Kenney Dam
Encyclopedia
The Kenney Dam is a rock-filled hydroelectric dam on the Nechako River
, 96 km south of Vanderhoof, British Columbia
, forming the Nechako Reservoir
, the first section of which immediately behind the dam is Knewstubb Lake
. The dam is 457 metres long, 97 metres high, and 12 metres wide at its crest.
It was constructed by Alcan
in order to provide power to a new aluminum smelter in Kitimat
. Built in the early 1950s with over 3 million cubic metres of material, the dam raised the water 90 metres at its face. At the time of construction, it was the largest earthfill dam in the world, soon afterwards surpassed by the WAC Bennett Dam on the Peace River
. It was named for the Hon. Edward Tourtellotte Kenney
, then-Minister of Lands and Forests in the British Columbia government of Premier
Byron "Boss" Johnson
.
Kenney Dam is part of a hydroelectric complex which also includes the Skins Lake spillway, which regulates water levels, both in the reservoir and downstream. On the western side, a 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long intake tunnel
running through the Coast Mountain range brings water to penstock
s for a 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) vertical drop to the 8 units of the 790-MW Kemano power station. The basic design of the Kenney Dam-Kemano power station has inspired a similar development in Quebec
. The Bersimis-1 generating station
, built between 1953 and 1956 by Hydro-Québec
, shares many features with Alcan's project.
During construction in 1952, the resulting flooding of forced the Cheslatta people
from their villages in the inundated area, which is now the Nechako Reservoir
. The flow of the Nechako was reduced by 75%. Downstream from the dam the remaining flow of the river traverses the Nechako Canyon
as far as Cheslatta Falls, which is at the confluence of the Cheslatta River.
Nechako River
The Nechako River arises on the Nechako Plateau east of the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains of British Columbia and flows north toward Fort Fraser, then east to Prince George where it enters the Fraser River...
, 96 km south of Vanderhoof, British Columbia
Vanderhoof, British Columbia
-External links:**...
, forming the Nechako Reservoir
Nechako Reservoir
The Nechako Reservoir, sometimes called the Ootsa Lake Reservoir, is a hydroelectric reservoir in British Columbia, Canada that was formed by a diversion of the Nechako River through the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains to sea level at Kemano to provide power for the aluminum smelter at Kitimat...
, the first section of which immediately behind the dam is Knewstubb Lake
Knewstubb Lake
Knewstubb Lake is an arm or stretch of the Ootsa Lake Reservoir in the Nechako Country of the western Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It forms part of the south arm of the reservoir, which includes adjoining stretches such as Eutsuk Lake and Natalkuz Lake, which are "upstream" to the...
. The dam is 457 metres long, 97 metres high, and 12 metres wide at its crest.
It was constructed by Alcan
Alcan
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
in order to provide power to a new aluminum smelter in Kitimat
Kitimat, British Columbia
Kitimat is a coastal city in northwestern British Columbia, in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine. The Kitimat Valley, which includes the adjacent community of Terrace, is the most populous urban district in Northwest British Columbia...
. Built in the early 1950s with over 3 million cubic metres of material, the dam raised the water 90 metres at its face. At the time of construction, it was the largest earthfill dam in the world, soon afterwards surpassed by the WAC Bennett Dam on the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
. It was named for the Hon. Edward Tourtellotte Kenney
Edward Tourtellotte Kenney
Edward Tourtellotte Kenney was a merchant, real estate and insurance agent and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Skeena in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1933 to 1953 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a Liberal.He was born in Clark's Harbour,...
, then-Minister of Lands and Forests in the British Columbia government of Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
Byron "Boss" Johnson
Byron Ingemar Johnson
Byron Ingemar "Boss" Johnson , born Björn Ingimar "Bjössi" Jónsson,to family of Icelandic Immigrants,he served as the 24th Premier of the province of British Columbia, Canada, from 1947 to 1952...
.
Kenney Dam is part of a hydroelectric complex which also includes the Skins Lake spillway, which regulates water levels, both in the reservoir and downstream. On the western side, a 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long intake tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
running through the Coast Mountain range brings water to penstock
Penstock
A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydraulic turbines and sewerage systems. It is a term that has been inherited from the technology of wooden watermills....
s for a 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) vertical drop to the 8 units of the 790-MW Kemano power station. The basic design of the Kenney Dam-Kemano power station has inspired a similar development in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The Bersimis-1 generating station
Bersimis-1 generating station
The Bersimis-1 generating station is a dam and a hydroelectric power station built by Hydro-Québec on the Betsiamites River, in Lac-au-Brochet, north of the town of Forestville, Quebec...
, built between 1953 and 1956 by Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
, shares many features with Alcan's project.
During construction in 1952, the resulting flooding of forced the Cheslatta people
Cheslatta Carrier Nation
The Cheslatta Carrier Nation is a First Nation located in the Interior of British Columbia. The traditional territory is centered on Cheslatta Lake. However, much of their territory, including Cheslatta Village, was flooded due to the construction of the Kenney Dam in 1952, with the result that...
from their villages in the inundated area, which is now the Nechako Reservoir
Nechako Reservoir
The Nechako Reservoir, sometimes called the Ootsa Lake Reservoir, is a hydroelectric reservoir in British Columbia, Canada that was formed by a diversion of the Nechako River through the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains to sea level at Kemano to provide power for the aluminum smelter at Kitimat...
. The flow of the Nechako was reduced by 75%. Downstream from the dam the remaining flow of the river traverses the Nechako Canyon
Nechako Canyon
The Nechako Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Nechako, is a canyon on the Nechako River in the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, located between Cheslatta Falls and Knewstubb Lake, which lies immediately above the Kenny Dam, which forms the Nechako Reservoir...
as far as Cheslatta Falls, which is at the confluence of the Cheslatta River.
External links
- Power Operations - Rio Tinto Alcan.
- "Engineers Invade Another Wilderness - Huge Canadian Power Project Marks 20th Century Frontier Boom" , by Richard Neuberger detailed 1951 Popular Science article on the Kemano Hydro Project]