Adams River (British Columbia)

of the Adams River The headwaters of the Adams are several unnamed glaciers at roughly elevation in the northern region of the Monashee Range of the Columbia Mountains. The upper portion of the river flows roughly south and southwest through wetlands and passes through two small lakes, Tumtum and Mica. It has sections of rapids and whitewater, and flows over cataracts below Tumtum Lake. Its flow drops by per kilometre in certain sections. After travelling for and entering the Shuswap Highland, it enters the northern end of Adams Lake. Adams Lake is roughly along its north–south axis, and reaches a maximum depth of , making it the 24th deepest lake in the world. The Lower Adams issues from the extreme southern end of the lake and travels through a narrow valley. It empties into Shuswap Lake near the community of Squilax. From Adams Lake to the Shuswap, the Lower Adams drops in elevation. Tributaries Tributaries of the Upper Adams include: • Oliver Creek • Dudgeon Creek • Sunset Creek • Fisher Creek Adams Lake and the Lower Adams are fed by: • Cayenne Creek • Sinmax Creek • Momich River • Hiuihill (Bear) Creek • Nikwikwaia (Gold) Creek ==History==

Secwepemc The Secwepemc people have lived in the Adams River valley for millennia. A 1977 study by the provincial government along the lower river found sixty-six sites with evidence of habitation dating to 2000 BCE. The abundance of the salmon run made the river an important food source and trade commodity for First Nations people in the region. Like more than 200 of his people, he died in the 1862 smallpox epidemic. Adams River Lumber Company Although prospectors, surveyors, and trappers had travelled the region in the 1800s, the first large scale activity in the river valley by Europeans was logging. J.P. McGoldrick, an experienced lumberman from Spokane, established the Adams River Lumber Company in 1909. He licensed large tracts of timber along both the Upper and Lower rivers, as well as the surrounding plateau. McGoldrick's company is described as the first major industrial operation in the British Columbia Interior. This dam allowed operators to raise the water level of Adams Lake. When sufficient logs had been collected above the dam, the gates were opened and the resulting flood carried the logs to Shuswap Lake. This proved to be destructive to the salmon run as it damaged the gravel beds the fish use to spawn. Bush Creek East fire In August of 2023, the lower reaches of the river were heavily impacted by the Bush Creek East wildfire. The fire destroyed forests from Hiuhill Creek southwards into Tsútswecw Provincial Park, affecting over 80% of the park's area. ==Ecology==

on the Upper Adams, 1910 Flora Much of the ecology of the watershed has been affected by wildfires and forestry, and is considered to be in a seral phase. At least 3,866,000 of these fish returned to the Adams River to spawn. There is no clear consensus as to why the Adams stock has rebounded so remarkably (1991 saw an estimated return of 718 fish). In the Globe and Mail, Simon Fraser University biologist John Reynolds said "[predicting salmon numbers] is massively complex, even for a scientist." Other fauna The Adams River valley supports large populations of mule deer, and black-tailed deer, with smaller herds of white-tail deer. Black bears are common in the watershed. The bear population and the Grey Wolf population grows substantially during the fall as they gather from adjacent valleys to feed on the spawning salmon. In the upper river valley, moose are common, and the headwaters of the river contain grizzly bear habitat. Several species of aquatic mammals are found on the river, including beaver, mink, and river otter. The river's mouth has populations of Canada geese and swans. Other waterfowl include mallards, green-winged teal, and goldeneye. The river supports Bald eagle and osprey populations, whose eyries can be seen high up in black cottonwood and dead conifers. Grouse, especially ruffed grouse, are numerous throughout the valley. ==Protected areas==

The Adams passes through the 5,733 hectare Upper Adams River Provincial Park and the 1,076 hectare Tsútswecw Provincial Park, which provides trails and platforms for salmon viewing. Human visitors to Tsútswecw Provincial Park were estimated at 160,000 in 2010. Conservation in the watershed owes much to Roderick Haig-Brown, a Canadian conservationist, writer and a member of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission. ==See also==