A camp was built on the upper river and logging operations began at Tumtum Lake . The cut logs was run down the river , then towed in booms by the company owned sternwheeler Helen down Adams Lake . The logs then was run down the Lower river to the mill at Chase . In 1908 , Adams River Logging constructed a " splash dam " at the outlet of the Lower Adams . This dam allowed operators to raise the water level of Adams Lake . When sufficient logs had been collected above the dam , the gates was opened and the resulting flood carried the logs to Shuswap Lake . This proved to be destructive to the salmon run as it damaged the gravel bed the fish use to spawn .