Germansen River

In July 1870, James Germansen discovered gold on the creek/river.{{cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcbooks/1.0355314#p425z-4r0f:%22Germansen%22 |last=Howay |first=Frederic W. |pages=426–429 (266–267) |title=British Columbia from the earliest times to the present. Illustrated. Volume II |publisher=S.J. Clarke Publishing |year=1914 |website=library.ubc.ca}} The earliest newspaper mention of the creek name is October 1870.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-daily-standard-victoriadailysta/97621398 |page=3 |title=Victoria Daily Standard |date=31 Oct 1870 | website=www.newspapers.com}}

During the Omineca Gold Rush of the 1860s, James was known as Old Hogem, which gave the name to a mining camp on the Omineca River, where he charged exorbitant prices at his general store.{{cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcbooks/1.0222061#p24z-4r0f:%22Germansen%22 |last=Pattullo |first=Thomas Dufferin |page=24 (22) |title=Vanderhoof to Peace River, British Columbia, Canada |publisher=William H. Cullin |year=1920 |website=library.ubc.ca}} In 1868, he was the first to travel from that part of the interior to Fort Simpson.{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aRA1AQAAMAAJ&q=fort+simpson |last=Wessels |first=A |page=317 |title= Trailing and Camping in Alaska |publisher=University of Wisconsin |year=1910 |website=books.google.ca}}

The Germansen River is part of the Rocky Mountain Trench, where glacial and alluvial deposits make up riverbeds. Multiple till units in this river suggest that several oscillations of the ice front occurred in this region during the advance phase of the LGP.{{cite thesis | url=https://summit.sfu.ca/_flysystem/fedora/sfu_migrate/13650/etd7520_DSacco.pdf#page=42 |last=Sacco |first=David A. |page=42 (27) |title=Quaternary Geology in Part of the McLeod Lake Map-Area (NTS 093J), Central British Columbia |year=2012 |type=MSc |website=summit.sfu.ca}} Some of the low lying benches and bars possess no overlaying boulder clay, whereas other bedrock benches are overlain with up to {{convert|10|ft|m|0|order=flip}} of auriferous glacial gravels, topped by up to {{convert|75|ft|m|0|order=flip}} of boulder clay. Rock outcrops are greenschist, silicified sericite, thinly bedded argillites, and serpentinite.

The significant tributaries are the South Germansen River,{{BCGNIS|20675|South Germansen River (river)}} Horseshoe Creek, Little Slate Creek, Goodasany Creek{{BCGNIS|10308|Goodasany Creek (creek)}} (formerly Mill Creek), Ah Lock Creek,{{BCGNIS|389|Ah Lock Creek (creek)}} and Plug Hat Creek. The watershed of the river encompasses {{convert|22918|ha|acre}}.{{Cite web | url=https://www.canfor.com/documents/environmental/plans/mk_sfmp_annual_report_11_12_ver01.pdf#page=47 |pages=47–48 |title= Mackenzie Sustainable Forest Management Plan, 2011/12 Annual Report |website=www.canfor.com}}

For the most part, the valley is about {{convert|250|ft|m|0|order=flip}} deep and well timbered. The {{convert|2|mi|km|0|adj=on|order=flip}} southeasterly section downriver from the lake outlet is a wide valley in the mature stage of the cycle of erosion. The channel then turns sharply northeast to enter a rock canyon. Exiting the canyon, the river continues {{convert|4.5|mi|km|0|order=flip}}, before turning northwesterly to flow {{convert|13|km|mi|0}} to the mouth. After passing through another mature stage valley, a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|0|adj=on|order=flip}} canyon exists at Mill Creek. Beyond is the wide valley of the Omineca River.{{sfn|BC Gov|1937|p=6 (C4)}}

Cutting in parallel through separate high walled canyons, the Germansen and South Germansen rivers join after covering {{convert|1200|m|mi}} and {{convert|800|m|mi}} respectively.{{sfn|BC Gov|1937|p=6 (C4)}}

In the 1870s, a sawmill operated at the lower end of the canyon.

