Revelstoke Dam

Revelstoke Dam
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Name	Revelstoke Dam
Location	Columbia River, British Columbia, Canada
Country	Canada
Status	Operational
Owner	BC Hydro
Dam type	Concrete gravity
Height	175 m
Length	305 m
Opened	1984
Reservoir	Revelstoke Lake
Plant capacity	2,480 MW
Plant turbines	4 × 440 MW Francis, 1 × 160 MW Kaplan

Revelstoke Dam is a large concrete gravity hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, creating Revelstoke Lake. It is operated by BC Hydro and is a major component of the Columbia River Treaty development in the Columbia River basin, contributing to flood control, irrigation, and electricity supply. The project intersects regional histories including the towns of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Kinbasket Lake, and infrastructure networks such as the Canadian Pacific Railway and Trans-Canada Highway corridors.

History

Construction of the project was conceived amid international negotiations following the Columbia River Treaty signed between Canada and the United States in 1964, which followed flood events impacting communities like Vanport, Oregon and agreements influenced by entities including the International Joint Commission. Early planning engaged provincial authorities such as British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines and corporate actors like BC Hydro and predecessor utilities. The decision to site the dam near Revelstoke, British Columbia reflected hydrological assessments influenced by earlier developments at Mica Dam and Duncan Dam and regional transportation linkages with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Groundbreaking and main construction phases during the late 1970s and early 1980s occurred against the backdrop of provincial infrastructure investment during administrations including those of the British Columbia NDP and political figures active in provincial cabinets. Reservoir filling and initial commissioning in 1984 followed coordination with transboundary water management frameworks involving the Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Design and construction

The facility was designed as a concrete gravity structure constructed by major contractors working under BC Hydro oversight, employing techniques comparable to projects such as W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Mica Dam. Geotechnical investigations referenced regional geology mapped by the Geological Survey of Canada and addressed seismic considerations informed by studies of the Cordillera of North America and historic events like earthquakes catalogued by the Natural Resources Canada seismic network. Construction logistics relied on transport arteries including the Trans-Canada Highway and rail access provided by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Workforce housing and community impacts invoked local authorities including the City of Revelstoke and Indigenous groups represented through bands under the Indian Act governance arrangements, with consultations reflecting evolving obligations under provincial statutes.

Technical specifications

The gravity dam measures approximately 175 metres in height and 305 metres in crest length, impounding a reservoir known as Revelstoke Lake with substantial storage for seasonal regulation comparable to upstream storage at Kinbasket Lake. The powerhouse houses multiple turbine-generator units—primarily large-capacity Francis turbine units and an additional Kaplan turbine configuration—bringing installed capacity to approximately 2,480 megawatts, positioning the project among the largest in British Columbia alongside facilities like John Hart Generating Station and G.M. Shrum Generating Station. Spillway design, intake structures, and fish passage considerations were modeled using standards referenced by agencies such as the Canadian Standards Association and engineering practices documented by the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.

Operation and power generation

Operated by BC Hydro, the plant contributes baseload and peaking power into provincial and regional grids, interfacing with transmission corridors managed by entities such as BC Hydro Grid Operations and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation frameworks. Generation dispatch factors account for obligations under the Columbia River Treaty storage and flow schedules coordinated with the Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for downstream flood control and power benefits. Maintenance cycles and major overhaul programs follow industry norms exemplified by turbine refits at other Canadian facilities like G.M. Shrum Generating Station and productivity metrics reported in provincial energy plans developed by the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

Environmental and social impacts

Reservoir creation altered riverine and terrestrial ecosystems along the Columbia corridor, affecting habitats documented by the Canadian Wildlife Service and prompting mitigation measures including fish management programs coordinated with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada and local Indigenous nations such as bands affiliated with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and Secwepemc communities. Cultural heritage surveys engaged the Royal BC Museum and provincial heritage branches to assess impacts on archaeological sites. Downstream flow regulation influenced riparian systems studied in academic programs at institutions such as the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, while social adjustments involved relocations and compensation mechanisms administered under provincial statutes and agreements with municipal authorities including the City of Revelstoke.

Recreation and tourism

Revelstoke Lake and surrounding infrastructure support recreational activities promoted by regional tourism bodies such as Tourism British Columbia and local operators in Revelstoke, British Columbia offering boating, angling, and backcountry access that links to attractions like Revelstoke Mountain Resort and conservation areas managed in partnership with agencies like BC Parks. The project area interfaces with transportation and visitor services connected to the Trans-Canada Highway and rail tourists using the Canadian Pacific Railway corridor, contributing to outdoor recreation economies studied by institutions like the Thompson Rivers University tourism programs.

Future developments and upgrades

Planned upgrades and studies consider turbine modernization, spillway enhancements, and seismic resilience measures informed by research from organizations like the Canadian Geotechnical Society and manufacturers such as Voith Hydro and General Electric (GE) involved in hydroelectric equipment. Regional energy planning by the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and system operators such as BC Hydro contemplate integration with renewable portfolios overseen by agencies including the Canada Energy Regulator, while treaty discussions under the Columbia River Treaty ongoing review process may shape future operational regimes in coordination with the Bonneville Power Administration and provincial stakeholders.

Category:Hydroelectric power stations in British Columbia Category:Dams in British Columbia