Physical Features

the Pleistocene period. The lakes at the heads of these valleys in the eastern
flanks of the Coast Mountains have their outlets in typical plateau country
and therefore traverse the zone of transition between Coast Mountain and
Plateau topography.

Nechako Plateau

That part of the area east and northeast of the lake system belongs
properly to the Interior Plateau region and in particular to the Nechako
Plateau. The general level of this plateau varies between 3,000 and 4,000
feet with hills to 5,000 feet and occasional peaks to 7,000 feet. Much of
the plateau is mantled with till and is spotted with hundreds of lakes and
open wet meadows. In this part of the plateau the streams are not large
or deeply incised and most have a gentle gradient. Main streams are
relatively shallow, often too much so for navigation during low-water period.
Forest cover is lodgepole pine and poplar with numerous open grassy areas.

The highest area in the plateau region is the range of hills near its
western border that includes Chef Ridge, Michel Peak, Tweedsmuir Peak,
and Mount Wells, all over 7,000 feet in elevation. Lowest valleys are those
of Francois Lake 2,346 feet and Ootsa Lake 2,666 feet in elevation.

Mosquito Hills and Shelford Hills form two prominent high areas in
the western part of the plateau, but reach an elevation of 5,000 feet only
at one point in the Shelford Hills. Except for the higher parts of the
7,000-foot mountains mentioned previously, all summits in the plateau are
forested. Only a small part, probably less than one-quarter, of the map-area
may properly be included in the plateau region.

Drainage and Drainage History

Three main watersheds lie within the map-area; the Nechako basin, a
Skeena drainage, and a western watershed.

The Nechako basin covers most of the area and includes Eutsuk, White-
sail, Troitsa, Tahtsa and Ootsa Lakes which form a large part of the storage
basin for the power development of the Aluminum Company of Canada.
Francois Lake and its tributaries are also included in this basin. Drainage
is via Nechako River to Fraser River.

Nanika, Kidprice, and Morice Lakes are separated from the Nechako
basin by a low divide and drain eastward via Morice River to the Skeena

drainage.
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