The Similkameen Country , also referred to as the Similkameen Valley or Similkameen District , but generally referred to simply as The Similkameen or more archaically, Similkameen , is a region roughly coinciding with the basin of the river of the same name in the Southern Interior of British Columbia . The term "Similkameen District" also refers to the Similkameen Mining District , a defunct government administrative district, which geographically encompasses the same area, and in more casual terms may also refer to the Similkameen electoral district , which was combined with the Grand Forks-Greenwood riding by the time of the 1966 election . The Similkameen Country has deep historical connections to the Boundary Country and the two are sometimes considered one region, partly as a result of the name of the electoral district. It is also sometimes classed as being part of the Okanagan region, which results from shared regional district and other administrative boundaries and names. The term "Similkameen District" may also historically refer to the Similkameen Division Yale Land District , which also includes Osoyoos and the Boundary Country to Osoyoos' east.
14-688: The name "Similkameen" is said to have originated from the Similkameigh indigenous people of the region, meaning "treacherous waters". Although the Similkameen River 's last few miles are in Washington state, only the British Columbia part of the river's basin is named "the Similkameen". The Similkameen is one of several historical regions of British Columbia whose foundations and settlement lay in
28-527: 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 m /s), with a recorded maximum of 45,800 cu ft/s (1,300 m /s) and minimum of 65 cu ft/s (1.8 m /s). The Enloe Dam , completed in 1920, is located just above the river's mouth. The river, after flowing over
42-561: A now-extinct language of Nicola-Similkameen, of the Athapascan languages, and is believed to mean "Salmon River." It starts at Nordheim Peak, 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,
56-616: Is a highway summit along the Crowsnest Highway in British Columbia , Canada. It is the highest point on the section of highway between the cities of Hope and Princeton . It is located in the middle of Manning Park , at the divide between the Skagit & Similkameen River drainages (and thus the watersheds of the Salish Sea and the Columbia River ), as well as on the boundary between
70-607: The Fraser Valley and Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Districts, approximately 12 km (7 mi) west of the Manning Resort and 54 km (34 mi) from Hope. The Skagit River originates at the pass while the Similkameen River originates just north of it. Cyclists and motorists alike find this stretch of road difficult because of the steep grades and high altitudes. On the way from Hope to Allison Pass, one must ascend
84-978: 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. 48°53′30″N 119°25′49″W / 48.89167°N 119.43028°W / 48.89167; -119.43028 Allison Pass Allison Pass (el. 1,342 m or 4,403 ft)
98-722: The Lower Similkameen Indian Band at Keremeos. The upper reaches of the Similkameen and its upper tributaries such as the Tulameen and Pasayten Rivers , however, were part of the traditional territory of the Nlaka'pamux and their subgroup the Scw'exmx . 49°13′00″N 119°58′00″W / 49.21667°N 119.96667°W / 49.21667; -119.96667 Similkameen River The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia , Canada, eventually discharging into
112-576: The Oblate Fathers at Okanagan Mission . Today, the area is seeing a burgeoning wine industry and a boom in sunbelt-oriented recreation housing and property development. The Similkameen Country is mostly in the traditional territory of the Similkameen subdivision of the Okanagan people or Syilx. There are two Indian Bands in the region, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band at Princeton and
126-576: The Okanagan River near Oroville, Washington , in the United States. Through the Okanagan River, it drains to the Columbia River . The river is said to be named for an indigenous people called Similkameigh , meaning "treacherous waters". The river is controversially dammed (the now-defunct Enloe Dam ), blocking fish passage to the upper (Canadian) reaches of the river. The first mention of
140-536: The Similkameen by a European was by Alexander Ross . While on a trading expedition, he travelled by way of the "Similkameigh River." Sir George Simpson used the name "Similkameigh" for one of the groups part of the Okanagan Nation . The transition from Similkameigh to Similkameen may have been inspired by the name of the Tulameen River despite being etymologically incorrect. The name Similkameigh comes from
154-539: 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. However, Coyote Falls is 20 feet tall thus making it impossible for salmon (who can only jump 12 feet) to migrate further than that point and would never reach the dam. The Similkameen River subject to international water-sharing agreements governed by
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#1732844676309168-606: The days of the Colony of British Columbia , and was one of the first areas of the province prospected as well as farmed and ranched. The area has seen a number of famous gold strikes and large mining operations, notably the Tulameen Gold Rush of the 1880s and 1890s and the Nickel Plate Mine at Hedley , but also including coal at Blakeburn and Coalmont , and copper at Allenby and Copper Mountain , all of these locations in
182-515: 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 . The United States Geological Survey maintains
196-522: The vicinity of Princeton . Orcharding and ranching are important to the Similkameen Country, with orcharding and ranching operations in the Keremeos first started by Bohemian immigrant Francis Xavier Richter in 1864. Richter's original 30 acres (120,000 m) of fruit trees at Keremeos Centre are considered to be one of the two foundations of BC's orcharding industry, the other being started by
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