Williston Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Williston Lake
image_lake = Williston lake aerial.jpg
caption_lake = Aerial view of the eastern arm
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = British Columbia
coords = coord|56|N|124|W|region:CA-BC_type:waterbody_scale:150000|display=inline,title
type = Reservoir
inflow = Peace River
outflow = Peace River
catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length = km to mi|251|abbr=yes|precision=0
width = km to mi|155|abbr=yes|precision=0
area = km2 to mi2|1761|abbr=yes|precision=0
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = m to ft|671|abbr=yes|precision=0
(level varies by 18 m)
islands =
cities =
frozen =
reference = Statistics Canada. [http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys05.htm Lakes, elevation and area, by provinces and territories] ] Atlas of Canada. [http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html Lakes] ]

Williston Lake is a reservoir located in central British Columbia, Canada.

Geography

It is developed along the Peace River, in the Rocky Mountain Trench and the adjacent valleys. The lake includes three reaches, Peace Reach, Parsnip Reach, and Finlay Reach, and covers a total area of km2 to mi2|1761|abbr=yes|precision=0, being the largest lake in British Columbia.

The reservoir is fed by Omineca River, Ingenica River, Ospika River, Parsnip River, Manson River, Nation River, Clearwater Creek, Nabesche River, Carbon Creek, as well as other smaller creeks.

Several provincial parks are maintained on the shore of the lake, including Muscovite Lakes Provincial Park, Butler Ridge Provincial Park, Heather-Dina Lakes Provincial Park and Ed Bird-Estella Provincial Park.

History

Williston Lake was created in 1968 and, at the time, was the largest artificial reservoir in the world. It was formed with the building of the W. A. C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River, which flooded the aboriginal-territorial home of the Tsay Keh Dene Band. [Sekani Tribal Council. [http://cstc.bc.ca/Chronology.htm Carrier Chronology of Contact with Europeans-Euroamericans] ]

The reservoir was named after the Honourable Ray Williston, at the time the Minister of Lands, Forests and Water Resources.

References

External links

* BC Hydro. [http://www.bchydro.com/recreation/northern/northern1199.html Williston Reservoir]
* BC Hydro. [http://www.bchydro.com/pwcp/ Peace-Williston Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program]

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