Brilliant Dam

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Brilliant Dam IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: fact sheet Brilliant Dam ( S Original Purchased by Upgrade Turbines: Construction Columbia Power Investment: 4 Francis Completed: & CBT: $100 Million Turbines 1944 1996 Columbia Power 50% Capacity: Owner 140 MW Structure Columbia Basin Trust 50% HYDROELECTRICITY HISTORICAL INFORMATION Hydroelectricity is created by the force of water flowing from a The Brilliant Dam was constructed during WWII when lead and higher elevation to a lower elevation converting potential energy zinc were in high demand for the war effort and all of the other (water stored behind a dam) to hydraulic energy (water flowing West Kootenay Power generators on the Kootenay River were down a large tunnel called a penstock to a water wheel turbine). working to capacity. The Brilliant Dam was purchased by Columbia Power and The Francis water turbine used at the Brilliant Dam consists Columbia Basin Trust for $130 million in 1996 from Cominco of multiple vertical blades. Water passes through these blades (now Teck). At the time of purchase, the facility was capable of causing the turbine to rotate which spins the generator. Magnets producing 125 megawatts of electricity. Since the acquisition, spinning inside wire coils in the generator make the electricity. $100 million has been invested in capital upgrade projects The electricity passes through high voltage transmission lines to which include concrete rehabilitation, switch-yard replacement, substations where it is distributed at lower voltages to industrial, spillway gate refurbishment, seismic stabilization, and a commercial and residential customers. generation re-powering life extension program. The Brilliant Dam is considered to be one of Canada’s most reliable facilities WHERE DOES THE ELECTRICITY GO? by Navigant Consulting. ELECTRICITY GENERATED AT THE BRILLIANT DAM IS SOLD TO FORTISBC. FACILITY FACTS LOCATION Castlegar, BC on the Kootenay River CONSTRUCTION Originally built in 1944 by Cominco (now PERIOD Teck) ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OWNER Columbia Power (50%), Columbia Basin Once the Brilliant Dam was purchased from Cominco (now STRUCTURE Trust (50%) Teck) in 1996 it underwent a variety of capital upgrades CAPACITY 140 megawatts including a generation re-powering life extension program. This SPILLWAY GATES 8 program increased powerhouse capacity resulting in positive TURBINES 4 vertical Francis turbines environmental benefits by directing more water through the TRANSMISSION 0.5 km links to the Brilliant Terminal powerhouse instead of spilling it over the Brilliant Dam which Station reduces downstream Total Gas Pressure (TGP) levels which are ASSET MANAGER Columbia Power harmful to fish. OPERATIONS + Brilliant Dam Environmental Programs Include: MAINTENANCE MANAGER FortisBC • Lardeau River Side Channel Enhancement Project • Kootenay Lake Kokanee Shoal Spawning Study columbiapower.org.
Recommended publications
  • Kootenay System Operations
    Columbia River Treaty Review – Technical Studies Appendix C Kootenay System Operations Operation of the Kootenay River system is complicated as it is administered by several different jurisdictions and the hydroelectric facilities are owned by different agencies/companies. As shown in Figure 1, the Kootenay River originates in the Rocky Mountains not far from Field, BC. The river flows south, within a few km of the source of the Columbia River at Canal Flats, and then continues south into Koocanusa Reservoir, formed behind Libby Dam in Montana, United States. From Libby, the Kootenay River turns west and north, and re-enters British Columbia near the community of Creston, flowing into the south arm of Kootenay Lake. In the northern part of the Kootenay basin, the Duncan River is joined by the Lardeau River just downstream from Duncan Dam, and then flows into the north arm of Kootenay Lake. Water from the north and south arms of Kootenay Lake then flows through the west arm of the lake and past the Corra Linn Dam near Nelson (as well as other dams) en route to the Columbia–Kootenay confluence at Castlegar. The components of this system and various agreements/orders that regulate flows are described in this Appendix. November 29, 2013 1 Columbia River Treaty Review – Technical Studies Figure 1: Kootenay and Columbia Region November 29, 2013 2 Columbia River Treaty Review – Technical Studies 1.0 Coordination of Libby Operations Background Under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty, Canada permitted the U.S. to build the Libby Dam on the Kootenai River (U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Dams and Hydroelectricity in the Columbia
    COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN: DAMS AND HYDROELECTRICITY The power of falling water can be converted to hydroelectricity A Powerful River Major mountain ranges and large volumes of river flows into the Pacific—make the Columbia precipitation are the foundation for the Columbia one of the most powerful rivers in North America. River Basin. The large volumes of annual runoff, The entire Columbia River on both sides of combined with changes in elevation—from the the border is one of the most hydroelectrically river’s headwaters at Canal Flats in BC’s Rocky developed river systems in the world, with more Mountain Trench, to Astoria, Oregon, where the than 470 dams on the main stem and tributaries. Two Countries: One River Changing Water Levels Most dams on the Columbia River system were built between Deciding how to release and store water in the Canadian the 1940s and 1980s. They are part of a coordinated water Columbia River system is a complex process. Decision-makers management system guided by the 1964 Columbia River Treaty must balance obligations under the CRT (flood control and (CRT) between Canada and the United States. The CRT: power generation) with regional and provincial concerns such as ecosystems, recreation and cultural values. 1. coordinates flood control 2. optimizes hydroelectricity generation on both sides of the STORING AND RELEASING WATER border. The ability to store water in reservoirs behind dams means water can be released when it’s needed for fisheries, flood control, hydroelectricity, irrigation, recreation and transportation. Managing the River Releasing water to meet these needs influences water levels throughout the year and explains why water levels The Columbia River system includes creeks, glaciers, lakes, change frequently.
    [Show full text]
  • Brilliant Headpond Stewardship Initiative Draft
    DRAFT SCOPING STUDY WORKING COPY FOR VIEWING PURPOSES BRILLIANT ONLY HEADPOND STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE KATARINA HARTWIG HEATHER LESCHIED MAY 2017 Scoping Study: Brilliant Headpond Stewardship Initiative Katarina Hartwig, Heather Leschied | May 2017 Design and Layout: Mandi McRobbie Cover Photo: Douglas Noblet, WildAir Photography ©2017 Living Lakes Canada All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce all or part of this publication for non-commercial purposes, as long as you cite the source Living Lakes Canada Box 691 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Brilliant Headpond Stewardship Initiative Scoping Study is intended to be the first phase of a stewardship strategy for the Brilliant Headpond Reservoir. The Scoping Study is guided by the Brilliant Headpond Stewardship Initiative Steering Committee, which includes leaders from the Brilliant Headpond communities of Tarrys, Thrums, Glade, Shoreacres, and South Slocan, representatives of the Ktunaxa First Nation and Okanagan Nation Alliance, and Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Area I Director, Andy Davidoff, and RDCK Area H Director, Walter Popoff. The Brilliant Headpond Reservoir (“BHPR”) was created by the damming of the Kootenay River at the Brilliant Canyon for the completion of the West Kootenay Power Corps. Brilliant Dam hydroelectric project completed in 1944. The BHPR area extends from Columbia Power Corporation’s (current owner) Brilliant Dam and Brilliant Expansion Project (2007) upstream to the Slocan Pool area just below BC Hydro’s Kootenay Canal (1975) and FortisBC’s South Slocan (1928) dams. FortisBC owns and operates the four dams on the Lower Kootenay, upstream of Brilliant Dam, and FortisBC operates Brilliant Dam and Brilliant Expansion facilities on behalf of Columbia Power Corporation.
