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BC Hydro releases new seismic study and action plan

First-of-its-kind study leads to investments and safety measures

VANCOUVER – BC Hydro today released a new seismic study that pinpoints the hazards to its facilities in the event of a major earthquake. The model is the first-of-its-kind to be applied by the hydropower industry in North America.

The study shows that the seismic hazard at the province’s largest generation facilities, in the North and Southeast, has decreased or remains the same. It also shows that ground shaking on Vancouver Island and along Bridge River could be more severe during a major earthquake than previous studies have indicated. As a result, BC Hydro is taking steps to address the increased hazard.

“BC Hydro has been assessing seismic hazards at its dams and facilities for many decades. The new model shows us that nothing has changed for the biggest dams in the province. We have an updated action plan that addresses the hazards raised for Vancouver Island. This includes investing $700 million on Vancouver Island dam safety upgrades over the next ten years. This is in addition to the $1 billion John Hart upgrade project. It is all encompassed in the 10-year plan for BC Hydro that was introduced last fall,” said Chris O’Riley, executive vice-president, Generation, BC Hydro.

The study is the culmination of six years of work by a cross-section of experts, including seismologists, physicists and geologists. They studied the history of seismic events across B.C. and adjoining regions. BC Hydro worked to identify where major seismic activity could occur, developed prediction models and determined resulting seismic ground motions at its facilities. This methodology is now a best-in-class model for calculating earthquake hazards for utilities.

“This information applies to what would happen in the event of a major earthquake and it is important that we respond. Our dams are safe. We have a rigorous and thorough dam safety program which includes inspections and monitoring on a daily basis and additional review from independent experts,” added O’Riley.

BC Hydro is now advancing the design and review of the John Hart dam safety upgrade, and will undertake new public education and awareness campaigns in the Campbell River and the Jordan River areas. In the Bridge River system, BC Hydro is modifying operations at the Downton Reservoir for La Joie dam and undertaking further studies at Terzaghi and Seton dams to determine if action is required.

The new seismic study will be made available to local governments, agencies and others who are interested in assessing ground movement and what it may mean for their infrastructure.

BC Hydro is also completing a multi-year seismic resiliency assessment to better understand risks and vulnerabilities within the province’s transmission and distribution system.

Facts

BC Hydro has made considerable progress in improving the condition of its dam facilities over the past 10 years with major capital project upgrades. This includes spending:

  • $400 million on the province-wide Spillway Gates program (ongoing);
  • $19 million to complete the Elsie dam safety upgrade in Port Alberni (completed in 2004);
  • $65 million to completely rebuild the Coquitlam dam (completed in 2008);
  • $20 million on the Strathcona dam intake tower project (completed in 2010); and
  • $4 million on the John Hart north earthfill dam project (2011).

BC Hydro is investing to enhance the resiliency of its transmission and distribution system in the event of an earthquake. This includes:

  • completing the Vancouver City Central Transmission project which provides a new transmission line and a new substation that can withstand a large earthquake;
  • launching the Downtown Vancouver Reinforcement project to improve the resiliency of the distribution system in Vancouver’s downtown; and
  • upgrading transmission lines and substations on Vancouver Island.

Fact sheet

Backgrounders

For more information please contact:

BC Hydro Media Relations

p. 604 928 6468