FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Hydro has started filling the Site C reservoir, marking one of the final phases in the construction of the hydroelectric project on the Peace River. The process is expected to take between two and four months, with water levels rising from 30 centimetres to three metres per day.
Once filled, the Site C reservoir will stretch 83 kilometres, covering approximately 5,550 hectares of land with a total surface area of about 9,330 hectares. The reservoir will be about five per cent the size of the Williston Reservoir, located upstream. Filling the reservoir is a critical step in bringing the Site C generating station, spillways, turbines, and generators into full operation.
BC Hydro has issued a strong advisory for the public to avoid the reservoir area during filling and for at least one year afterward due to potential hazards, including unstable land and floating debris. Comprehensive warning and danger signs have been installed throughout the area to ensure public safety. The utility will issue a notification when it is safe for the public to access the reservoir.
During the filling process, existing boat launches along the reservoir will be closed. BC Hydro will monitor the reservoir conditions during the first year of operation, and boat launches will reopen once safety has been assured.
BC Hydro has engaged with local communities and First Nations throughout the project to prepare for the impact of reservoir filling. This engagement includes open houses, field tours, and the development of a cultural centre in the Peace region. Mitigation measures have been implemented to minimize environmental impacts, such as creating wetlands, fish habitats, and wildlife den structures, as well as removing vegetation from the reservoir area. The late summer timing of the filling was chosen to minimize disruption to wildlife.
The ongoing provincial drought will not affect the filling of the Site C reservoir. Water required for filling will be sourced from the Williston Reservoir after being used for electricity generation at the GM Shrum and Peace Canyon generating stations. The volume of water needed is significantly less than the annual discharge from the Williston Reservoir, even in a drought year, ensuring downstream water flows will remain within BC Hydro’s normal operating range.
The Site C project, which began construction in July 2015, is now more than 85 per cent complete. The first generating unit is scheduled to come online in December 2024, with all six units expected to be operational by fall 2025. The project remains on track to be completed within the budget approved in 2021.
Once fully operational, Site C will add 1,100 megawatts of capacity and produce approximately 5,100 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, supplying enough clean energy to power nearly 500,000 homes or 1.7 million electric vehicles in British Columbia.
