Hydrotopography

aka "Rivers."

Style and Grade

Rivers can be broadly categorized by their normal flow rates, usually listed in cms (cubic meters per second).

Creeks (~ 2-20 cms): The Koksilah (near Mill Bay) is at lower flows (< 20 cms) quite creeky in character.
Rivers (~ 30-70 cms):
Big-water ( > 100 cms):

The shape of the river bed

Rivers can also be categorized as pool-drop or continuous. With pool-drop, rapids typically have stretches of (relatively-speaking) barely moving water in-between defined rapids. All Vancouver Island rivers are pool-drop. Continuous rapid rivers, such as the Chiliwack Canyon, are essentially full-on, the whole way, which adds to the difficultly as there is no opportunity to recover swimmers and gear in a pool.

There are

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. Generally considered lethal, at least until someone runs it and makes it look easy.

Rapid Features

River Hazards

River Beta Resources

PaddlingMaps.com: Provides basic instructions on how to to the put-in and take-out but

Some island paddlers are in the process of preparing a guidebook.