[1][2] Damming the Lower Arrow Lake resulted in water rising 12 metres (39 ft) above natural levels.

(Journal of Emilius Simpson; HBC Archives' accession B223/a/3 1826 Folio 39D-41) Source: included with note "On our passage up the Columbia to the Boat Encampment, the Brigade had a spell and a smoke at this place.

(letter from Ranald Macdonald to Malcolm McLeod, 29 December 1890, held in Provincial Archives [accession details not cited on BC name card] ) Source: included with note In the days before Columbus was born, the 'Indians' of the west and east Kootenay were at continual strife.

It was customary for the west Kootenay Indians to winter along the southern Columbia and to ascend the stream every summer, to the lakes where hunting was good.

As the tribes in the Slocan were always on the alert for war, they had their scouts out on the Arrow Lakes to note when their enemies came up the river.

One summer the scouts returned from the [Arrow] Lakes with news that a particularly large force of warriors were going up the river.

On embarking from their canoes at Nakusp (the bay behind the long point) they noticed signs of a great storm having passed.

There were none to resist them, for the great storm had apparently come suddenly upon them and there was nothing left but a heaving mass of canoe wreckage and dead bodies.