Kootenay Canal

This article is about a hydroelectric plant. For the shipping canal at Canal Flats, BC, see Baillie-Grohman Canal.
Kootenay Canal
Location within British Columbia
Official name Kootenay Canal Generating Station
Location Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates 49°27′10″N 117°31′05″W / 49.45278°N 117.51806°W / 49.45278; -117.51806Coordinates: 49°27′10″N 117°31′05″W / 49.45278°N 117.51806°W / 49.45278; -117.51806
Opening date 1976
Reservoir
Creates Kootenay Lake
Surface area 38,900 ha (389 km2)
Power station
Operator(s) BC Hydro
Hydraulic head 84 M
Turbines 4
Installed capacity 583 MW (max.)
Annual generation 2482 GWh[1]
Kootenay Canal powerhouse

The Kootenay Canal is a hydroelectric power station, located 19 km downstream of Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. Where the Kootenay River flows out of the reservoir formed by the Corra Linn Dam on Kootenay Lake.,[2] a canal diverts water to BC Hydro's Kootenay Canal Generating Station. Its construction was a result of the Duncan Dam and Libby Dam providing year round flows into Kootenay Lake. The powerhouse was completed in 1976.

Diversion

Water enters the canal from Corra Linn headpond and for much of the year is diverted 4.5 km past Corra Linn Dam, City of Nelson Powerhouse,[3] Upper Bonnington, Lower Bonnington and South Slocan.[4] By diverting water past the older and smaller dams Kootenay Canal can generate more power due to greater head and more modern generators.[5]

Powerhouse

After passing through the canal and dropping 84 meters through the powerhouse containing four water turbine-electrical generator units, water then returns to the river.[6] Power generated at Kootenay Canal plant is fed into BC Hydro's provincial grid via two lines running south to Selkirk Switching Station, near the Seven Mile Generating Station.[6]

Expansion

In 1999 the four turbines were upgraded and increased output to a total of 583 MW.[7][8] Kootenay Canal and Seven Mile generating stations together supplied 10% of BC Hydro's electricity requirements.[9]

Canal plant agreement

Under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty, the Province of British Columbia is entitled to downstream benefits resulting from dam construction. Both the Duncan Dam and Libby Dam are covered by the treaty and result in a constant supply of water into Kootenay Lake, and to all dams downstream. BC Hydro is allowed to divert water from five older hydroelectric plants owned by FortisBC and the City of Nelson. Fortis receives the amount of power their generating stations would have produced. Downstream the Brilliant Dam is in the agreement. On the Pend d'Oreille River the Seven Mile Dam and the Waneta Dam are also in the agreement.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://carma.org/plant/detail/22797
  2. ↑ "Kootenay, Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  3. ↑ "City of Nelson - History". nelson.ca.
  4. ↑ http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Hydro/en/dams/index.php?action=kootenaycanal
  5. ↑ "New Development: Partnering in Power Development In British Columbia". hydroworld.com.
  6. 1 2 "Kootenay Canal". bchydro.com.
  7. ↑ "Page or File Not Found" (PDF). bchydro.com.
  8. ↑ BC Hydro (June 2010), Quick Facts for the Year Ended March 31, 2010 (PDF), retrieved 2011-07-07
  9. ↑ "Page or File Not Found". bchydro.com.
  10. ↑ "Page or File Not Found" (PDF). bchydro.com.
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