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The Jordan River Dam, officially the Jordan River Diversion Dam, and known locally simply as Diversion Dam, is a
Prior to the dam's construction, the Goldstream Powerhouse was the main source of electricity to Victoria. Upon completion, it dwarfed the previous plant.
The Vancouver Island Power Company, a subsidiary of British Columbia Electric Railway, completed construction of the smaller Bear Creek Dam and the main Jordan River Diversion Dam in 1911. At from top to bottom, the Diversion Dam was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada. Water flowed through a 31,600 ft long flume to the penstock above the power house. The construction of the dam, due to its remoteness, required the construction of a three-foot narrow gauge railway as well as a cable-railway for the initial ascent from Jordan River.
From 1912 to 1931 continual improvements and additional generators pushed the capacity of the power house to 26 megawatts.
In 1971 the flume was replaced by a 7 km tunnel, with a penstock flowing down to a new power house, located across the river from the original. The same year, the accompanying service railway was also dismantled. A Japanese built generator replaced the old equipment, boosting power output from 26 megawatts to 175 megawatts.
aerial image of the project, BC Hydro webpageAerial image of the powerhouse, BC Hydro webpage
{{coord, name=Jordan River Dam, 48.496517, N, 123.992772, W, display=title, type:landmark_region:CA Dams in British Columbia Hydroelectric power stations in British Columbia Juan de Fuca region Dams completed in 1911 1911 establishments in British Columbia BC Hydro Publicly owned dams in Canada
The Jordan River Dam, officially the Jordan River Diversion Dam, and known locally simply as Diversion Dam, is a dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
located in Jordan River, British Columbia
Jordan River, founded as and still officially gazetted as River Jordan, is a small settlement on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, located approximately west of Victoria.
Established as a logging camp in the late 1 ...
, Canada. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
.
History
Prior to the dam's construction, the Goldstream Powerhouse was the main source of electricity to Victoria. Upon completion, it dwarfed the previous plant.
The Vancouver Island Power Company, a subsidiary of British Columbia Electric Railway, completed construction of the smaller Bear Creek Dam and the main Jordan River Diversion Dam in 1911. At from top to bottom, the Diversion Dam was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada. Water flowed through a 31,600 ft long flume to the penstock above the power house. The construction of the dam, due to its remoteness, required the construction of a three-foot narrow gauge railway as well as a cable-railway for the initial ascent from Jordan River.
From 1912 to 1931 continual improvements and additional generators pushed the capacity of the power house to 26 megawatts.
In 1971 the flume was replaced by a 7 km tunnel, with a penstock flowing down to a new power house, located across the river from the original. The same year, the accompanying service railway was also dismantled. A Japanese built generator replaced the old equipment, boosting power output from 26 megawatts to 175 megawatts.
Current operation
Water collected at Bear Creek Dam and Diversion Dam, is then used to fill Jack Elliott equalization reservoir on demand and flows from there through a long tunnel into a steelpenstock
A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydro turbines and sewerage systems. The term is inherited from the earlier technology of mill ponds and watermills.
H ...
for the last of vertical height. It provides 35% of Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
's generating capacity.
In 1996, the provincial government initiated a Water Use Planning (WUP) program, demanding that BC's water licence holders show they can manage the potential environmental impact of reservoirs
The environmental impact of reservoirs comes under ever-increasing scrutiny as the global demand for water and energy increases and the number and size of reservoirs increases.
Dams and reservoirs can be used to supply drinking water, generate h ...
. in 2001 the Jordan River "WUP" was underway, with restoration of fish habitat a top issue.
A 2014 BC Hydro
The British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, operating as BC Hydro, is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia. It is the main electricity distributor, serving more than 4 million customers in most areas, with the exce ...
study indicated Jordan River had a high risk of seismic dam failure. BC Hydro has offered to purchase the nine residences in the evacuation zone.
See also
*HVDC Vancouver Island
HVDC Vancouver Island is a de-energized high-voltage direct current interconnection between Arnott Substation (ARN) in Delta, British Columbia at on the Canadian mainland, and the Vancouver Island Terminal (VIT) in Duncan, British Columbia on Va ...
* Powerlines connecting Vancouver Island with Canadian Mainland
The power grid of Vancouver Island is owned and operated by BC Hydro, and is connected with that of the Mainland of British Columbia by high voltage AC submarine cables, and formerly by a DC submarine cable system.
These links, which all consist ...
* List of generating stations in BC
* List of dams and reservoirs in Canada
This is a list of dams and water reservoirs in Canada.
Alberta
* Bassano Dam
* Bearspaw Dam
*Bighorn Dam
* Brazeau Dam
* Cascade Dam
*Dickson Dam
* Ghost Dam
*Glenmore Reservoir
* Interlakes Dam
*Milk River Ridge Reservoir
* Old Man River Dam
* ...
* Lubbe Powerhouse
References
External links
aerial image of the project, BC Hydro webpage
{{coord, name=Jordan River Dam, 48.496517, N, 123.992772, W, display=title, type:landmark_region:CA Dams in British Columbia Hydroelectric power stations in British Columbia Juan de Fuca region Dams completed in 1911 1911 establishments in British Columbia BC Hydro Publicly owned dams in Canada