Watershed

Watershed

Watershed

A watershed is also referred to as a drainage basin. It is an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another water body, such as a river, lake, reservoir, wetland, sea, or ocean.

Grande Prairie is inside of many watersheds. From the smallest to the largest area:

  • Bear Creek basin - The City of Grande Prairie drains into Bear Creek which drains into the Wapiti River
  • Peace watershed - Wapiti River drains into Smokey River which drains into the Peace River
  • Mackenzie watershed - Peace River drains into Slave River which drains into the Mackenzie River which ultimately drains into the Arctic Ocean

Bear Creek & Wapiti River