Site C

David Conway, Manager, Community Relations with BC Hydro, provided a good Update to Rotary Club members on the current process of the proposed Site C Hydro Dam planned for construction slightly upstream from Fort St John on the Peace River.

BC Hydro is projecting an increase in Hydro Electric Power demands of 40% over the next 20 years despite their best efforts to reduce power consumption through conservation, re-investment, retro fitting and other forms of power generation.

One example of the re-investment is spending 400 million dollars on upgrading the WAC Bennett Dam.  Some very significant retro fitting is required to maintain other existing facilities in the lower mainland area.

Site C, if approved for commissioning will be a much smaller development than the current WAC Bennett and Williston Lake dam.  Site S is planned to be only 1,050 metres in length and 60 metres in height with an increase in water depth of 50 metres. 

The water reservoir planned will be 83 kilometres long with a power generation capacity of 1,100 KW.

Approximately 29 kilometres of road will require relocation between Hudson Hope and Fort St John to accommodate the reservoir site.

Public Hearings will commence in December and targeted for completion in January 2014.

If BC Hydro receives approval for Site C, construction is planned to commence in 2015.  Full removal of all merchantable timber and non merchantable timber is required, plus a safe navigation depth of 5 metres during the lowest expected draw down of water levels.

David encourages people in Prince George to come out to the public hearing, register to speak to the hearings if they have any comments or concerns. 

David was thanked for his presentation by Rotarian Garry Howse, with another donation to our Rotary Polio Plus Program.