Similkameen River
The Similkameen River near Keremeos
The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia, Canada, eventually discharging into the Okanagan River near Oroville, Washington, in the United States.[1][2] The river is about 197 km (122 mi) long, with a drainage basin area of 7,600 km2 (2,900 sq mi).[3] The river is said to be named for an indigenous people called <Similkameigh>, meaning "treacherous waters".[4]
Contents
1 Course
2 Flow
3 Enloe Dam
4 International
5 Major tributaries
6 See also
7 References
Course
It starts on the east flank of Manning Park, about 10.3 km (6.4 mi) north of Allison Pass and flows past the settlements of East Gate, Princeton, Hedley, Keremeos, and Cawston, closely followed by Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway. About 25 km (16 mi) upstream from Princeton, the river drops over Similkameen Falls. Numerous viewpoints of the river occur from the highway, the most popular being Bromley Rock, where swimming in the river from a spectacular sandy beach is possible. In a typical Okanagan, BC summer, the water is warm and fantastic for swimming. It contributes 75% of the flow of the Okanogan River and crosses the international border at Nighthawk, Washington.
Flow
The United States Geological Survey maintains a stream gauge at river mile 15.8, just upstream from the Oroville–Tonasket Irrigation District canal intake. The river's discharge (flow) at this point averages 2,283 cubic feet per second (64.6 m3/s), with a recorded maximum of 45,800 cu ft/s (1,300 m3/s) and minimum of 65 cu ft/s (1.8 m3/s).[5]
Enloe Dam
The Enloe Dam, completed in 1920, is located just above the river's mouth.[6] The river, after flowing over the dam, drops over what is left of Coyote Falls. Lacking fish ladders, Enloe Dam blocks fish passage and completely extirpated anadromous fish migration into the upper reaches of the Similkameen River and its tributaries in Canada.[7]
International
Cliffs above the Similkameen near Nighthawk, Washington
The Similkameen River subject to international water-sharing agreements governed by the International Joint Commission as part of the Columbia Basin. The authority responsible for overseeing the IJC agreements is the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control, composed of appointees from Environment Canada, the BC Ministry of Water, Land Air Protection, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Geological Survey, and private consultants.[8]
Major tributaries
Pasayten River: Confluence is just above Similkameen Falls
Tulameen River: Enters at Princeton
Ashnola River: Meets the river 11 km west of Keremeos
See also
- List of British Columbia rivers
- List of Washington rivers
References
^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Similkameen River
^ "Similkameen River". BC Geographical Names..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Okanogan Subbasin Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
^ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 444. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
^ "Water resources data for the United States, Water Year 2010; gage 12442500, Similkameen River near Nighthawk, WA" (PDF). USGS. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-09-07.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
^ https://www.columbiana.org/pages/SimilkameenRiver.html
^ Annual Report to the International Joint Commission from the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control, 2004
Coordinates: 48°53′30″N 119°25′49″W / 48.89167°N 119.43028°W / 48.89167; -119.43028
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Similkameen River. |