    [Show full text]
  • Fortisbc Inc. an Indirect Subsidiary of Fortis Inc. Annual Information Form
    FortisBC Inc. An indirect subsidiary of Fortis Inc. Annual Information Form For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 Dated March 10, 2020 FortisBC Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION .................................................................................................................... 3 GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.0 CORPORATE STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 NAME AND INCORPORATION ................................................................................................................. 6 1.2 INTER-CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS ..................................................................................................... 6 2.0 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS ......................................................................................... 6 2.1 THREE-YEAR HISTORY ......................................................................................................................... 6 3.0 THE BUSINESS OF FORTISBC INC. ................................................................................................................ 6 3.1 GENERAL ............................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 GENERATION AND POWER SUPPLY ......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Institutional Factors Affecting Fish Passage in the Columbia River Treaty Renegotiation
    Water International ISSN: 0250-8060 (Print) 1941-1707 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rwin20 Institutional factors affecting fish passage in the Columbia River Treaty renegotiation Graeme A. Lee Rowlands & Richard A. Wildman To cite this article: Graeme A. Lee Rowlands & Richard A. Wildman (2018): Institutional factors affecting fish passage in the Columbia River Treaty renegotiation, Water International, DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2018.1511200 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2018.1511200 Published online: 10 Sep 2018. Submit your article to this journal View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=rwin20 WATER INTERNATIONAL https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2018.1511200 RESEARCH ARTICLE Institutional factors affecting fish passage in the Columbia River Treaty renegotiation Graeme A. Lee Rowlandsa and Richard A. Wildmana,b aQuest University Canada, Squamish, Canada; bGeosyntec Consultants, Portland, OR, USA ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY The United States and Canada have begun renegotiating the Received 21 April 2017 Columbia River Treaty, which is an international model for trans- Accepted 9 August 2018 fi boundary water governance. This paper identi es six institutional KEYWORDS ff fi factors that will a ect negotiations pertaining to sh passage dur- Dams; fish passage; ing the renegotiation of the treaty: geographical advantage, issue governance; Indigenous linkage, a basin commission, the duration of agreements, negotiat- peoples; salmon; Columbia ing autonomy and side payments. These factors and the methods River Treaty used to determine them can be applied to other transboundary river basins where basin states have a history of transboundary resource governance.
    [Show full text]
  • International Kootenay Lake Board of Control
    International Kootenay Lake Board of Control 2007 Annual Report to the International Joint Commission Grohman Narrows Viewed looking downstream from high above the City of Nelson, BC, Grohman Narrows (centre) throttles the West Arm of Kootenay Lake into the lower Kootenay River. The feature was named after William Adolph US Section: Baillie-Grohman, who, late in the 19th century, attempted to deepen the 4735 East Marginal Way South narrows in an early effort to reclaim the farmlands of the Creston Valley Seattle, Washington 98134-2385 U.S.A. and Kootenai Flats. With his attempt no match for river bed, the narrows remained relatively intact until the West Kootenay Power and Light Canadian Section: 201 – 401 Burrard Street Company dredged the constriction as a condition of the International Joint Vancouver, BC V6C 3S5 Commission’s 1938 Order for Kootenay Lake. For more information on Bill Canada Grohman, see the BC Historical Quarterly, Vol. XX, 1956. 1 Kootenay Lake 2007 Summary In general, throughout 2007, FortisBC regulated the level of Kootenay Lake below the maximum limits prescribed by the 1938 Kootenay Lake Order. However, for a considerable period prior to spring rise, the lake level exceeded the prescribed limit primarily due to extraordinary natural high inflow conditions. The maximum instantaneous water level for the lake at Queens Bay was observed at 07:00 PST on June 7th at elevation 533.481 metres1 (1750.27 feet). The minimum instantaneous water level was observed at 02:05 PST on March 12th at elevation 530.435 metres (1740.27 feet). Kootenay Lake discharged 25.5 cubic kilometres (20.7 million acre- feet) of water in 2007, with an average flow of 810 cubic metres per second (28,600 cubic feet per second).
