Adams River (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adams River |
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The Lower Adams during the salmon run
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Interior |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Monashee Range British Columbia, Canada |
| River mouth | Shuswap Lake, British Columbia, Canada |
| Length | 177 km (110 mi)(includes Adams Lake) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,860 km2 (1,100 sq mi) |
The Adams River is a river in British Columbia, Canada. It flows into the Thompson River and then the Fraser River. The river starts in the Monashee Mountains in the north. The Upper Adams River flows south into Adams Lake. The Lower Adams River then flows from the lake's south end into Shuswap Lake.
This river is super important for sockeye salmon. It's one of the biggest breeding spots in North America. Every October, millions of salmon return here to lay their eggs. People have lived along the Adams River for a very long time. Old villages of the Secwépemc people show they have always fished for salmon here. The river was also used to transport logs in the past.
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Where Does the Adams River Flow?
The Adams River starts high up in the Monashee Mountains. It begins from glaciers about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) high. The upper part of the river flows mostly south. It goes through wetlands and two small lakes, Tumtum and Mica. This part of the river has fast-moving sections and waterfalls. In some places, it drops 5 metres (16 ft) for every kilometer it flows. After about 94 kilometres (58 mi), it reaches the north end of Adams Lake.
Adams Lake is a long lake, about 72 kilometres (45 mi) from north to south. It's also very deep, reaching 457 metres (1,499 ft). This makes it one of the deepest lakes in the world! The Lower Adams River starts at the very south end of Adams Lake. It flows for 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) through a narrow valley. Finally, it empties into Shuswap Lake near the town of Squilax. From Adams Lake to Shuswap Lake, the Lower Adams drops 60 metres (200 ft) in height.
Rivers and Streams Joining the Adams
Many smaller streams and rivers flow into the Adams River and Adams Lake. These are called tributaries.
Tributaries of the Upper Adams River include:
- Oliver Creek
- Dudgeon Creek
- Sunset Creek
- Fisher Creek
Adams Lake and the Lower Adams River get water from:
- Cayenne Creek
- Sinmax Creek
- Momich River
- Hiuihill (Bear) Creek
- Nikwikwaia (Gold) Creek
A Look Back: History of the Adams River
The Secwepemc People
The Secwépemc people have lived in the Adams River valley for thousands of years. A study in 1977 found 66 old village sites along the lower river. Some of these sites date back to 2000 BCE. The huge number of salmon made the river a vital food source. It was also important for trading with other First Nations groups.
An expert named James Teit wrote that the Secwepemc people of this area were called the "Sxste'lln." Today, they are known as the Adams Lake Indian Band. The Sxste'lln people moved between summer and winter camps. Their camps were at the mouth of the lower river and near the Little River area. The river is named after Chief Sel-howt-ken. He was a Sxste'lln leader in the 1860s. Missionaries gave him the name Adam. Sadly, he and over 200 of his people died in a smallpox outbreak in 1862.
Logging the Adams River
Even though explorers and trappers visited the area in the 1800s, the first big industry here was logging. J.P. McGoldrick, a lumber expert, started the Adams River Lumber Company in 1909. His company got rights to cut down many trees along both the Upper and Lower Adams rivers. This company was the first major industrial business in the British Columbia Interior.
Loggers built a camp on the upper river and started cutting trees near Tumtum Lake. The cut logs were floated down the river. Then, a company boat called the Helen towed them in large groups across Adams Lake. From there, the logs floated down the Lower Adams River to a mill in Chase.
In 1908, the logging company built a "splash dam" at the start of the Lower Adams. This dam allowed them to raise the water level of Adams Lake. When enough logs were gathered, they opened the dam gates. The rush of water carried the logs into Shuswap Lake. However, this was very bad for the salmon. It damaged the gravel beds where the fish lay their eggs.
To move logs from the high ground above the Lower river, the company built "flumes." Flumes were raised wooden channels filled with water. Logs would float down these channels to the valley floor. The biggest flume was at Bear Creek. It had tall supports, up to 25 metres (82 ft) high. This flume could move 3,000,000 metres (9,800,000 ft) of logs each month. It was the largest flume in North America at its busiest time. Once all the trees were cut, these structures were taken apart.
Logging still happens in the area today. But the Adams River is no longer used to transport logs.
Nature and Wildlife of the Adams River
Plants and Trees
Wildfires and logging have changed much of the plant life in the Adams River area. The river flows through different types of forests. In its upper parts, you'll find Interior Cedar Hemlock forests. These forests are like the coastal forests of British Columbia. They have very old trees, some up to 1000 years old. These old forests also have rare types of lichen.
The flat, wet areas along the Upper Adams River have deciduous trees like black cottonwood. They also have many shrubs like black twinberry, red-osier dogwood, and thimbleberry. The lower river area is drier. Here, you'll see Douglas fir trees. Other cone-bearing trees include Ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce, and alpine fir. Near the river's mouth, human activities like farming have changed the natural plant life.
Amazing Animals
The Sockeye Salmon Journey
Adams River sockeye salmon have an incredible journey! They start from their spawning grounds in the Adams River. Then they swim to the South Thompson River, into the Fraser River, and out to the Pacific Ocean. They spend three years in the ocean, traveling all the way to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Then, they swim all the way back to the Adams River. This round trip is over 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) long!
They swim upstream, even through the fast waters of the Fraser Canyon, in just 17 days. They don't eat during this time. Instead, they use fat they stored up from eating a lot in the Strait of Georgia. This is when the salmon turn bright red. Male salmon also grow big humps on their backs and hooked mouths. Scientists don't fully understand how they find their way back to their home river. But they think a very strong sense of smell helps them.
The gravel at the bottom of the Adams River is perfect for salmon eggs and young fish (alevins). The water temperature and its neutral pH level are also just right for sockeye. Shuswap Lake, below the river, is called a "nursery lake" by scientists. This is because it has a lot of tiny plankton, which young salmon eat.
The Big Salmon Runs
The Adams River salmon run happens every year. But every fourth year, called a "dominant" year, the number of salmon is much, much higher. 2018 was the most recent dominant run. In 2010, the Fraser River sockeye run was the biggest since 1913. About 34 million fish returned! At least 3,866,000 of these fish came back to the Adams River to lay their eggs.
It's not clear why the Adams salmon numbers have grown so much. For example, in 1991, only about 718 fish returned. A biologist named John Reynolds said that predicting salmon numbers is "massively complex, even for a scientist."
Other Animals in the Valley
The Adams River valley is home to many animals. There are large groups of mule deer and smaller groups of white-tail deer. Black bears are common here. Their numbers grow a lot in the fall. They come from other valleys to eat the spawning salmon. In the upper river valley, you can find moose. The river's source also has grizzly bear habitat.
Several water-loving mammals live on the river. These include beaver, mink, and river otter.
Near the river's mouth, you'll see Canada geese and swans. Other water birds include mallards, green-winged teal, and goldeneye. The river also has Bald eagles and osprey. You can often see their large nests high up in tall trees. Grouse, especially ruffed grouse, are found throughout the valley.
Protected Areas
The Adams River flows through two important parks. One is the 5,733-hectare Upper Adams River Provincial Park. The other is the 1,076-hectare Tsútswecw Provincial Park. Tsútswecw Park has trails and viewing platforms where you can watch the salmon. In 2010, about 160,000 people visited Tsútswecw Provincial Park. A lot of the conservation work in this area is thanks to Roderick Haig-Brown. He was a Canadian conservationist and writer.
See Also
