Coquitlam Dam

Coquitlam Dam
Location	Coquitlam, British Columbia
Coordinates	49°21.230′N 122°46.6′W / 49.35383°N 122.7767°W / 49.35383; -122.7767
Opening date	1914
Dam and spillways
Height	31 m
Length	290 m
Impounds	Coquitlam River
Reservoir
Creates	Coquitlam Lake
Surface area	1100 ha

The Coquitlam Dam is a hydraulic fill embankment dam on the Coquitlam River in the city of Coquitlam, British Columbia. It is part of BC Hydro's electrical generation infrastructure.^[1]

History

The first Coquitlam Dam, built to raise the water level of Coquitlam Lake by five feet, was begun in April 1904, and completed in 1905. It was built to protect the water supply to powerhouses on Indian Arm, via a tunnel to Buntzen Lake, and also supplied water to New Westminster.^[2] By 1906 the original dam was discovered to be leaking, and while repairs were made the leak continued through 1908, until a second dam was completed in 1914. At the time of the tunnel's completion, it was the longest power diversion tunnel in the world.^[2] Due to seismic concerns, an embankment dam was built on the downstream side of the original rockfill dam in 2008.^[3]

References

1. ^ BC Hydro: Coquitlam River and Buntzen Lake Watersheds Retrieved on 22 February 2009
2. ^ ^{a b} Will Koop: Coquitlam Watershed History Retrieved on 22 February 2009
3. ^ BC Hydro: Coquitlam Dam Seismic Upgrade Retrieved 12 March 2009