Kootenay Canal
Encyclopedia
The Kootenay Canal is 19km downstream of Nelson, British Columbia
, Canada
. Where the Kootenay River flows out of the reservoir formed by the Corra Linn Dam
on Kootenay Lake
., a canal diverts water to BC Hydro
's Kootenay Canal Generating Station. The powerhouse was completed in 1976.
, City of Nelson Powerhouse, Upper Bonnington, Lower Bonnington and South Slocan. Water then returns to the river after passing through the canal and powerhouse.
Kootenay Canal plant is fed into BC Hydro's provincial grid via two lines running south to Selkirk Switching Station, near the Seven Mile Generating Station.
generating stations together supplied 10% of BC Hydro's electricity requirements.
receives the amount of power their generating stations would have produced. Downstream the Brilliant Dam
is in the agreement. On the Pend d'Oreille River the Seven Mile Dam
and the Waneta Dam
are also in the agreement.
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Where the Kootenay River flows out of the reservoir formed by the Corra Linn Dam
Corra Linn Dam
Corra Linn Dam is a concrete hydroelectric dam on the Kootenay River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located where the West Arm Kootenay Lake flows into the Kootenay River. The dam's powerplant has a generating capacity of 49 MW. The dam was formerly owned by West Kootenay Power...
on Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
., a canal diverts water to BC Hydro
BC Hydro
The BC Hydro and Power Authority is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia generally known simply as BC Hydro. It is the main electric distributor, serving 1.8 million customers in most areas, with the exception of the Kootenay region, where FortisBC, a subsidiary of Fortis...
's Kootenay Canal Generating Station. The powerhouse was completed in 1976.
Diversion
Water enters the canal from Corra Linn headpond and is diverted 4.5 km past Corra Linn DamCorra Linn Dam
Corra Linn Dam is a concrete hydroelectric dam on the Kootenay River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located where the West Arm Kootenay Lake flows into the Kootenay River. The dam's powerplant has a generating capacity of 49 MW. The dam was formerly owned by West Kootenay Power...
, City of Nelson Powerhouse, Upper Bonnington, Lower Bonnington and South Slocan. Water then returns to the river after passing through the canal and powerhouse.
Powerhouse
The powerhouse houses four turbine-generator units. Power generated atKootenay Canal plant is fed into BC Hydro's provincial grid via two lines running south to Selkirk Switching Station, near the Seven Mile Generating Station.
Expansion
In 1999 the four turbines were upgraded and increased output to a total of 583 MW. Kootenay Canal and Seven MileSeven Mile Dam
Seven Mile Dam is a concrete gravity-type hydroelectric dam on the Pend d'Oreille River 15 km SE of Trail, 18 km downstream from Boundary Dam and 9 km upsteam from Waneta Dam in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The powerplant has a capacity of 848 MW and generates 3200 GWh per year...
generating stations together supplied 10% of BC Hydro's electricity requirements.
Canal Plant Agreement
BC Hydro is allowed to divert water from five older hydroelectric plants owned by Fortis and the City of Nelson. FortisBCFortisBC
FortisBC Inc is an electric power and gas distribution/retail company in the Canadian province of British Columbia and a subsidiary of Fortis Inc. Newfoundland-based Fortis Inc...
receives the amount of power their generating stations would have produced. Downstream the Brilliant Dam
Brilliant Dam
Brilliant Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Kootenay River near Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada. It was built during the Second World War, mostly by Doukhobour men exempt from military service, and its twin turbines first came into operation in June, 1944....
is in the agreement. On the Pend d'Oreille River the Seven Mile Dam
Seven Mile Dam
Seven Mile Dam is a concrete gravity-type hydroelectric dam on the Pend d'Oreille River 15 km SE of Trail, 18 km downstream from Boundary Dam and 9 km upsteam from Waneta Dam in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The powerplant has a capacity of 848 MW and generates 3200 GWh per year...
and the Waneta Dam
Waneta Dam
Waneta Dam is a concrete gravity-type hydroelectric dam on the Pend d'Oreille River 9 km downstream from Seven Mile Dam in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It supplies electric power to metallurgical operations at Trail, British Columbia and for BC Hydro which since 2009 has a 1/3...
are also in the agreement.