The Jordan River Dam , officially the Jordan River Diversion Dam , and known locally simply as Diversion Dam , is a dam located in Jordan River, British Columbia , Canada. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on Vancouver Island .
21-601: Prior to the dam's construction, the Goldstream Powerhouse was the main source of electricity to Victoria. Upon completion, it dwarfed the previous plant. The Vancouver Island Power Company, a subsidiary of British Columbia Electric Railway , completed construction of the smaller Bear Creek Dam and the main Jordan River Diversion Dam in 1911. At 126 feet (38.4 metres) from top to bottom, the Diversion Dam
42-584: A popular event in the early years of operation. Other entries tell of hobos riding the rails and spending the night at Goldstream. Located along the Cowichan Waggon (sic) Road, the powerhouse meant a long walk for the residents of the Lubbe House, (located only a short distance from the powerhouse, and associated with its early history), whose children reportedly used to walk to town and back. The Jordan River Hydroelectric Dam came online in 1912 and dwarfed
63-644: A series of lakes located northwest of the city. Using mainly Asian labourers, seven lakes were developed. These lakes are currently used as a secondary drinking water source by the CRD. Every January, the CRD switches to this system in order to allow inspection of the Kapoor Tunnel , the main artery transporting water to the city from Sooke Lake. The dams on these lakes underwent a $ 3.5 million refit in 1995 due to concerns about seismic stability. These lakes have been decommissioned and are being allowed to return to nature. It
84-473: A subsidiary of British Columbia Electric Railway , completed construction of the smaller Bear Creek Dam and the main Jordan River Diversion Dam in 1911. At 126 feet (38.4 metres) from top to bottom, the Diversion Dam was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada. Water flowed through a 31,600 ft long flume to the penstock above the power house. The construction of the dam, due to its remoteness, required
105-458: Is a decommissioned hydroelectric plant located near Goldstream Provincial Park in Langford , near Victoria, British Columbia . This plant provided electricity to Victoria for 60 years and is one of the little-known and ingenious chapters in the history of Victoria. This plant was one of the first hydro plants of this type on the west coast of North America. The structure is over a century old and
126-421: Is then used to fill Jack Elliott equalization reservoir on demand and flows from there through a 8.8 km (5.5 mi) long tunnel into a steel penstock for the last 330 feet (101 metres) of vertical height. It provides 35% of Vancouver Island 's generating capacity. In 1996, the provincial government initiated a Water Use Planning (WUP) program, demanding that BC's water licence holders show they can manage
147-493: Is unsafe to inhabit. It is within the boundaries of the watershed lands owned by the CRD and is inaccessible to the public due to its proximity to a drinking water reservoir. In 1897, Esquimalt Waterworks Company (EWWC) and British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) came to an agreement to generate power by using the water from the high elevation reservoirs to generate electricity. The water would be run through Pelton waterwheels , where
168-537: The Jordan River Diversion Dam , and known locally simply as Diversion Dam , is a dam located in Jordan River, British Columbia , Canada. It is part of the second hydroelectric development on Vancouver Island . Prior to the dam's construction, the Goldstream Powerhouse was the main source of electricity to Victoria. Upon completion, it dwarfed the previous plant. The Vancouver Island Power Company,
189-516: The Lubbe plant. Turbines one and two were taken offline and the plant continued to operate until 1957 as a 1500 KW facility. Rumours tell that the plant was torn down but the building in fact still exists to this day. The heavy equipment and supplies for the powerhouse were shipped in on the E&;N Railway , not far from the construction site. Following the offloading of equipment, the components were hauled up
210-509: The accompanying service railway was also dismantled. A Japanese built generator replaced the old equipment, boosting power output from 26 megawatts to 175 megawatts. Water collected at Bear Creek Dam and Diversion Dam, is then used to fill Jack Elliott equalization reservoir on demand and flows from there through a 8.8 km (5.5 mi) long tunnel into a steel penstock for the last 330 feet (101 metres) of vertical height. It provides 35% of Vancouver Island 's generating capacity. In 1996,
