Goldstream River (Vancouver Island)
Encyclopedia
The Goldstream River is a river on southern Vancouver Island
, British Columbia
, Canada
. The river's name derives from a small gold rush in its basin during the 1860s, and was originally Gold Stream.
. Just before entering the park, the river receives its first major tributary, Waugh Creek. About halfway through the park, the river tumbles over Goldstream Falls. After the falls it continues north, receiving the its final major tributary, Niagara Creek just before finally entering the Finlayson Arm while still inside the park.
was operated near Goldstream and created electricity by running high pressure drinking water through a turbine
. A powerline then ran 12 miles (19.3 km) into Victoria and provided electricity to power the streetcars
of the day. The plant still exists but is inaccessible to the public.
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, 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...
. The river's name derives from a small gold rush in its basin during the 1860s, and was originally Gold Stream.
Course
The Goldstream River begins at the outlet of Butchart Lake, the first of three reservoirs along the upper reaches of the Goldstream which are within the Greater Victoria Watershed Area. Shortly after exiting Butchart Lake it flows into Lubbe Lake. Shortly after exiting Lubbe Lake the river enters the final and largest of the three lakes, Goldstream Lake. After exiting Goldstream Lake, the river flows southeast until it turns north and enters Goldstream Provincial ParkGoldstream Provincial Park
Goldstream Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is known for the annual fall salmon runs in the Goldstream River, and the large numbers of bald eagles that congregate to feed at that time. The total size of the park is 3.79 square kilometres. It is located in the...
. Just before entering the park, the river receives its first major tributary, Waugh Creek. About halfway through the park, the river tumbles over Goldstream Falls. After the falls it continues north, receiving the its final major tributary, Niagara Creek just before finally entering the Finlayson Arm while still inside the park.
Power Generation
At the turn of the century, the Lubbe Hydroelectric PlantLubbe Powerhouse
The Lubbe Powerhouse is a decommissioned high-head hydroelectric plant located near Goldstream Provincial Park in Langford, near Victoria, British Columbia. This plant provided electricity to Victoria for 60 years and is one of the little-known and ingenious chapters in the history of Victoria...
was operated near Goldstream and created electricity by running high pressure drinking water through a turbine
Turbine
A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work.The simplest turbines have one moving part, a rotor assembly, which is a shaft or drum with blades attached. Moving fluid acts on the blades, or the blades react to the flow, so that they move and...
. A powerline then ran 12 miles (19.3 km) into Victoria and provided electricity to power the streetcars
History of Trams
Tram, streetcar or trolley systems were common throughout the industrialized world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but they disappeared from many cities in the mid-20th century. In recent years, they have made a comeback...
of the day. The plant still exists but is inaccessible to the public.
December 2010 Prank
On December 29, 2010 fluorescein was dumped in the Goldstream River, likely as a prank. The result was that the waters turned a bright, glowing green. Health officials say the chemicals are non-toxic, used primarily to find leaks in septic systems along with various medical applications. Some people may experience allergic reactions. As of January 6, it is unknown who dumped the chemical.See also
- Goldstream Provincial ParkGoldstream Provincial ParkGoldstream Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is known for the annual fall salmon runs in the Goldstream River, and the large numbers of bald eagles that congregate to feed at that time. The total size of the park is 3.79 square kilometres. It is located in the...
- Goldstream, British ColumbiaGoldstream, British ColumbiaGoldstream is a neighbourhood of the city of Langford, on the northwest outskirts of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The community is located just west of Langford Lake and the Trans-Canada Highway and adjacent to the river of the same name, which was the scene of a small gold rush in...
- Leechtown, British ColumbiaLeechtown, British Columbia-Location:The site now is only a clearing in the forest, with little remaining except for some rotting foundations, and is accessible by bike or foot on the Galloping Goose Trail, which follows a portion of the former Canadian National rail line between Victoria and the town of Youbou, on the north...
- Mount FinlaysonMount FinlaysonMount Finlayson is a mountain located on the border of Highlands and Langford, British Columbia, about 14 km northwest of Victoria. It is located within the Gowlland Range...
- Sooke FlowlineSooke FlowlineThe Sooke Flowline is an abandoned 44 kilometer concrete aqueduct that snakes through the Sooke Hills from Sooke Lake to the Humpback Reservoir near Mt. Wells Regional Park. From this reservoir, a buried, riveted steel pressure main transported water to Victoria. In between 1994 and 2007, this...