BC Hydro completes filling the Site C reservoir

FORT ST.JOHN: Reservoir filling for the Site C project has been safely completed after 11 weeks, with the water level at the dam site increasing by about 43 metres.

While reservoir filling is complete, BC Hydro continues to strongly urge the public to stay out of the reservoir area for at least the next year. This is due to potential hazards on the reservoir, such as the surrounding land continuing to stabilize, floating vegetation debris and ice.

BC Hydro has conducted more than one thousand inspections and collected more than one million instrumentation readings to ensure the safe operation of the dam since reservoir filling began. Key project structures such as the earthfill dam, powerhouse, spillways and approach channel are performing well.

Slope stability instrumentation monitoring has been occurring daily, along with weekly visual inspections. Reservoir shoreline and slope changes have been within the expected range during filling. Engineers will continue with shoreline and slope stability monitoring over the operating life of Site C.  

Since mid-August, cultural monitors from Treaty 8 First Nations have monitored the reservoir filling process throughout the reservoir area. Environmental monitoring, including of wildlife and fish, will continue during operations of the dam.

If members of the public see an animal in distress in the reservoir area, they are urged to contact the B.C. Conservation Officer Service through the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) Hotline at 1-877-952-7277.

With the first generating unit on Site C now in operation, testing and commissioning work on the second generating unit continues. The Site C project remains on-track to have all six generating units in service by fall 2025.

To view a hyper lapse video that shows the entire reservoir filling process, please click here.

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•  Reservoir filling
•  Reservoir safety