231-436: The capacity of the power house to 26 megawatts. In 1971 the flume was replaced by a 7 km tunnel, with a penstock flowing down to a new power house, located across the river from the original. The same year, the accompanying service railway was also dismantled. A Japanese built generator replaced the old equipment, boosting power output from 26 megawatts to 175 megawatts. Water collected at Bear Creek Dam and Diversion Dam,
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#1732837242129252-418: The construction of a three-foot narrow gauge railway as well as a cable-railway for the initial ascent from Jordan River. From 1912 to 1931, continual improvements and additional generators pushed the capacity of the power house to 26 megawatts. In 1971 the flume was replaced by a 7 km tunnel, with a penstock flowing down to a new power house, located across the river from the original. The same year,
273-438: The electricity demand grew. At the beginning of settlement in the region, Victoria and Esquimalt had an adversarial relationship. Victoria had developed Elk Lake as a water supply, while Esquimalt had attempted to exploit Thetis Lake . Using Thetis Lake had ultimately been a failure because it was simply too small, and as a result was only used for three years. The company, headed by entrepreneur Theodore Lubbe, then turned to
294-691: The potential environmental impact of reservoirs . in 2001 the Jordan River "WUP" was underway, with restoration of fish habitat a top issue. A 2014 BC Hydro study indicated Jordan River had a high risk of seismic dam failure. BC Hydro has offered to purchase the nine residences in the evacuation zone. 48°29′47″N 123°59′34″W / 48.496517°N 123.992772°W / 48.496517; -123.992772 ( Jordan River Dam ) Goldstream Powerhouse 48°27′50″N 123°35′6″W / 48.46389°N 123.58500°W / 48.46389; -123.58500 The Goldstream Powerhouse
315-400: The provincial government initiated a Water Use Planning (WUP) program, demanding that BC's water licence holders show they can manage the potential environmental impact of reservoirs . in 2001 the Jordan River "WUP" was underway, with restoration of fish habitat a top issue. A 2014 BC Hydro study indicated Jordan River had a high risk of seismic dam failure. BC Hydro has offered to purchase
336-590: The road with manual labour using horses and block and tackle . Before the plant, the only source of electricity was a coal fired power plant located in Rock Bay . The electricity from this plant provided power to the city's streetcars of the day, as per an agreement with the BCER. The plant fed upon water sourced from the Cabin Pond Reservoir located 655 feet (200 m) above the powerhouse . From there, it
357-594: The third, the transformers . Following the closure of the plant, the equipment was scavenged and was sold in the basement of the Capital Iron store, located in Victoria, and was lost to history. All that remains is the structure itself and a British Columbia Electric Railway sign, which cannot be safely removed. The plant began with two Pelton waterwheels, likely manufactured in San Francisco. Additions were made later on as
378-518: The water would then flow into the Japan Gulch Reservoir and subsequently be used for domestic purposes. The plant was expanded in 1898 and again in 1905, each time adding another turbine . The Goldstream Plant was staffed by full time operators, who recorded in their journals the daily activities, comings and goings, and events. A day excursion on the E & N Railway to the Powerhouse was
399-592: Was determined that the Mavis and Jack Lake dams would need a seismic refit as well. The decision was made to release the water from these reservoirs, since these sources were no longer required. Cabin Pond has two cabins on its shore where watershed caretakers once took up residence. These lakes are now a part of the Sea to Sea Regional Park Reserve and public access is not permitted. Jordan River Dam The Jordan River Dam , officially
420-457: Was transported down a 7,920 feet (2,410 m), 33-inch (84 cm), riveted steel pipeline to the powerhouse with an immense pressure of 285 pounds per square inch (1,970 kPa). The building's dimensions are 42 feet (13 m) x 24 feet (7.3 m) x 56 feet (17 m) and contains three rooms. The first room contained the generators, while another housed the Pelton waterwheels, and
441-404: Was upon its construction, the highest dam in Canada. Water flowed through a 31,600 ft long flume to the penstock above the power house. The construction of the dam, due to its remoteness, required the construction of a three-foot narrow gauge railway as well as a cable-railway for the initial ascent from Jordan River. From 1912 to 1931, continual improvements and additional generators pushed
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