The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia, eventually discharging into the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington in the United States.[1][2] The river is approximately 197 kilometres (122 mi) long, and its drainage basin is 7,600 square kilometres (2,900 sq mi) in area.[3]
It starts on the east flank of Manning Park, about 10.3 km north of Allison Pass and flows past the towns of Princeton, Hedley, Keremeos, and Cawston, closely followed by Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway. About 25 km upstream from Princeton the river drops over Similkameen Falls. There are numerous viewpoints of the river from the highway, the most popular being Bromley Rock, where it is possible to swim in the river from a spectacular sandy beach, although the water is very cold. It contributes 75% of the flow of the Okanogan River and crosses the international border at Nighthawk, Washington.
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Enloe Dam
The Enloe Dam, completed in 1905, is located just above the river's mouth.[4] The river, after flowing over the dam, drops over what is left of Coyote Falls.
An international river
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.[5]
Major Tributaries
- Pasayten River: Confluence is just above Similkameen Falls
- Tulameen River: Enters at Princeton
- Ashnola River: Meets the river 11 km east of Keremeos
See also
References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Similkameen River
- ^ *Similkameen River in the BC Geographical Names Information System
- ^ Okanogan Subbasin Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
- ^ http://www.columbia-institute.org/similkameen/enloe/dam.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
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