british_columbia tributary thompson british_columbia canada beginning north flows mainly southward eventually reaches lower adams river begins southern end lake flows extreme western end lake river important salmon breeding areas north_america run occurs mid october bring millions fish concentrated area near river mouth excavations villages river shown long tradition salmon fishing area river served important transportation route early logging operations watershed course adams unnamed glaciers roughly metres elevation north east region upper portion river flows roughly south southwest wetlands passes small lakes sections flows flow drops metres kilometre certain sections travelling kilometres entering highland enters northern end roughly kilometres north south axis reaches maximum depth metres making 24th deepest lake world issues extreme southern end lake travels kilometres narrow valley lake near community adams lake drops metres elevation tributaries tributaries upper adams include oliver creek creek sunset creek fisher creek adams lake lower adams fed creek river gold creek history people lived valley study provincial government lower river found sites evidence dating bce abundance salmon run river important food source trade nations people region records people area formed sub group called known adams lake indian band moved summer winter camps outlet lower river area near chase river namesake chief baptized adam missionaries leader 1860s like people died smallpox epidemic travelled region 1800s large scale activity river valley europeans logging experienced established licensed large tracts timber upper lower rivers surrounding plateau company described major industrial operation camp built upper river logging operations began cut logs run river towed company owned helen logs run lower river mill chase logging constructed splash dam outlet lower adams dam allowed operators raise water level sufficient logs collected dam gates opened resulting flood carried logs lake proved destructive salmon run damaged gravel beds fish use spawn order logs plateau lower river constructed elevated wooden filled water floated logs valley largest bear creek incorporated metres high capable moving metres logs month largest north_america peak structures dismantled areas logged logging continues region adams longer log transport ecology flora ecology watershed affected forestry considered phase river travels different vegetation zones upper reaches adams flows interior cedar zone forests similar coastal forests british_columbia contain old growth trees years age old growth stands river contain rare species likely isolated ice age contains wetland species deciduous trees black dense layer shrubs including black red lower river dominated drier interior vegetation zone species present pine spruce alpine fir area river mouth altered human activities farming livestock grazing fauna salmon travel spawning grounds enter pacific georgia spend years open ocean following arctic currents alaska islands route adams completing round trip kilometres complete trip upstream including navigating swift waters seventeen days eat period instead rely fat reserves stored heavy feeding late summer point salmon distinctive red male fish developing large backs aggressive hooked mouths able navigate river fully understood highly developed system believed play gravel deposits form adams river ideal development salmon temperature neutral water suited lake river called nursery lake high concentration food source young salmon dominant runs run occurs year fourth year called dominant year numbers higher recent dominant run according canada oceans run largest numbering estimated million fish fish returned spawn clear consensus adams stock rebounded remarkably saw estimated return fish globe_and_mail simon biologist said predicting salmon numbers massively complex scientist fauna valley supports large populations deer smaller white tail deer black bears common watershed bear population grows substantially fall gather adjacent valleys feed spawning salmon upper river valley common river contain bear habitat species aquatic mammals found river including beaver river river mouth populations canada include green winged river supports bald eagle populations seen high black dead conifers especially numerous valley protected areas adams passes provides trails platforms salmon viewing human visitors provincial park estimated canadian writer member
Adams River (British Columbia)