A large gold mine is located about 10 miles above the mouth 

 of the Similkameen River. A catch-basin designed to hold the 

 cyanide waste product has been long since filled, with a subsequent 

 overflow directly into the river. It was reported that samples of 

 river water taken as far as 9 miles downstream from the mine had 

 been found to contain a cyanide compound. The effects of this 

 waste product on fish in the stream have not been detennined. 

 However, Fish and Wildlive Service stream surveyors have recovered 

 several dead salmon near the mouth of the stream which had not 

 spawned and showed no signs of any external injuries. 



The 6 mile stream section from the mouth to the falls and 

 power plant supported a small run of chinook salmon prior to 

 1939, when trapping was begun at Rock Island Dam on the main 

 Columbia River. Some blueback salmon also attempted fomerly 

 to ascend the Similkameen. In 1936 about 500 bluebacks were 

 found in the stresim, all of them having died without spavming. 

 These fish may have been part of the run which normally ascends 

 the Okanogan to spawn above Lake Osoyoos. A few steelhead trout 

 have been observed in the lov/er section. Squawfish, suckers, white= 

 fish, Columbia River chubs, and carp are abundant. The stream has 

 been stocked several times below the dam with rainbow and eastern 

 brook trout, by the Washington State Game Commission. Local sports- 

 men blame the numerous predatory species and the high summer tem- 

 peratures for the poor results of these plantings. Since the cessation 

 of the fish trapping at Rock Island Dam in 1943 a few chinooks and 

 bluebacks again have entered the stream. 



The Similkameen is of little present value in the production of 

 salmon. However, it is of great potential value to chinook salmon 

 and steelhead trout, and possibly of some potential value to blue- 

 back salmon. The utilization of the full salmon production capacity 

 of the stream is primarily dependent on the providing of passage for 

 fish over existing barriers, the screening of diversions and the 

 elimination of pollution. 



18F.(1). Sinlahekin Rivero -- (Not surveyed) The Sinlahekin 

 River empties into Palmer Lake. The o\itlet from Palmer Lake is called 

 Palmer Creek, and flows for 2 miles from the lake to its confluence 

 with the Similkameen River at a point approximately 20 miles above 

 the mouth of the latter stream* 



Ifelmer Lake is about 5 miles long. It supports a population of 

 landlocked blueback salmon called silver trout, and some eastern 

 brook and rainbow trout, as well as rough fish. It has some potential 

 value to salmon as a possible rearing area for bluebacks. 



The Sinlahekin extends for approximately 27 miles above Palmer 

 Lake. It loses the grep ter part of its flow to unscreened irrigation 

 diversions during the simmer months. It was reported that the upper 

 part of the stream furnishes fair fishing for rAinbow and eastern brook 

 trout o 



96 



