Kootenay Canal Dam - Bonnington Falls, BC
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 49° 27.209 W 117° 31.261
11U E 462238 N 5477999
The Kootenay Canal Dam, the final in a series of five along a 4.5 km. stretch of the Kootenay River, is a concrete gravity dam about 19 km downstream from the city of Nelson.
Waymark Code: WMH9B9
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 06/10/2013
Views: 2
A canal was created, taking water from the Kootenay at the Corra Linn Dam 4.5 km. above the Kootenay Canal Dam, effectively splitting the flow of the Kootenay in two. This dam, 4.5 km. lower on the river, uses all the water from the Kootenay Canal to produce hydroelectric power, returning the water to the river at this point. This water is diverted past the Corra Linn Dam, City of Nelson Powerhouse, Upper Bonnington, Lower Bonnington and South Slocan Dams.
Completed in 1976, the dam has an effective head and height of 84 metres. It produces 583 MW of power, about 2.5 times the amount of power produced by the other 5 dams combined along this 4.5 km. stretch of river. There are now a total of five vertical shaft turbines in the powerhouse.
This is the only one of the six powerhouses and dams here owned by BC Hydro; the Corra Linn, Upper Bonnington, Lower Bonnington and South Slocan Dams being operated by Fortis BC and the City of Nelson Powerhouse being operated by the City of Nelson for its own use.
Coordinates given are for the vantage point used by the photographer, directly across the river from the outlet of the powerhouse.
