Nicomekl River

The Nicomekl River springs from the ground in Langley, British Columbia and travels west through the city to Surrey's Crescent Beach, where it empties into Mud Bay, the northernmost section of the Boundary Bay of the Georgia Strait.[1] It has a total length of 34 km, with a drainage area of 149 km2.[2]

Nicomekl River, May 2006, looking west from 152nd St. Surrey, BC
Pier on the river, close to the point where it enters Mud Bay

History and origins

The word Nicomekl is from the Halq'emeylem used by the Stó:lō people, meaning "the route to go" or "the pathway." The Nicomekl (Katzie) people, descendants of Smakwec, were largely wiped out by a smallpox epidemic in the 18th century.

Smakwec and his people, originating from Point Roberts, and their history, lands, resources, and culture were closely linked to those of the Katzie people. The descendants of Smakwec and his people are many, but many have vanished. The Nicomekl, as a distinct people, vanished in the time of the smallpox epidemic of the 19th century.[3]

West-facing view of Nicomekl River towards its joining with Mud Bay
King George Boulevard (Highway 99A) wooden bridge over Nicomekl River in South Surrey

The river was first documented in writing on December 13, 1824, when James McMillan's Hudson's Bay Company expedition used the Nicomekl River to travel inland. They went up the Nikomekl to the portage area to the Salmon River which connected to the Fraser River 50 miles inland. McMillan build the first Fort Langley at that location two and a half years later.[4] John Work, a clerk with the party, described the Nicomekl as thick with willows and with low banks "well wooded with pine, cedar, alder and some other trees." Work also noted signs of there being numerous beavers on the river.[5]

Nicomekl was more navigable than other nearby rivers so was important to Surrey pioneers.[6]

In 1911, Surrey council barred navigation up the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers due to construction of dams to reclaim land. This ended use of the rivers by steamboats and log booms.[4]

In December 1951, high tides up the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers combined with gale-force winds to flood 490 hectares of farmland under 1.5 metres of salt water. Repairs cost about $20,000 and the salt residue affected farm production for a few years. In the 1960s, river pollution caused the closure of thriving oyster farming businesses.[4]

Tributaries (listed from the mouth up)
  • Chantrell Creek
  • Anderson Creek
  • Muckle Creek
  • Pleasantdale Creek
  • Langley Creek
  • Newlands Brook

References
  1. BC Names/GeoBC entry "Nicomekl River"
  2. "Ambient Water Quality Objectives for Boundary Bay and its Tributaries", Ministry of Environment and Parks, 1988.
  3. Greg Lange (December 2000). "Smallpox kills 14,000 Northwest Coast Indians from April to December 1862". historylink.org.
  4. Chuck Davis (2011). The Chuck Davis History of Metro Vancouver. Harbour Publishing.
  5. Bartroli, Thomas. Genesis of Vancouver City. Vancouver: (Self-Published). 1997.
  6. "Water Transportation 1870–1910". www.surreyhistory.ca. Retrieved May 16, 2017.

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