Environmentalists, First Nation involved in process

BC Hydro’s first dam project in 24 years took $65 million and two years to build.

And building the dam to withstand a one-in-10,000-year quake took even more than that, including many months of consultation with environmental groups, the Kwikwetlem First Nation and Metro Vancouver, which uses Coquitlam Lake to supply water to the region.

The project met the Crown corporation’s triple-bottom line performance standards by protecting the financial, social and environmental interests of people and wildlife, well-wishers were assured at the opening Friday.

The stronger dam was built downstream of the original dam, which was built in 1911/’12, because the older dam wasn’t considered strong enough to withstand an earthquake, possibly endangering wildlife and Coquitlam residents who live downstream.

Dwarfing the original 95-year-old structure, the newly completed earth- and rock-filled dam rises above a wetland area with a spawning channel and rearing pond that were built as part of the restoration project.

“All the disturbed areas were or will be returned to the natural state,” said project manager Alex Selnes.

Members of the audience were invited to view the spawning channel, including some large salmon that made their way upstream from the Coquitlam River.

Elaine Golds, a member of a consultation group who worked on the project, said BC Hydro should be congratulated for “outstanding leadership” for making sure environmental values were protected during construction.

The dam rebuild took place at the same time as an experimental re-stocking of Coquitlam Lake to restore sockeye to the river which many thought had gone extinct. Members of the Kwikwetlem First Nation who are leading the $1-million sockeye restoration program were also on hand for the event.

The return of the sockeye means “a dam is not necessarily a barrier for the passage of fish,” said Golds, who is The Tri-City News’ Green Scene columnist.

In addition to providing water for the region and ensuring water flows for fish, the Coquitlam Lake reservoir provides water for power through a 3.6 km tunnel to Buntzen Generating Station. Approximately 50 megawatts of power is generated at the Buntzen station, enough power to serve 16,000 customers.

Among the challenges facing contractors was bad weather, which made it difficult to find a window for loading the glacial till used as fill, and the tight labour market, which hindered efforts to find qualified labourers, Selnes said.

dstrandberg@tricitynews.com