Little Red Deer River

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Little Red Deer River: Comprehensive Description

The Little Red Deer River (LRD or LRDR) is a medium-sized tributary of the Red Deer River located in West Central Alberta, Canada. It represents a hydrologically and ecologically significant system spanning diverse environmental zones and serving as an important water source for regional communities and ecosystems.

Geographic and Physical Characteristics

The Little Red Deer River originates in Waiparous Creek in the Waiparous Valley (51°24′41″N 115°05′21″W) and flows northeast for approximately 315 kilometers before confluencing with the Red Deer River near Innisfail (52°03′44″N 114°07′24.9″W). The main stem extends 202.5 river kilometers with a total elevation change of 735 meters from headwaters to mouth. The river's drainage basin encompasses approximately 3,689 square kilometers (1,424 square miles), though the subwatershed proper covers approximately 397,166 hectares, spanning Mountain View County, Red Deer County, Rocky View County, and the Municipal Districts of Bighorn No. 8 and Rocky View No. 44.[en.wikipedia]​

The river flows through several distinct ecological subregions, transitioning from subalpine and upper foothills terrain in the southwest to dry mixedwood and central parkland in the northeast. At the Water Valley Campground location, the river reaches a width of approximately 23 meters, expanding to about 6 meters at points further upstream. Physical dimensions in flood conditions increase substantially, with design discharge reaching 419 cubic meters per second during peak flows.[rdrwa]​

Tributaries and Water Systems

The Little Red Deer River receives flow from eleven major tributaries:[en.wikipedia]​

• Grease Creek

• Harold Creek

• Silver Creek

• Graham Creek

• Big Prairie Creek

• Dogpound Creek

• Loblaw Creek

• Salter Creek

• Stony Creek

• Beaverdam Creek

• Silver Lagoon

Fallentimber Creek represents the largest tributary system, contributing significant flows during spring runoff and serving as an important habitat corridor.[rdrwa]​

Hydrological Characteristics and Climate

The Little Red Deer River subwatershed exhibits highly variable climate patterns, ranging from subalpine conditions in southwestern headwaters to subhumid continental climate in northeastern reaches. Mean annual temperatures increase from approximately -1°C in the southwest to 3°C in the northeast, with May-September temperatures ranging from 6°C to 10-15°C across the basin. Total annual precipitation varies considerably from 420-1,400 millimeters in elevation zones, with snowfall reaching up to 2,000 millimeters in winter months at higher elevations, contrasting with 350-650 millimeters in the northeast plains.[rdrwa]​

Streamflow patterns reflect snow-melt hydrology, with peak flows typically occurring during April-June. Water quality monitoring data from the confluence region (05CB001) reveals spring peak flows reaching 30-50+ cubic meters per second, declining to less than 2 cubic meters per second by October. At the Water Valley monitoring station (05CB002), spring flows range from less than 1 to 4 cubic meters per second, with midsummer maximums near 8 cubic meters per second and winter/early spring minimums below 1 cubic meter per second. Extreme events such as floods and ice jam advisories occur frequently, particularly during spring runoff periods.[rdrwa]​

Geology and Substrate

The Little Red Deer River subwatershed is geologically dominated by the Paskapoo Formation, supplemented by Brazeau, Coalspur, and Alberta Group (Blackstone, Cardium, and Wapiabi) formations, with Lower Mesozoic-Lower Cretaceous deposits in isolated upper-reach pockets. These formations represent deposits from the Paleocene epoch (56-65 million years ago), the Cretaceous period (65-145 million years ago), and the Lower Mesozoic era (200-251 million years ago). The geology comprises diverse sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, claystones, and shales, with coal deposits occurring in central and northern foothills regions.[rdrwa]​

The stream channel in upper reaches is deeply entrenched with wide channel characteristics but limited instream cover for fish habitat. Substrate composition consists primarily of cobble, shattered bedrock, and silt with limited gravel for salmonid spawning.[ab-conservation]​

Land Use and Watershed Pressures

The Little Red Deer River subwatershed experiences moderate development pressure concentrated in northeastern agricultural areas. Land use patterns reflect the gradient from forested to agricultural systems: annual cropland comprises 28% of the subwatershed, coniferous forest 26%, perennial cropland and pasture 18%, and grassland 14%, with minor wetland coverage at 0.66% (2,632 hectares). Livestock operations predominate in the central and northeastern reaches, with cattle density ranging from 0-0.20 head per hectare in southwestern grazing areas to 0.41-1.00 head per hectare in northeastern intensive operations.[rdrwa]​