In 1934, a dirt road was built northward from Fort St. James, which divided nearby into northwestward to the canyon area and southeastward to Manson Creek.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1934-06-14-02 |page=2 |title=Prince George Citizen |date=14 Jun 1934 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}} The road was graded in 1939, in preparation for gravelling the next year.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1939-10-26-01 |page=1 |title=Prince George Citizen |date=26 Oct 1939 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}} A passenger transit service operated on the Fort St. James–Germansen Landing route during the early 1940s,{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-how-new-order-hits-bus/87007572 |page=10 |title=Vancouver Sun |date=12 Nov 1942 | website=www.newspapers.com}} mid-1950s,{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-but-back-in-the-old-d/145256532 |page=59 |title=Vancouver Sun |date=27 Nov 1954 | website=www.newspapers.com}} and around 2000.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-caledonia-courier-bus-service-needed/145258060 |page=7 |title=Caledonian Courier |date=29 Mar 2000 | website=www.newspapers.com}} No public transit provider currently exists in the area.

The shore length is {{convert|27|mi|km|0|order=flip}}, the surface area is about {{convert|4400|acre|ha|order=flip}},{{Cite web | url=https://www.gpsnauticalcharts.com/main/ca_bc_germansen_lake_154054-germansen-lake-nautical-chart.html |title=Germansen Lake Fishing Map |website=www.gpsnauticalcharts.com}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.anglersatlas.com/place/100210/germansen-lake |title=Germansen Lake |website=www.anglersatlas.com}} and the elevation is {{convert|3140|ft|m|0|order=flip}} above sea level. The Germansen Narrows (a.k.a. Gebhardt Arm) is at the western end of the lake.{{BCGNIS|21171|Gebhardt Arm (arm)}}

In 1949, the trail along the north side of the lake was upgraded to a road.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0342754#p250z-3r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=251 (A239) |title=Minister of Mines annual report, 1949 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

In 1956, the operator of an IH TD-18 drowned when his caterpillar plunged into the lake.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1956-07-23-10 |page=10 |title=Prince George Citizen |date=23 Jul 1956 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}

Four camping areas are found along the lakeshore, and Rainbow Cove (on the east side of the narrows) has a combination of open field sites and a few semi-private ones.{{Cite web | url=https://www.outdoorsy.com/guide/omineca-provincial-park-bc |title=Omineca Provincial Park RV Guide |website=www.outdoorsy.com}}

A passenger would pull the unattended log raft ferry by rope across the Germansen Narrows.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0064237#p99z-3r0f:%22raft%22 |page=F100 |title=Commissioner of Land and Works annual report, 1902 |website=library.ubc.ca}}{{cite book|last=Clapp |first=Frank A. |page=6 |title=Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Lake and River Ferries |publisher=Ministry of Transportation and Highways |year=1991 |isbn=0-7726-1364-8}} In some form or other, the ferry existed over many decades{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0308264#p98z-3r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=99 (I91) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1935–36 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0314091#p114z-3r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=115 (P107) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1939–40 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0320810#p113z-3r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=114 (O103) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1944–45 |website=library.ubc.ca}} at the western end of the lake.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0340109#p135z-4r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=136 (N118) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1947–48 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

In 1948–49, a large scow was placed on the lake to move mining equipment from the east to west end of the lake.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0340881#p37z-4r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=O38 |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1948–49 |website=library.ubc.ca}} About this time, a rock-filled crib replaced the narrows ferry, which in turn was replaced by a king truss bridge in 1954–55.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0348914#p63z-4r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=K64 |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1954–55 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

