Ningunsaw River

Ningunsaw River
Mouth of the Ningunsaw River
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictCassiar Land District
Physical characteristics
SourceCoast Mountains
  locationBoundary Ranges
  coordinates56°44′32″N 130°15′18″W / 56.74222°N 130.25500°W / 56.74222; -130.25500
  elevation1,450 m (4,760 ft)
MouthIskut River
  coordinates
56°56′22″N 130°20′52″W / 56.93944°N 130.34778°W / 56.93944; -130.34778
  elevation
353 m (1,158 ft)
Length50 km (31 mi)
Basin size673 km2 (260 sq mi),
Discharge 
  average24.2 m3/s (850 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  rightBeaverpond Creek, Liz Creek, Alger Creek, Ogilve Creek, Bob Quinn Creek
Topo mapNTS104B16 Bob Quinn Lake

The Ningunsaw River is a tributary of the Iskut River in the northern part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. The Iskut River is the largest tributary of the Stikine River. From its source in the Boundary Ranges the Ningunsaw River flows east, then north, then west, for roughly 50 km (31 mi) to join the Iskut River.

The Ningunsaw's watershed covers 673 km2 (260 sq mi). A significant part of the drainage basin near the river's mouth is within Ningunsaw Provincial Park and the Ningunsaw River Ecological Reserve. The Ningunsaw's source is in the Boundary Ranges, but part of its course divides the Boundary Ranges from the Skeena Mountains, part of British Columbia's Interior Mountains. Tributaries such as Alger Creek and Liz Creek flow from the Skeena Mountains.

The river's mean annual discharge is estimated at 24.2 m3/s (850 cu ft/s), with most of the flow occurring between May and October. The mouth of the Ningunsaw River is located about 113 km (70 mi) northwest of Meziadin Junction, about 117 km (73 mi) south of the community of Telegraph Creek, about 285 km (177 mi) southeast of Juneau, Alaska, and about 585 km (364 mi) southeast of Prince George, British Columbia. The Ningunsaw River's watershed's land cover is classified as 42.5% conifer forest, 19.6% barren, 11.7% snow/glacier, 11.1% shrubland, and small amounts of other cover.

The Ningunsaw River's drainage basin lies within the asserted traditional territory of the Tahltan First Nations people.

The Ningunsaw's watershed lies in the transition zone between British Columbia's coastal and interior climate zones. It contains high quality habitat for grizzly bears, moose, and mountain goats.

Part of the historic Yukon Telegraph Trail runs through the Ningunsaw River's watershed.