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Coordinates: 48°29′47″N 123°59′34″W / 48.496517°N 123.992772°W / 48.496517; -123.992772 (Jordan River Dam)
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{{Short description|Dam on the Jordan River, British Columbia, Canada}}
{{Short description|Dam on the Jordan River, British Columbia, Canada}}
{{Infobox dam
[[File:JordanRiverDiversionDam1.jpg|thumb|right|The dam as seen from the South end.]]
| name =Jordan River Dam
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The '''Jordan River Dam''', officially the '''Jordan River Diversion Dam''', and known locally simply as '''Diversion Dam''', is a [[dam]] located in [[Jordan River, British Columbia]], Canada. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on [[Vancouver Island]].<ref>{{cite web
The '''Jordan River Dam''', officially the '''Jordan River Diversion Dam''', and known locally simply as '''Diversion Dam''', is a [[dam]] located in [[Jordan River, British Columbia]], Canada. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on [[Vancouver Island]].<ref>{{cite web
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[[File:JordanRiverRailwayTrestle.jpg|thumb|left|The largest of the disused trestles formerly shared by the flume and the railway.]]
[[File:JordanRiverRailwayTrestle.jpg|thumb|left|The largest of the disused trestles formerly shared by the flume and the railway.]]


Prior to the dam's construction, the [[Lubbe Powerhouse]] was the main source of electricity to Victoria. Upon completion, it dwarfed the previous plant.
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 {{convert|126|ft|m|1|abbr=off}} from top to bottom, the Diversion Dam was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada.<ref>https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/bib50653.pdf Water Powers British Columbia Canada</ref> Water flowed through a 31,600ft long flume to the penstock above the power house.<ref name="Ewert"|page=92></ref> The construction of the dam, due to its remoteness, required the construction of a [[3 ft gauge railways|three-foot]] [[narrow gauge railway]] as well as a cable-railway for the initial ascent from Jordan River.<ref name="Ewert">{{cite book |last1=Ewert |first1=Henry |title=The Story of the BC Electric Railway Company |date=1986 |publisher=Whitecap Books Ltd. |location=Vancouver, British Columbia |isbn=0-920620-54-X |page=76}}</ref>
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 {{convert|126|ft|m|1|abbr=off}} from top to bottom, the Diversion Dam was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada.<ref>https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/bib50653.pdf Water Powers British Columbia Canada</ref> Water flowed through a 31,600&nbsp;ft long flume to the penstock above the power house.<ref name="Ewert"/>{{rp|92}} The construction of the dam, due to its remoteness, required the construction of a [[3 ft gauge railways|three-foot]] [[narrow gauge railway]] as well as a cable-railway for the initial ascent from Jordan River.<ref name="Ewert">{{cite book |last1=Ewert |first1=Henry |title=The Story of the BC Electric Railway Company |date=1986 |publisher=Whitecap Books Ltd. |location=Vancouver, British Columbia |isbn=0-920620-54-X |page=76}}</ref> From 1912 to 1931, continual improvements and additional generators pushed the capacity of the power house to 26 megawatts.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Old Becomes New Again: More Sustainable Energy |date=2024 |work=The Truth About Energy: Our Fossil-Fuel Addiction and the Transition to Renewables |pages=380–455 |editor-last=White |editor-first=John K. |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/truth-about-energy/old-becomes-new-again-more-sustainable-energy/E30EF7083A448A80827AB0A06DD2BD61 |access-date=2024-02-28 |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-009-43316-7}}</ref>
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&nbsp;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.<ref>Newcomb, John. A source of Victoria's power, 18 March 2001 (pdf 140K). geog.Uvic.ca [http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213134307/http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF |date=13 February 2012 }}</ref>
In 1971 the flume was replaced by a 7&nbsp;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.<ref>Newcomb, John. A source of Victoria's power, 18 March 2001 (pdf 140K). geog.Uvic.ca [http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213134307/http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF|date=13 February 2012}}</ref>


