Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre
Redesign adds 'wow' factor to visitor centre
Fourteen new interactive exhibits and extensive building updates have transformed the Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre into a warm, gallery-like space that opened on May 31. What both kids and adults are noticing is the "wow" factor delivered by a blend of informative exhibits, stunning images and interactivity.
"It was great when it first opened, to actually see kids tearing around, saying 'Hey, look at this! It's so cool' and playing with the interactive stuff," says Lindsay Thompson, project manager for the visitor centre redesign. "I'd hear stuff like "Hey mom, I told you we had to turn the computer off when we're not using it!'"
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AccessLocated about five kilometres north of the city of Revelstoke, on Highway 23 N. Visitor informationThe facility is fully wheelchair accessible, incorporating wheelchair ramps, elevators and wheelchair-accessible toilets. Admission is free. Revelstoke Dam Visitor CentreThis recently updated two-story visitor centre is located atop the west end of the powerhouse. It houses a large exhibit area, a theatre, gift shop and other visitor facilities. The exhibit area shows how the Revelstoke project was built and illustrates various aspects of power production. New interactive displays showcase exhibits such as "Putting water to work", "A powerful partnership" and the construction of Revelstoke 5, the latest addition to the facility. A self-guided tour features the discovery of the power generation story through the penstock gateway walk-through tour and an elevator ride to the dam crest lookout located atop the massive, 165 m high concrete dam. The Visitor Centre is open from May 31 to October 13, 2008 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily – For more information, call:
History and hydroelectric operationRevelstoke Dam is Canada's second generating project on the Columbia River and one of four dams in B.C. that regulate the flow of the Columbia. Three of the dams, Mica, Hugh Keenleyside and Duncan, were built as a result of the Columbia River Treaty, signed by Canada and the United States in 1964. The Treaty dams provided badly needed flood control, made possible development of power plants on the Columbia and its tributaries in B.C., and increased the potential for power generation at plants in the United States. Mica, completed in 1973, is the largest of the Treaty projects and the only one in Canada to generate power. Located about 135 km by road north of Revelstoke, Mica has an installed capacity of 1,736,000 kW. Gordon M. Shrum Generating Station on the Peace River is the largest hydroelectric plant in British Columbia, with a capacity of 2,416,000 kW. The regulation of the Columbia River by the three Treaty dams in Canada has provided the essential storage needed to create additional hydroelectric generating potential on the river and made the Revelstoke development possible. The Revelstoke Generating Station, located about 130 km downstream from Mica, has an installed capacity of 1,843,000 kW, with provision for an ultimate capacity of 2,764,500 kW, which would make it the most powerful hydroelectric development in British Columbia. Information about the Revelstoke DamThe hydroelectric complex comprises a 175 m high concrete gravity dam in Little Dalles Canyon, a 122 m high earthfill dam on the west bank of the river, and a powerhouse in the riverbed, immediately downstream of the concrete dam. The powerhouse has four large generating units, in service since 1984. Each unit has a capacity of 460,750 kW. There is provision to add two more units when required. Individually the units have the largest capacity of any in Hydro's system. The concrete powerhouse is 213 m long, 50 m wide and 60 m high. The reservoir created by the dam extends 130 km back to the tailwaters of the Mica Dam. It has a surface area of 11,534 ha. Since regulated release water from Mica provides almost three-quarters of the inflow into the reservoir, the Revelstoke powerplant operates as a run-of-the-river plant, with normal maximum fluctuations in the reservoir level of 4.5 m. BoatingThe area south of Revelstoke is critical. The original channel cuts through wide, flat river bottom for 48 km south of Revelstoke. The area on both sides of the channel is covered by only 0.6 to 1.8 m of water, even when the reservoir is at its highest. Boaters are cautioned to keep to deep water in this area. Slow down, and watch for shoals and log bundles. Don't leave your boat unattended in this area. Dam intakes at the Keenleyside Dam, and outlets from the Revelstoke Dam, can cause strong surface and underwater currents. For your own safety and the safety of others, obey all posted signs and remain well away from BC Hydro dams and operating structures. Sudden releases of water may occur downstream from Revelstoke Dam. Discharged water levels may be high and extremely dangerous for boaters in the immediate area. |
Last Modified: Jul 10, 2008
