Coquitlam Lake
| Coquitlam Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | North of Coquitlam, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°24′N 122°47′W / 49.400°N 122.783°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Coquitlam River |
| Primary outflows | Coquitlam River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 11 km2 (4.2 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 154 m (505 ft) |
| Islands | Coquitlam Island |
Coquitlam Lake is a reservoir located just north of Coquitlam, British Columbia. It is one of the three main water sources for Metro Vancouver, and part of the Coquitlam watershed. It is also a part of BC Hydro's power generation system. A tunnel directs water from the lake to nearby Buntzen Lake, and from there to a pair of power stations.[1]
History
Construction of the tunnel between Coquitlam Lake and Buntzen Lake began in 1902 and finished in 1905, supplying water to powerhouses on Indian Arm, which supplied electricity to Vancouver.[2]
The first Coquitlam Dam, built to raise the water level by 5 feet (1.52 m), was begun in April 1904 and completed in 1905. It was built to protect the water supply to the powerhouses, and also supplied water to New Westminster.[2] By 1906 the original dam was discovered to be leaking, and while repairs were made the leak continued through 1908, until the current dam was completed in 1914.
References
- ^ BC Hydro: Coquitlam River and Buntzen Lake Watersheds Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 22 February 2009
- ^ a b Will Koop: Coquitlam Watershed History Retrieved on 22 February 2009