Incomappleux River

The Incomappleux River is a major tributary of the Columbia River in British Columbia, Canada, entering that river via the Beaton Arm of Upper Arrow Lake. The upper reaches of the river valley are home to a portion of the only inland temperate rainforest in the world.

Incomappleux River
The inland temperate rainforest of the Incomappleux River Valley
Location in British Columbia
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Physical characteristics
SourceIllecillewaet Neve
 • locationSelkirk Mountains
MouthColumbia River
 • location
Upper Arrow Lake
 • coordinates
50°45′N 117°43′W[1]
Basin size1,020 km2 (390 sq mi)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationnear Beaton[2]
 • average55.8 m3/s (1,970 cu ft/s)[2]
 • minimum4.76 m3/s (168 cu ft/s)
 • maximum570 m3/s (20,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionIncomappleux Valley

First Nations

The name "Incomappleux" is derived from the Okanagan word nk'mapeleqs, meaning "point at end (of lake)". This refers to the northeastern tip of Upper Arrow Lake into which the Incomappleux River empties. The names of the creek and adjacent mountain are also derived from this word. A Sinixt village by this name formerly existed somewhere in the confluence area.[3]

European settlement

Early explorers referred to the valley and river as various English spellings of the word, but Fish River was also used.[3] The pioneer towns of Arrowhead, Beaton, Camborne, Circle City, and Comaplix were in the Beaton Arm area. The mines Eva, Oyster, Meridian, Silver Dollar and others were rich in silver lead ore.

Course

The river's course is nearly due south from its origin in the Selkirk Mountains at the southwest toe of the Illecillewaet Neve on Mount Bonney, which is on the south side of the Rogers Pass and is also the source of the Illecillewaet River. This wild outfall is amid large cedars, hemlock, devil's club and bears. Pope and Talbot owned the timber lease, and wanted to cut the prime cedar, there being a grove of spectacular thousand year old cedar in the area. P and T have since gone bankrupt and the road through the canyon by river has washed out.

See also

References
  1. "Incomappleux River". BC Geographical Names.
  2. "Archived Hydrometric Data Search". Water Survey of Canada. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2008. Search for Station 08NE001 Incomappleux River near Beaton
  3. "Nelson Star, 1 Dec 2013". www.nelsonstar.com.


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