Nespelem River before the river empties into the Columbia River. This reach of the Columbia River is several miles below Grand Coulee Dam and many miles above Chief Joseph Dam. The impounded Columbia River behind Chief Joseph Dam, into which the Nespelem River flows, is called Rufus Woods Lake. Nespelem River The Nespelem River is a northern tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is completely contained within Okanogan County and the Colville Indian Reservation. The name "Nespelem" is said to come from the Indian word "nesilim", meaning "flat land". The Nespelem River originates in eastern Okanogan
Grand Coulee pumped from the Grand Coulee Dam, into Banks Lake to act as an Equalizing Reservoir and irrigation water source. Evidence of the waterfalls includes a plunge basin where the falls began, immediately south of Coulee City. It contains at least of gravel lower than the open flooring of the land. The river above the falls was shallow and much wider than the gorge. Thus, it wrapped around the lip of the main falls creating lateral falls. These flowed until the recession of the main falls denied them water. Northrup Canyon in Steamboat Rock State Park, contains a dry cataract as