    [Show full text]
  • In the Matter of an Arbitration Under Chapter Eleven of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Icsid Arbitration (Additional Facility) Rules
    PUBLIC VERSION CONFIDENTIAL AND RESTRICTED ACCESS INFORMATION REDACTED IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION UNDER CHAPTER ELEVEN OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT AND THE ICSID ARBITRATION (ADDITIONAL FACILITY) RULES BETWEEN: MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC. Claimant/Investor AND: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA Respondent/Party ICSID CASE No. ARB(AF)/12/3 WITNESS STATEMENT OF DENNIS SWANSON CONTENTS A. Introduction................................................................................................................. 3 B. FortisBC - Overview................................................................................................... 4 1. Historical Background ............................................................................................ 4 2. The Regulation of FortisBC.................................................................................... 5 3. FortisBC’s Rates ..................................................................................................... 7 4. FortisBC’s Electricity Requirements and Generation Assets ................................. 8 5. FortisBC’s Demand-Side Management Programs................................................ 10 6. FortisBC Customers with Self-Generation ........................................................... 12 7. FortisBC’s Transmission Capacity ....................................................................... 13 C. FortisBC’s Relationship with BC Hydro .................................................................. 13 1. The FortisBC-BC Hydro 1993 PPA
    [Show full text]
  • TMDL for Total Dissolved Gas in the Mid-Columbia River and Lake
    Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Dissolved Gas in the Mid-Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt Submittal Report Washington State Spokane Tribe U. S. Environmental Department of of Indians Protection Agency Ecology June 2004 Prepared jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology in cooperation with the Spokane Tribe of Indians Publication Information U.S. EPA For a printed copy or a compact disk of this publication, contact: Helen Rueda U.S. EPA 811 SW Sixth Avenue Portland, OR 97204 Phone: (503) 326-3280 E-mail: [email protected] Washington State This report is available on the Washington State Department of Ecology Wide Web at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403002.html. For a printed copy of this publication, contact: Jean Witt Department of Ecology Publications Distributions PO Box 47600 Olympia WA 98504-7600 Phone: (360) 407-7472 E-mail: [email protected] Refer to Ecology Publication Number 04-03-002 The Washington State Department of Ecology and U.S. EPA are equal opportunity agencies and do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, disability, age, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disabled veteran's status, Vietnam-era veteran's status, or sexual orientation. If you have special accommodation needs or require this document in alternative format, please contact Joan LeTourneau, Ecology, at (360)-407-6764 (voice), or Helen Rueda, EPA TMDL Project Manager, at (503) 326-3280 (voice). Ecology's telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY) number is (360) 407-6006. EPA's telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY) number is (503) 229-6993.
    [Show full text]
  • Columbia Power Corporation ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 Columbia Power Green Clean
    Columbia Power Corporation ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 Columbia Power green clean, COLUMBIA POWER CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT • 2008 / 09 Cover photo: Tailrace Improvement Project at the Brilliant Dam and Expansion, located on the Kootenay River near Castlegar, BC. C O L U M B I A P O W E R C O R P O R A T I O N ANNUAL REPORT • 2008/09 Table of Contents Joint Message from the Chair and the President and CEO 2 Organizational Overview 4 Corporate Governance 12 Board of Directors and Officers 14 Review of Power Projects 17 Arrow Lakes Generating Station 18 Brilliant Dam and Generating Station 20 Brilliant Expansion Generating Station 22 Waneta Expansion 24 Report on Performance 25 Alignment with Shareholder’s Letter of Expectations 29 Management Discussion and Analysis 30 Consolidated Financial Statements 42 Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Columbia Power Corporation (B.C.) Annual Report. — 1995/1996- Glossary 66 Annual. Appendix A - Performance Measures Framework Report year ends Mar. 31 http://www.columbiapower.org/media/documents/CPC_ServicePlan_2010_AppendixA.pdf ISSN 1209-4013 = Annual report (Columbia Power Corporation) Appendix B - Benchmarking, Operating, Maintenance and Administration 1. Columbia Power Corporation - Periodicals. 2. Water resources development - http://www.columbiapower.org/media/documents/CPC_ServicePlan_2010_AppendixB.pdf British Columbia - Periodicals. 3. Water resources development – Columbia River Watershed - Periodicals. 4. Hydroelectric power plants – British Columbia - Periodicals. I. Title. II. Title: Columbia Power Corporation annual report. TK1193.C3C64 333.91’009711’6505 C97-802158-4 COLUMBIA POWER CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT • 2008 / 09 1 JOINT message from THE CHAIR, LEE DONEY AND With respect to the financial plan, we appreciate the commitment of our advisors, staff and partner, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, BARRY CHUDDY.
