The ore minerals and materials found in the river basin are galena, gold, pyrite, scheelite, silver and sphalerite, and the primary commodities are tungsten, lead and zinc.

The Peoples of the Kotzebue Sound and its adjoining rivers speak a variation of the Iñupiaq Language and identify as Eskimo.

Its origin is in a low ridge that divides the Kiwalik catchment, flows for a length of about 70 miles (110 km) in a northerly direction, and finally debouches into Spafarief Bay; this bay protrudes from the Kotzebue Sound in a southeasterly direction.

Another important stream, which provides for water supply needs of the town, is the Glacier Creek which originates from the eastern slope of Monument Mountain, which is the highest peak in the Fairhaven district.

[2] Another stream joining the Kiwalik, about 2 miles (3.2 km) above the mouth of Glacier Creek, is the Gold Run.

It is also reported that Candle Creek, which has a catchment area of 60 square miles (160 km2) at the mouth, goes dry during the lean season.

[2] From the eastern part of the Kiwalik River basin, the streams emanating from the east are the Quartz and Hunter creeks.

The hill slopes are steep and precipitation drains out fast over the river bed which consists of loose gravel.

Hence, the Candle-Alaska Hydraulic Gold Mining Company excavated a ditch (an unlined canal), in 1907, to collect water from Glacier and Dome creeks, and to convey it to a location near Candle to facilitate mining the gold-bearing gravels of Candle Creek.