 The land that is now Omak had been inhabited by various Native American tribes before the arrival of non @-@ indigenous settlers in the early 19th century . The city began to develop after the completion of the Okanogan Irrigation Project affecting the Grand Coulee Dam and other nearby electric facilities . The housing and municipal infrastructure , along with regional infrastructure connecting the new town to other municipalities , were built simultaneously in 1908 supported by the local agricultural industry . The name Omak comes from the Okanagan placename [ umák ] , or the Salishan term Omache — which is said to mean " good medicine " or " plenty " , referring to its favorable climate , with an annual high of around 88 ° F ( 31 ° C ) . Omak acts as the gateway to the Okanogan National Forest and consists of a central business district and residential neighborhoods . 
