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John Hart Dam upgrades aimed to resist major earthquakes

Planned changes to the John Hart Dam in Campbell River are targeted to strengthen the structure to resist major earthquakes.

BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson said the feasibility design stage has been completed and the fine-tuning of designs for the proposed works is now underway.

“This includes optimization of the size of the upstream and downstream berms that will widen the dam to make it seismically stronger, and the length and placement of a new water seepage cutoff wall that provides an impermeable barrier to contain the reservoir even after a major earthquake. From this process we will get a final design,” Watson said.

Other improvements include upgrades to the earthfill and concrete sections of the dam, a new overflow spillway under the road deck near the spillway gates, and the replacement of the three spillway gates.

BC Hydro announced in fall 2018 it was no longer planning to have a 10-metre John Hart Reservoir level drawdown to complete the upgrade work. This came as a significant benefit to the City on reservoir water quality considerations and domestic water extraction.

An environmental and socio-economic impact assessment is in development. This will allow for the project to support the overall BC Utilities Commission project application, currently targeted for submission in 2021.

Construction on the John Hart Dam is scheduled to begin in late 2023. Once it starts, the Brewster Lake Road that crosses over the dam may be closed for 4 to 5 years.

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