A Mineral Lake in the Heart of Washington

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A Mineral Lake in the Heart of Washington

Nestled beneath majestic basalt cliffs and rim rock slopes at the southern end of the lower Grand Coulee in Eastern Washington is a tiny inland sea noted for its mineral rich water and creamy black mud.

At the turn of the last century, Soap Lake was one of the most well known mineral spas in the country. Before the development of sulfa drugs and penicillin, Soap...

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Whose on First with the Name?

Submitted by Kathy Kiefer on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 7:29pm

354

To the Committee on Washington State Geographic names:

My name is Kathy Kiefer.  I am an anthropologist (CWU 1998), a filmmaker and a writer. I worked for twenty years with Grant County Public Utility District; ten years as a liaison between the Wanapum Indians and the Utility, with the last ten years in communications and public affairs.

I am enclosing, for the committee to do with as they wish, two DVDs with this letter. One is a documentary about Soap Lake. The other is a recording of a heartfelt speech presented to the people of Soap Lake at the Spirit of Soap Lake statue ceremony on June 26, 2010 by Colville Tribal member Barbara Aripa. In the speech Mrs. Aripa talks about the historic relationship between her ancestors and Soap Lake.

I am writing this letter in support of changing the name of the body of water called Soap Lake to Lake Smokiam.   The body of water called Soap Lake is a state treasure, if not a national treasure. There is no other body of water with the characteristics of this lake anywhere in the world. 

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