Linear disturbances span the subwatershed extensively, totaling 11,284 kilometers in length and covering 139.7 square kilometers (3.5% of the subwatershed). Roads represent the dominant linear development (4,300 kilometers, 49% of linear disturbances), followed by pipelines (2,600 kilometers, 28%) and cutlines/trails (4,100 kilometers, 18%). A total of 421 bridges and culverts cross waterbodies throughout the subwatershed.[rdrwa]​

Oil and gas development remains moderate, with 2,710 total wells present in the subwatershed (1,682 active, primarily oil wells; 1,028 abandoned). Well density averages 0.68 wells per square kilometer, increasing to 10 wells per square kilometer near Innisfail and Bowden in the northeastern area.[rdrwa]​

Water Quality Status

Water quality monitoring indicates variable conditions across the subwatershed, reflecting land use pressures and natural variation. Total phosphorus concentrations in Fallentimber Creek remain generally below the Alberta Surface Water Quality Guideline (ASWQG) Potential Adverse Level (PAL) of 0.05 mg/L, whereas Graham Creek, Little Dogpound Creek, and the Little Red Deer River mainstream exceed PAL guidelines with mean concentrations of 0.066 mg/L, 0.148 mg/L, and 0.093 mg/L, respectively. These elevated nutrient levels reflect agricultural runoff, manure application, and municipal wastewater contributions.[rdrwa]​

Bacterial contamination remains a concern, with fecal coliform concentrations exceeding CCME (Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment) Agriculture/Irrigation guidelines (100 CFU/100 mL) in several waterbodies: Fallentimber Creek exhibits variable results, the Little Red Deer River shows 242 CFU/100 mL, and Beaverdam Creek recorded 330 CFU/100 mL. E. coli concentrations in the Little Red Deer River measured 231 CFU/100 mL, suggesting contamination from agricultural and livestock sources.[rdrwa]​

Pesticide residues remain within guideline ranges where standards exist; eleven different pesticides have been detected in the Little Red Deer River (including 2,4-D, MCPA, Aldicarb, Bromoxynil, and Triclopyr), and two in Dogpound Creek (2,4-D and MCPA). None exceeded CCME PAL guidelines; however, guidelines do not exist for four of the eleven detected compounds.[rdrwa]​

Biological Communities and Fishery Status

The Little Red Deer River supports stable fish populations centered on cold-water species including mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni), longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae), and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Electrofishing surveys conducted from 1978-2006 in the upper mainstem revealed stable populations with no significant changes. Associated tributaries support comparable assemblages: Dogpound Creek (white sucker, brown trout, longnose dace), Fallentimber Creek (brook trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish), Beaverdam Creek (longnose dace, white sucker, brook stickleback), and Big Prairie Creek (longnose dace, white sucker, lake chub, trout-perch).[rdrwa]​

Riparian health assessments indicate predominantly "healthy with problems" conditions along the Little Red Deer River, with recurring management issues including invasive plant species (noxious weeds and disturbance-caused herbaceous species), heavy grazing of woody vegetation, streambank instability and erosion, bare and compacted soils, and channel incisions. These conditions reflect free livestock access and inadequate woody plant regeneration. Some assessment sites (Cremona to downstream of Dogpound Creek confluence) rated as "unhealthy" due to severe weed pressure, low canopy cover, and high erosion susceptibility.[rdrwa]​

Historical and Cultural Significance

The name "Little Red Deer River" has been in use since the Palliser Expedition (1857-1860). The discovery of coal deposits in the early 1900s led to the establishment of the settlement of Skunk Hollow approximately 7 kilometers west of Water Valley. The river valley continues to serve cultural and recreational functions, with multiple provincial recreation areas, provincial parks, and wildlife sanctuaries positioned throughout the subwatershed, including Red Lodge Provincial Park (9,136 average annual visitors) and Harold Creek Road Corridor Wildlife Sanctuary.[en.wikipedia]​

Current Status and Management Considerations

The Little Red Deer River subwatershed receives a "B" rating (fair condition, low risk) in integrated watershed assessments, reflecting stable fishery populations and generally healthy riparian conditions in some reaches, offset by nutrient enrichment, bacterial contamination in some areas, and moderate riparian degradation associated with livestock access and invasive species. Water quality monitoring remains a priority, particularly for nutrients, bacteria, pesticides, and potential parasites (for which no baseline data exist). Riparian restoration through fencing, off-site livestock water sources, and native vegetation planting represents an ongoing management approach. The river's position south of Gleniffer Lake Reservoir and role as a significant tributary to the Red Deer River underscore its importance to regional water security and ecosystem health.[rdrwa]​