Crews employed via a joint effort by B.C. Hydro and area First Nations are restoring and reshaping a portion of the Salmon River after the course was temporarily diverted in August to facilitate the removal of a timber crib diversion dam. The Salmon River Diversion Project was constructed between Campbell River and Sayward in the late 1950s to divert water from the river along a three-kilometre canal system into Brewster Lake and the Lower Campbell Reservoir to generate power.
The facility has deteriorated despite numerous repairs. B.C. Hydro decided it would make more sense to remove the diversion rather than replace it. The corporation gave this explanation for why it decided to dismantle the Salmon River diversion: "B.C. Hydro determined that the benefits of reinvesting to rehabilitate the diversion did not weigh favourably in comparison to the ceasing of operations when considering the costs and benefits inclusive of ecological impacts and social benefits.”
The restored Salmon River riverbed is expected to be ready for the coho run this fall. Cost of the work is estimated at $14.2 million.
B.C. Hydro is also in the area building a massive replacement for the John Hart generating station. That project has a pricetag of $1.1 billion and is expected to be completed in 2018-2019. It replaces a power-generating facility that started operating in 1947.
