Revelstoke Dam
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| Name | Revelstoke Dam |
| Location | Near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 51, 02, 58, N... |
| Purpose | Hydroelectricity, flood control |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1978 |
| Opening | 1984 |
| Owner | BC Hydro |
| Dam type | Embankment/Gravity |
| Dam height | 175 m (574 ft) |
| Dam length | 472 m (1,549 ft) |
| Spillway type | Service, drum gates |
| Reservoir name | Lake Revelstoke |
| Reservoir capacity | 1.5 km3 |
| Plant operator | BC Hydro |
| Plant commission | 1984–2011 |
| Plant turbines | 6 × Francis turbines |
| Plant capacity | 2,480 MW |
| Plant annual gen | 7,800 GWh |
Revelstoke Dam is a major hydroelectric embankment dam on the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. Owned and operated by the provincial utility BC Hydro, it is the fourth dam constructed on the Canadian section of the river as part of the Columbia River Treaty. The dam created Lake Revelstoke, a reservoir, and its powerhouse has a generating capacity of 2,480 megawatts, making it a critical component of the regional power grid.
History
The dam's development was directly tied to the implementation of the Columbia River Treaty, an international agreement ratified in 1964 between Canada and the United States for cooperative flood control and power generation on the transboundary river. While earlier treaty projects like the Hugh Keenleyside Dam and the Mica Dam were built first, planning for the Revelstoke site progressed through the 1970s. Construction was authorized to meet growing electricity demand within British Columbia, and the project officially commenced in 1978. The dam was completed and began generating power in 1984, with subsequent unit additions increasing its capacity over the following decades. Its construction significantly altered the local landscape and economy around the city of Revelstoke.
Design and construction
Revelstoke Dam is a composite structure, primarily consisting of a central concrete gravity dam section flanked by earthfill embankment dam wings. It rises 175 meters from its foundation, making it one of the tallest dams in Canada. The dam's spillway is equipped with four large drum gates to manage reservoir levels and flood flows. The underground powerhouse was excavated within the dam's right abutment and initially housed four Francis turbine generators. A massive construction effort involved diverting the Columbia River through tunnels, building extensive cofferdams, and placing millions of cubic meters of fill material. The project also required the relocation of sections of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway to higher ground.
Operations and capacity
The facility operates as a peaking power plant, with its output managed to complement other plants on the Columbia River system like the Mica Dam and the Keeyask Generating Station. With an installed capacity of 2,480 megawatts from six turbine units, it is among the largest power stations in British Columbia. The dam's reservoir, Lake Revelstoke, has a live storage capacity of approximately 1.5 cubic kilometers, which is utilized for both energy production and treaty-mandated flood control benefits for downstream communities in the Pacific Northwest, including Portland, Oregon. The generated electricity is fed into the BC Hydro grid and also supports power sales to utilities in the Western Interconnection.
Environmental impact
The creation of Lake Revelstoke inundated over 115 square kilometers of valley bottom, affecting riparian habitats and historical sites. This led to the loss of critical wildlife habitat and required extensive mitigation efforts, including the construction of fish ladders and hatcheries for species like kokanee salmon. The dam's operations alter natural river flow patterns, affecting water temperature, sediment transport, and downstream ecosystems. As a result, the project has been a focus of studies by agencies like Fisheries and Oceans Canada and has influenced modern environmental assessments for subsequent hydroelectric projects in Canada, such as the Site C dam.
See also
* Columbia River Treaty * Mica Dam * W. A. C. Bennett Dam * List of largest power stations in Canada * Hydroelectricity in Canada
Category:Dams in British Columbia Category:Hydroelectric power stations in British Columbia Category:Buildings and structures in the Columbia Country Category:Columbia River Category:BC Hydro