BC Hydro has begun work to enable seismic upgrades at Ladore Dam, near Campbell River, marking what the company calls a “major milestone” for dam safety projects on Vancouver Island.
This upgrade, with an estimated cost between $297 million to $379 million, is meant to help ensure Ladore Dam continues to hold and pass water downstream in case of a major earthquake or flood.
“The Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project will allow us to maintain public safety and reliability post-earthquake,” says Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “This critical project will also benefit local fish and wildlife habitats, as well as downstream domestic water supply.”
The Ladore Dam is one of three hydroelectric dams on the Campbell River system. The John Hart Dam is downstream, and the Strathcona Dam is upstream. Ladore was built in 1949 and its powerhouse was completed in 1957. The seismic upgrade work includes replacing spillway gates and installing new equipment and upgrades to ensure the spillway is operational following a major earthquake and to meet modern reliability standards.
“Vancouver Island is within the most seismically active zone in B.C.,” says Kermit Dahl, Mayor of Campbell River. “This critical work will not just improve seismic safety across the Campbell River system, the project will also create about 70 jobs per year until it’s completed in 2029.”
While there is no public access to the Ladore Dam, BC Hydro has consulted with First Nations, government agencies, the community, and other stakeholders through various stages of the planning process.
“Public safety is our top priority. For many decades, we’ve been assessing earthquake hazards at our dams and related facilities, and upgrading them as required,” says Chris O’Riley, President and CEO of BC Hydro. “This project will improve the reliability of the spillway gate system at Ladore Dam, along with its power supply, control, and telecommunications.”
The Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project is one of the three dam safety upgrade projects for the Campbell River system. The John Hart Dam upgrade work started in the summer of 2023 and is being carried out in two segments over six years. That work is expected to be completed by 2030. The Strathcona Dam Water Discharge Upgrade Project is planned to begin in the fall of 2025.
The work on the Campbell River hydro system is expected to cost between $1.25 billion to $1.78 billion, per a BC Hydro official.
About 98% of the power generated for British Columbia’s integrated grid comes from clean or renewable resources, primarily hydropower. In January 2024, the province announced BC Hydro’s updated 10-Year Capital Plan, which contains $36 billion in regional and community infrastructure investments, a 50% increase in over its previous capital plan. These construction projects are forecasted to support 10,500 to 12,500 jobs annually, on average, and will increase and maintain BC Hydro’s capital investments as major projects such as Site C hydropower are completed.
Originally published on Factor This.
