Sturdy Creek Dam on Haida Gwaii to be decommissioned
Sturdy Creek Dam on Haida Gwaii to be decommissioned
QUEEN CHARLOTTE – BC Hydro is moving forward with a plan to decommission a small concrete dam on Haida Gwaii that has not been used in many years. Built in the 1940s, the four-metre high, 11-metre wide Sturdy Creek Dam has completely filled in with earth and the creek now runs over the top of the structure.
BC Hydro co-owns the Sturdy Creek Dam in the Village of the Queen Charlotte. It was previously used as a storage facility only, supplying water to a hospital and a diesel-powered generating station. There is no power generating equipment at the dam.
BC Hydro plans to completely remove the structure and the in-fill material with work expected to take place from mid-June through August of this year. Following the dam removal, the site will be restored and a small footbridge will be constructed over Sturdy Creek near the location of the former dam.
“Following a review of Sturdy Creek Dam, BC Hydro recommended that the dam be removed because it no longer serves any purpose and has long since fallen into disuse,” said BC Hydro Dam Safety Manager, Stephen Rigbey. “Although the dam is at a low risk of failure, in the interests of ensuring both public safety and the most natural environment possible, we are decommissioning the dam and restoring the area.”
B.C. Dam Safety Regulations provide for a consequence classification of all dams in British Columbia. The consequence classification (very high, high, low, or very low) identifies the potential for damage and loss in the unlikely event of a dam failure. The consequence classification is not a reflection on how safe the dam is; thus age and condition of the dam are not reflected in the Consequence classification. In the case of Sturdy Creek Dam, its classification as a high-consequence dam means that if a failure were to occur, there would be significant risk to the people and environment immediately downstream.
Although Sturdy Creek has low fisheries potential, bio-physical surveys of the site will be completed prior to the start of the removal of the dam. While none of the Project activities will trigger a Federal, or Provincial environmental assessment, an Environmental Management Plan is being produced to address the potential impacts that may result from the project activities and an Environmental Monitor will be on site during the removal work. Local First Nations and the Village of Queen Charlotte have been advised of the project.
The Ministry of Environment indicates that the dam is owned by five parties, including BC Hydro, based on the existing water licence. With the agreement of the co-owners, BC Hydro has taken the lead in assessing the dam’s condition and determining what should be done with it.
The Village of Queen Charlotte is hosting its next Queen Charlotte Community Dialogue session on Thursday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers and BC Hydro Engineer Dave Cattanach will be on hand to discuss the dam decommissioning project.
For more information about BC Hydro, please visit www.bchydro.com.
About BC Hydro:
Fifty years ago, British Columbians turned to BC Hydro to build the clean electricity system they count on to power B.C.'s economy, create jobs in every region, and keep the lights on. Now, BC Hydro is building again for the next 50 years. B.C. continues to grow and so has the need for more electricity. That’s why BC Hydro is building, renewing, and encouraging conservation to meet today’s needs and those of future generations. In 2011, BC Hydro is celebrating 50 years of providing power for British Columbians, and inviting them to help prepare for the next 50 years.
For more information, please contact:
Bob Gammer
Northern Community Relations Manager
BC Hydro
Phone: 250 561-4858
Cell: 250 961-0676