plants,lady fern, anddeer fern. Wildlife of note that take residence in the estuary includeAmerican black bears,Roosevelt elk,North American river otters,bald eagles, andminks.[3]
Media related toSan Juan River (Vancouver Island) at Wikimedia Commons
