Adams River (British Columbia)

Adams River
The Lower Adams during the salmon run
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Location
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Land District	Kamloops Division Yale
Region	Interior
Physical characteristics
Source	Monashee Range
• location	British Columbia, Canada
Mouth
• location	Shuswap Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Length	177 km (110 mi) (includes Adams Lake)
Basin size	2,860 km2 (1,100 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	Shuswap Lake[1]
• minimum	15 m3/s (530 cu ft/s)
• maximum	386–473 m3/s (13,600–16,700 cu ft/s)

Adams River is a tributary to the Thompson and Fraser Rivers in British Columbia, Canada. Beginning in the Monashee Mountains to the north, the Upper Adams River flows mainly southward and eventually reaches Adams Lake. The Lower Adams River begins at the southern end of the lake and flows into the extreme western end of Shuswap Lake. The river is one of the most important sockeye salmon breeding areas in North America. The run occurs in mid-October and can bring millions of fish to a concentrated area near the river mouth. Excavations of Secwepemc villages on the river have shown a long tradition of habitation and salmon fishing in the area. The river also served as an important transportation route for early logging operations in the watershed.