    [Show full text]
  • Grohman Narrows Channel Improvement Project
    GROHMAN NARROWS CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 12 Sept 2013 1 BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DRIVERS • Grohman Narrows is a natural hydraulic constriction on the Kootenay River, ~3 km downstream of Nelson • The constriction is primarily due to a naturally high river bed elevation through the reach • The river narrows to an approximate width of 175 m at the upstream end of the reach • Bed elevation through the reach varies between approximately El. 520 m (1706 ft) and El. 530 m (1739 ft). BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DRIVERS • The effects of the Grohman Narrows constriction include: • Higher peak flood levels on Kootenay Lake • Reduced ability to release water from Kootenay Lake, especially from March to June, to fully utilize the storage flexibility of the lake • Reduced head and generation at Corra Linn and Kootenay Canal and increased spill at Corra Linn and all of the downstream Kootenay River dams • Less operating flexibility at Kootenay Canal, Corra Linn, and the downstream Kootenay River plants • Channel improvements at Grohman Narrows would improve all these effects • In response to local government and community concerns, BC Hydro initiated the project to explore potential improvements to Grohman Narrows in late 2012 PROJECT AREA 4 PREVIOUS EXCAVATION EFFORTS • The benefits of channel improvements in the Grohman Narrows have been recognized since the 1890’s. 1890: • An estimated 18,000 cubic yards of blasted rock, boulder and gravel removed from the riverbed 1931: • Approximately 350,000 m3 of rock and 200,000 m3 of boulders and gravel • Material
    [Show full text]
  • Columbia River Treaty Frequently Asked Questions (Faqs) Spring 2012
    Columbia River Treaty Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Spring 2012 Columbia River Treaty 1. What is the Columbia River Treaty? The Columbia River Treaty is a trans-boundary water management agreement between the United States and Canada signed in 1961 and ratified in 1964. The Treaty optimizes flood management and power generation, requiring coordinated operations of reservoirs and water flows for the Columbia River and Kootenay River on both sides of the border. It does not have a specified end date, however, the Treaty can be terminated on or after September 16, 2024 provided that either Canada or the United States has given at least 10 years notice of their intention to terminate. 2. What are the Canadian and U.S. Entities The U.S. Entity is made up of the Bonneville Power Administration and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The Canadian Entity is BC Hydro. The Columbia River Treaty is implemented by the entities. Together, they work cooperatively and are responsible for the daily operations of the reservoirs and hydroelectric facilities. The Province of British Columbia is the Canadian Entity to manage the Canadian Entitlement, Canada’s half share of the downstream power benefits. 3. What are the benefits to British Columbia from the Columbia River Treaty? The Columbia River Treaty has brought significant flood control and power benefits to British Columbia. at-site electricity generation • Mica dam and Arrow Lakes Hydro plant Canadian Entitlement • average 1,320 megawatts capacity and 4,540 gigawatt hours of (Canada’s share of the
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report of the Columbia River Treaty, Canada and United States Entities
    Annual Report of The Columbia River Treaty, Canada and United States Entities 01 August 2019 through 30 September 2020 This page intentionally left blank. 2020 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY CANADA AND UNITED STATES ENTITIES FOR THE PERIOD 01 AUGUST 2019 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 For any feedback and comments: Julie Ammann, USACE [email protected] Pamela Kingsbury, BPA [email protected] Chris Revell, BC Hydro [email protected] Project Naming Conventions Hugh Keenleyside Dam The official name of the project is Hugh Keenleyside Dam, but it will be referred to as Keenleyside in the report. The official name of the associated reservoir is Arrow Lakes Reservoir, but it will be referred to as Arrow in the report, i.e. “Arrow” will always refer to the reservoir and “Keenleyside” will always refer to the dam/project/facility. Note that when the Treaty was signed, the dam was referred to as Arrow; the re-naming to Hugh Keenleyside Dam was completed later. Mica Dam and Powerhouse The official name of the project/facility is Mica Dam and Powerhouse, but it will be referred to as Mica in the report. The official name of the associated reservoir is Kinbasket Lake Reservoir, but it will be referred to in the report as Kinbasket. Libby Dam The official name of the project is Libby Dam, but it will be referred to as Libby in the report. The official name of the associated reservoir is Lake Koocanusa. Duncan Dam The official name of the project is Duncan Dam, but it will be referred to as Duncan in the report.
    [Show full text]