The ecological history of Salmon Arm reflects a shifting relationship between humans and the environment. The region has undergone significant ecological transformations since colonization, but still remains very connected to Shuswap Lake and the Salmon River. Located on a bay where the Salmon River empties into Shuswap Lake, Salmon Arm is a highlight in British Columbia’s Thompson Okanagan region. It is surrounded on all sides by mountains; Mount Ida to the south, Fly Hills to the west, and Bastion Mountain north across the lake (Salmon Arm – British Columbia Travel and Adventure Vacations, 2012) 

Salmon Arm sits on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwepemc people. Shuswap Lake was named after the Shuswap Indigenous people who lived “a semi-nomadic life as fisherman and hunters on the south-facing sites and in the more arid and open region of the South Thompson” (Hobson, 2009) . Similar to modern day, Shuswap Lake has historically been the heart of the region. The bounty of the lake provided for the Secwepec people for thousands of years. Secwepemec territory spans 180,000 square kilometers, and the Secwepemc people have occupied their territory for over 10,000 years (Secwepémc Landmarks Project, 2021).

The Indigenous word for Salmon Arm comes from the Secwepemc word “Shi-whots-i-matl” meaning “many Shepherdia berries”. This is an ecological reference to the bitter berries found in BC’s interior, which Indigenous communities usually combined with sweeter berries to consume (Dawson, 1891). The Secwepemc people sustained themselves on local plants and animals. One native root which was chiefly sought after was the lily. Other roots commonly found and consumed include balsamorhiza, the cinquefoil, the camass, and the wild onion. Various common lichens and berries were also important parts of Indigenous peoples diets and the ecology of the region. These plants are still present in many areas across the Secwepemc territory today.

The environment of the Shuswap Lake has changed over time. While once the salmon in this area were incredibly abundant, they have faced a number of pressures from human climate change.  Salmon Arm gets its name from the large runs of salmon that used to run up the creeks and empty into the lake, now some Chinook, Sockeye, and Steelhead salmon have now been assessed as being in poor or endangered condition (Where We Work – Thompson Shuswap Salmon Collaboration, 2026). Invasive species have also become a concern for the lake; eurasian milfoil can disrupt aquatic ecosystems by interfering with native vegetation, and it can also affect recreational use of the lake. 

While Indigenous communities relied on a sustainable relationship with the land for thousands of years, European settlement altered the ecological balance of the region. Early development in Salmon Arm eventually began with small Hudson Bay outposts, and the area thoroughly opened up when the Canadian Pacific Railway was built in 1885. Salmon Arm was not an easy place to settle in its early days. It was an area which was densely treed with cedar and cottonwood, and was laden with mosquitoes in the summer (Cooperman, 2018b). Salmon Arm did have an advantage of having a greater annual rainfall than other areas in the Okanagan and Thompson regions, which meant that irrigation was not necessary. Mills were established in 1887 to process the logs cleared from the land; which quickly led to a significant reduction in forested areas. The addition of the mill also affected the salmon habitats of the region. The annual spring log drive down the Salmon river scoured the salmon spawning beds (Cooperman, 2018b), disrupting the reproductive cycle of the salmon population and contributing to a decline in fish habitat quality. 

Early farmers to the area planted fruit trees, with the first apple trees planted in 1893, and Salmon Arm quickly began to attract attention as a fruit-growing city. Fruit growing increased in the area until 1946, and in 1949 the fruit industry was devastated because of the “big freeze”, which killed many of the fruit trees, and led to a lack of fruit and the eventual closing of the packing house. By that time, many farmers in the area had turned to mixed farming and to dairying due to inconsistent weather, and butter production plants were built within the town (Hobson, 2009). The neighborhood in which my house is built on was once a fruit orchard; however economical decisions lead to the orchard being removed and replaced with residential dwellings instead. This transition is evidence of patterns of urban sprawl, where agricultural landscapes are commonly converted into suburban developments. 

As industrialization and urban development transformed the region’s environment, many community organizations stepped forward to help protect its ecosystems. Great care has been taken to support Salmon Arm’s waterfront area, where “the shallow estuary of Salmon River nourishes first-year salmon, supports threatened species like Western Grebe, and provides critical mudflat habitat for thousands of migrating shorebirds each year” (Salmon, 2019) . Through the Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society (SABNES), many projects have been completed in attempts to protect sensitive bird breeding areas and to protect the shoreline and its vital habitats. We also have great environmental activism in the community, with societies like Shuswap Environmental Action Society an example of one which has worked to develop a sustainable stewardship plan and to help advocate for improvements to forestry practices, promoting wildlife conservation and push for land use planning (Cooperman, 2018a).

The Shuswap Food Action Society is just one example of an organization working to promote sustainable food systems within the community. It has facilitated numerous community gardens and works to engage new learners through teaching gardens. The organization helps build, grow, and harvest numerous community gardens, helping to strengthen food security and help reconnect citizens with the land. Produce that is grown in these gardens is donated to local food banks, showing how environmental stewardship can also support community wellbeing (Home – Shuswap Food Action Society, 2024). 

The ecological history of Salmon Arm has shifted significantly as Europeans colonized the area. Logging and agriculture altered the landscape, and continue to threaten delicate species and important fishing habitats. The future of Salmon Arm’s ecology will likely depend on continued conservation and environmental stewardship. 

References

Cooperman, J. (2018a). 25 years of environmental activism – Shuswap Passion. Shuswap Passion. https://shuswappassion.ca/environment/25-years-of-environmental-activism/

Cooperman, J. (2018b). Salmon Arm’s history of cooperation and community – Shuswap Passion. Shuswappassion.ca. https://shuswappassion.ca/history/salmon-arms-history-of-cooperation-and-community/

Dawson, G. M. (1891). Notes on the Shuswap People of British Columbia. Dawson Bros.

Hobson, R. (2009). Salmon Arm Heritage Strategic Plan.

Home – Shuswap Food Action Society. (2024, May 10). Shuswap Food Action Society. https://shuswapfood.ca/

Salmon Arm – British Columbia Travel and Adventure Vacations. (2012, December 18). British Columbia Travel and Adventure Vacations. https://britishcolumbia.com/plan-your-trip/regions-and-towns/thompson-okanagan/salmon-arm/)

Salmon, P. (2019). SABNES. SABNES. https://www.sabnes.org/about-sabnes

Secwepémc Landmarks Project. (2021). Shuswap Trails. https://shuswaptrails.com/points/

Where we work – Thompson Shuswap Salmon Collaboration. (2026). Thompson Shuswap Salmon Collaboration. https://www.thompsonshuswapsalmon.org/about-us/where-we-work.htm