Jordan River Dam
Encyclopedia
The Jordan River Dam, officially the Jordan River Diversion Dam, and known locally simply as Diversion Dam, is a dam
located in Jordan River, British Columbia, Canada
. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on Vancouver Island
.
was the main source of electricity to Victoria. Upon completion, it dwarfed the plant.
The Vancouver Island Power Company completed construction of the Jordan River hydroelectric system in 1911.
At 126 feet from top to bottom, it was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada.
From 1912 to 1930 continual improvements and additional generators pushed the capacity of the power plant to 26 megawatts. In 1971 the flume was replaced by a tunnel, connected to a penstock flowing down to a new power house, presently located across the river from the original location. A Japanese built generator replaced the old equipment, boosting power output from 26 megawatts to 175 megawatts.
's generating capacity.
In 1996, the provincial government initiated a Water Use Planning (WUP) program, demanding that BC's water licence holders show they can manage environmental problems of dams.The Jordan River "WUP" is now well-underway, and restoration of fish habitat has been a top issue.
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
located in Jordan River, British Columbia, 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...
. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on Vancouver Island
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...
.
History
Prior to the dam's construction, the Lubbe PowerhouseLubbe 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 the main source of electricity to Victoria. Upon completion, it dwarfed the plant.
The Vancouver Island Power Company completed construction of the Jordan River hydroelectric system in 1911.
At 126 feet from top to bottom, it was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada.
From 1912 to 1930 continual improvements and additional generators pushed the capacity of the power plant to 26 megawatts. In 1971 the flume was replaced by a tunnel, connected to a penstock flowing down to a new power house, presently located across the river from the original location. A Japanese built generator replaced the old equipment, boosting power output from 26 megawatts to 175 megawatts.
Current operation
Water collects at Diversion Dam, runs 8.8 km (5.5 mi) down a wooden sluice to an equalizing reservoir and flows through a steel penstock for the last 330 vertical meters (1083 vertical feet). It currently provides 35% of Vancouver IslandVancouver 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...
's generating capacity.
In 1996, the provincial government initiated a Water Use Planning (WUP) program, demanding that BC's water licence holders show they can manage environmental problems of dams.The Jordan River "WUP" is now well-underway, and restoration of fish habitat has been a top issue.
See also
- HVDC Vancouver IslandHVDC Vancouver IslandThe HVDC Vancouver Island is the name for HVDC interconnection between the Vancouver Island Terminal near North Cowichan, British Columbia on Vancouver Island at and the Arnott Substation near Delta, British Columbia at on the Canadian mainland, which went into operation in 1968 and was...
- Powerlines connecting Vancouver Island with Canadian MainlandPowerlines connecting Vancouver Island with Canadian MainlandThe power grid of Vancouver Island is connected with that of the Canadian Mainland by AC and DC submarine cables. It is according to all available information the only electricity grid on the Island, which is connected with the electricity grid of the mainland by AC and DC cables.These links, which...
- List of dams and reservoirs in Canada
- 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...
- Lubbe PowerhouseLubbe PowerhouseThe 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...