==Current operation==
==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 {{convert|8.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} long tunnel into a steel [[penstock]] for the last {{convert|330|ft|m|0|abbr=off}} of vertical height. It provides 35% of [[Vancouver Island]]'s generating capacity.
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 {{convert|8.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} long tunnel into a steel [[penstock]] for the last {{convert|330|ft|m|0|abbr=off}} of vertical height. It provides 35% of [[Vancouver Island]]'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]]. in 2001 the Jordan River "WUP" was underway, with restoration of fish habitat a top issue.<ref>Newcomb, John. A source of Victoria's power, 18 March 2001 (pdf 140K). geog.Uvic.ca [http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213134307/http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF |date=13 February 2012 }}</ref>
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]]. in 2001 the Jordan River "WUP" was underway, with restoration of fish habitat a top issue.<ref>Newcomb, John. A source of Victoria's power, 18 March 2001 (pdf 140K). geog.Uvic.ca [http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213134307/http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/newcomb/JordanRiverPower.PDF|date=13 February 2012}}</ref>


A 2014 [[BC Hydro]] 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.<ref>https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/our_system/generation/dam-safety/jordan-river-options.html</ref>
A 2014 [[BC Hydro]] 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/our_system/generation/dam-safety/jordan-river-options.html |title=Seismic Hazard at Jordan River |website=www.bchydro.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919193822/http://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/our_system/generation/dam-safety/jordan-river-options.html |archive-date=2015-09-19}} </ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/images/places/bc_hydro_facilities/jordan_river/jordan_river_dam_and0.jpeg aerial image of the project, BC Hydro webpage]
*[http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/images/places/bc_hydro_facilities/jordan_river/jordan_river_dam_and0.jpeg aerial image of the project, BC Hydro webpage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919132957/http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/images/places/bc_hydro_facilities/jordan_river/jordan_river_dam_and0.jpeg |date=2015-09-19 }}
*[http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/images/places/bc_hydro_facilities/jordan_river/jordan_river_powerhouse0.jpeg Aerial image of the powerhouse, BC Hydro webpage]
*[http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/images/places/bc_hydro_facilities/jordan_river/jordan_river_powerhouse0.jpeg Aerial image of the powerhouse, BC Hydro webpage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919160535/http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/images/places/bc_hydro_facilities/jordan_river/jordan_river_powerhouse0.jpeg |date=2015-09-19 }}



{{coord|name=Jordan River Dam|48.496517|N|123.992772|W|display=title|type:landmark_region:CA}}
{{coord|name=Jordan River Dam|48.496517|N|123.992772|W|display=title|type:landmark_region:CA}}
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[[Category:1911 establishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:1911 establishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:BC Hydro]]
[[Category:BC Hydro]]
[[Category:Publicly owned dams in Canada]]

Latest revision as of 08:57, 28 February 2024

Jordan River Dam
CountryCanada
StatusOperational
Opening date1911

The Jordan River Dam, officially the Jordan River Diversion Dam, and known locally simply as Diversion Dam, is a dam located in Jordan River, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on Vancouver Island.[1]

History

[edit]
The largest of the disused trestles formerly shared by the flume and the railway.

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 126 feet (38.4 metres) from top to bottom, the Diversion Dam was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada.[2] Water flowed through a 31,600 ft long flume to the penstock above the power house.[3]: 92  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.[3] From 1912 to 1931, continual improvements and additional generators pushed the capacity of the power house to 26 megawatts.[4]

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.[5]

Current operation

[edit]

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 8.8 km (5.5 mi) long tunnel into a steel penstock for the last 330 feet (101 metres) of vertical height. It provides 35% of Vancouver Island'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. in 2001 the Jordan River "WUP" was underway, with restoration of fish habitat a top issue.[6]

A 2014 BC Hydro 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.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Peers, Elida (March 2007). "Jordan River Powerhouse". Rural Observer. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16.
  2. ^ https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/bib50653.pdf Water Powers British Columbia Canada
  3. ^ a b Ewert, Henry (1986). The Story of the BC Electric Railway Company. Vancouver, British Columbia: Whitecap Books Ltd. p. 76. ISBN 0-920620-54-X.
  4. ^ White, John K., ed. (2024), "The Old Becomes New Again: More Sustainable Energy", The Truth About Energy: Our Fossil-Fuel Addiction and the Transition to Renewables, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 380–455, ISBN 978-1-009-43316-7, retrieved 2024-02-28
  5. ^ Newcomb, John. A source of Victoria's power, 18 March 2001 (pdf 140K). geog.Uvic.ca [1] Archived 13 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Newcomb, John. A source of Victoria's power, 18 March 2001 (pdf 140K). geog.Uvic.ca [2] Archived 13 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Seismic Hazard at Jordan River". www.bchydro.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-19.
[edit]

48°29′47″N 123°59′34″W / 48.496517°N 123.992772°W / 48.496517; -123.992772 (Jordan River Dam)

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