At one time, a bridge existed over the river at the lake outlet.{{cite report | url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/natural-resource-use/archaeology/forms-publications/aoa_-_mackenzie_tsa_-_archaeolgical_field_reconnaissance_-_report.pdf#page=50 |last1=Gibson |first1=T.H. |last2=Ramsay |first2=C. |last3=Low |first3=B. |page=50 (40) |title=The Mackenzie Timber Supply Area, Archaeological Overview Assessment Final Report |date=Dec 1997 |website=www2.gov.bc.ca}}

The reported mining earnings for the 1871 season were $400,000, which had fallen to $32,000 for the general area in 1875. By the next year, the mining district was almost deserted. Placer mining for gold has taken place almost continuously since that time by individuals and intermittently by companies. Some hard-rock mining has also occurred. Germansen Placers, established in 1931 and renamed as Germansen Mines in 1934, undertook hydraulic mining about {{convert|7|mi|km|0|order=flip}} from the river mouth until 1943. Flumes and a ditches supplied water from the South Germansen River.{{Cite web | url=https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/summary.aspx?minfilno=093N%20%20054 |title=Minfile No 093N 054 |website=minfile.gov.bc.ca}} Another account mentions the source as {{convert|2|mi|km|0|order=flip}} downstream from the lake, then along flumes over the South Germansen, before entering a ditch line excavated in 1901.{{sfn|BC Gov|1937|p=11 (C9)}}

Downstream and on Plughat Creek, Germansen Ventures, which operated 1937–1942, obtained water from the lake, {{convert|15|mi|km|0|order=flip}} away. During 1946–1961, various individuals worked these pits. Prior to 1950, the estimated gold production for the entire Germansen River system totalled {{convert|515851|to|750776|g|oz|0}}. In 1966, Grizzly Gold Mines operated a dredge on the river. In 2010, Westwing Enterprises conducted seismic surveys.

In 1871, a new town being constructed {{convert|3|mi|km|0|order=flip}} southeast from the river mouth was to be called Omineca.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/langley-advance-week-of-july-5-1871-om/145259783 |page=16 |title=Langley Advance |date=29 Jul 1971 | website=www.newspapers.com}} Instead, the place became known as Germansen. The 12–20 wooden cabins rested on the lower steep sides of the valley, which had been denuded by clearing, burning, and/or flushing.

By 1927, only one couple inhabited the place.

By 1937, a footbridge spanned the river just upstream.{{sfn|BC Gov|1937|p=6 (C4)}}

Germansen Landing lies at the confluence into the Omineca River.{{BCGNIS|6059|Germansen Landing (community)}}

From headwaters in the Germansen Range, the river flows northeastward to its mouth. The watershed is {{convert|18426|ha|acre}}.

Geological mapping was conducted on this river by Taiga Consultants in 1980 and Anaconda Canada Exploration in 1982. Angel Jade Mines surveyed hard-rock prospects in 2017.{{Cite web | url=https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/summary.aspx?minfilno=093N%20%20055 |title=Minfile No 093N 055 |website=minfile.gov.bc.ca}}

• Omineca Mining Division. 1924.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0225923#p119z-3r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=120 |title=Minister of Mines annual report, 1924 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
• Germansen River. 1936.{{sfn|BC Gov|1937|p=7 (C5)}}
• {{Cite web | url=https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~325740~90094661:1937-road-map-of-British-Columbia |title=Standard Oil BC map |year=1937 |website=www.davidrumsey.com}}
• Manson Creek Area. 1938.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0308754#p5z-3r0f:%22Germansen%22 |page=6 (C4) |title=Minister of Mines annual report, 1938 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
• {{Cite web | url=https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/workspace/handleMediaPlayer;JSESSIONID=83caf6bd-5c13-4a2d-8744-65fde1e6d603?lunaMediaId=RUMSEY~8~1~212315~5500350 |title=Shell BC map |year=1956 |website=www.davidrumsey.com}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0307323#p5z-3r0f:%22Germansen%22 |author=BC Gov |title=Minister of Mines annual report, 1936 |year=1937 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

Category:Rivers of the Omineca Mountains

Category:Omineca Country

Category:Mines in British Columbia