The Lewis River Hydroelectric Projects - PacifiCorp

Speelyai Park—Local Welcome Sign
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Speelyai Park
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Speelyai Park
Welcome to Speelyai Bay. This day-use park, and the salmon hatchery
next door, are owned and operated by the power company PacifiCorp,
which provides public recreation opportunities and protects fish and
wildlife along the reservoirs of the Lewis River.
This small cove is a great place to access Merwin Reservoir. Merwin
stretches 14.5 miles through the scenic Lewis River Valley. Launch your
boat here for a trip out on the lake, or stay at the park for a picnic or a
swim.
Sidebar:
The blast of a steamboat whistle... the roar of falling water... the shouts of
eager fishermen... During pioneer days, Speelyai Creek was a busy place,
where homesteaders, fishermen, and travelers converged.
Speelyai Bay is formed by a narrow canyon through which Speelyai
Creek once flowed toward the Lewis River. The mouth of the bay marks
the site of a tall waterfall—at the base of which Indian fishermen and
pioneers alike congregated to fish for salmon and smelt. In the late 1800s
and early 1900s, during salmon season, local homesteaders would
sometimes bring their wagons to Speelyai Falls, pitch-forking hundreds
of pounds of the valuable fish into the beds to be hauled home and
canned for the winter.
Sidebar
Captions:
Below Speelyai Falls, the creek joined the Lewis River. This point marked
the farthest upstream extent of regular steamboat travel on the Lewis.
Only two vessels ventured above narrow, rocky “Shirt-Tail Canyon”,
which lies just below the present-day Merwin Dam, to land at Speelyai
Creek. The Etna, which served from 1906 to 1919, and the Speilei, which
served from 1907 to 1940, were wood-burning sternwheelers. Both served
primarily the logging industry, carrying supplies for the camps, rails, and
equipment—but both also carried passengers and local freight.
Image of Coyote
The name “Speelyai” is said to come from a Native American word for
Coyote, the Trickster.
Illustration of basket
Salmon from the Lewis and its tributaries was an important trade item in
the ancient Native American economy of the Columbia River. Because the
bodies of salmon change as they make their way upriver, fish caught at
different sites was valued for different purposes.
Photo or illustration
Appendix 1: panel profiles Lewis River Draft I&E Plan page 15