Englishman River (B.C.)

Englishman River (Halkomelem: K̓wal̓uxw) is a river in the eastern side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It starts on the eastern slopes of the Beaufort Range, originating from tiny Jewel Lake and flowing in an easterly direction for 40 km (25 mi), entering the Strait of Georgia at Parksville, British Columbia. It is an important watershed providing habitat for various species of salmon and community water to the residents of Parksville and surrounding area. The Englishman River watershed includes Arrowsmith Lake, Hidden Lake, Fishtail Lake, Rowbotham Lake, Healy Lake, Shelton Lake, and Rhododendron Lake. Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is a popular tourist destination approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) upstream from the mouth of the river. It is famed for its two picturesque waterfalls and treed campsites. The park was created on December 20, 1940, in an effort to protect the old-growth forest and its associated ecosystem along the river in the vicinity of the waterfalls. A dammed reservoir on the Englishman is a source of water for Parksville, British Columbia.