Otter Lake is immediately north of Tulameen in the Similkameen region of south central British Columbia, Canada.[6] Accessed via Coalmont Rd, which borders the western shore, the northern tip is by road about 78 kilometres (48 mi) south of Merritt and the southern tip is about 27 kilometres (17 mi) northwest of Princeton.
| Otter Lake | |
|---|---|
  Otter Lake | |
| Location | Tulameen, British Columbia Canada |
| Coordinates | 49°34′42″N 120°45′59″W / 49.57833°N 120.76639°W |
| Primary inflows | Lockie Creek, Otter Creek |
| Primary outflows | Otter Creek |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 5 km (3 mi) |
| Surface area | 204 ha (504 acres) |
| Average depth | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Max. depth | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 13 km (8 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 786 m (2,579 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Profile
editOften called Tulameen Lake, the official name is Otter Lake, indicating the noticeable presence of otters.[7] The length is about 5 kilometres (3 mi).[8] The surface area is 203.8 hectares (503.6 acres)[9] and elevation is 786 metres (2,579 ft) above sea level. The mean depth is 14 metres (46 ft) and maximum depth is 26 metres (85 ft). The shoreline is 12.6 kilometres (7.8 mi).[10]
Fur trade and pioneer era
editThe earliest written mention of the lake was in the reports of Alexander Caulfield Anderson. While surveying possible Hudson's Bay Brigade Trail routes between the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) forts at Kamloops and Hope, he was welcomed by First Nations Chief Blackeye at the lake and his party served a carp dinner.[7][11]
Ice harvesting
editIn 1915, a 120-metre (400 ft) ice loading conveyor was installed at the lake. Handling up to 2,700 tonnes (3,000 short tons) a day, the conveyor could be used to load 16 boxcars simultaneously. Associated infrastructure included a bunkhouse, dining room, kitchen, engine room, and horse barn.[12] Each winter until 1925, 15-by-30-metre (50 by 100 ft) blocks of ice were cut from the lake to be used for refrigeration. Special Great Northern Railway (GN) trains ran at all hours to Oroville, Washington, from where the ice was distributed to GN facilities.[13] A single steam locomotive could haul the average 60-car trains because of the steady downhill grade to Oroville.[14] In 1921, the season volume peaked at 2,300 loaded boxcars. When modern refrigeration ended the need for such ice,[13] this infrastructure was dismantled in 1926.[15]
Fishing
editIn 1900, DeBarro and Thynne opened the Otter Flat Hotel at Otter Flat[16] primarily as a resort for fishing, hunting, and boating, on the lake.[17] In 1910, a 6-metre (21 ft) gasoline launch was placed upon the lake.[18]
In 1923, stocking of the lake with trout spawn began.[19] Nowadays, Summerland Trout Hatchery stocks the lake with rainbow trout fry to provide excellent sport fishing opportunities. Ice fishing is possible on the lake in wintertime.[20]
Camping and picnics
edit
In the early 1920s, John Hosey purchased a site on the lakeshore, cleared the underbrush, installed a cookhouse, picnic tables, changing stalls, boardwalk, and high diving tower, and opened a small refreshments store.[21] The venue soon proved popular with visitors[22] and improvements were added over the years.[23] In 1929, new owners took over this cabin and camping enterprise.[24]
Over subsequent decades, various organizations held picnics at the lake.[25] In recent decades, the Otter Lake Park has catered to picnics and camping. The smaller picnic and day-use area is at Tulameen and the lakeside campground in the main park is about 5 kilometres (3 mi) farther north along the road.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Otter Lake (lake), N.E. of Bridge Lake". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Otter Lake (lake), S.W. of Armstrong". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Otter Lake (lake), S. of Finger Lake". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Otter Lake (lake), N.W. of Herrick Creek". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Otter Lake (lake, N.W. of Bear Lake)". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Otter Lake (lake), expansion of Otter Creek". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ a b "Similkameen Star". library.ubc.ca. 1 Aug 1946. p. 2.
- ^ "Similkameen Valley". similkameenvalley.com.
- ^ "Otter Lake Fishing Map". www.gpsnauticalcharts.com.
- ^ "Details for Otter Lake". fishnbc.com.
- ^ Hatfield, Harley R. (1987). "Okanagan Historical Society: Old Trails of the Cascade Wilderness". library.ubc.ca: 25 (23).
- ^ "Similkameen Star". library.ubc.ca. 5 Nov 1915. p. 1.
- ^ a b Taylor, Dave (1985). "Okanagan Historical Society: From These Waters was Mined Glittering Wealth – In Ice". library.ubc.ca: 69 (63).
- ^ "Princeton Star". library.ubc.ca. 27 Jan 1922. p. 1.
- ^ "Princeton Star". library.ubc.ca. 13 May 1926. p. 2.
- ^ "Similkameen Star". library.ubc.ca. 28 Apr 1900. p. 1.
- ^ "Similkameen Star". library.ubc.ca. 2 Jun 1900. p. 4.
- ^ "Similkameen Star". library.ubc.ca. 21 Sep 1910. p. 1.
- ^ "Princeton Star". library.ubc.ca. 22 Jun 1923. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Otter Lake Park". bcparks.ca.
- ^ "Merritt Herald". arch.tnrl.ca. 31 Jul 1925. p. A1.
- ^ "Princeton Star". library.ubc.ca. 2 Nov 1923. p. 3.
- ^ "Merritt Herald". arch.tnrl.ca. 1 Jul 1927. p. A5.
"Princeton Star". library.ubc.ca. 21 Jun 1928. p. 2. - ^ "Princeton Star". library.ubc.ca. 23 May 1929. p. 5.
- ^ "Similkameen Star". library.ubc.ca. 20 Aug 1948. p. 1.
"Merritt Herald". arch.tnrl.ca. 26 Jul 1961. p. A7.