Revelstoke Dam (Revelstoke, British Columbia)

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Revelstoke Dam is Canada's second generating project on the Columbia River and one of four dams in B.C. that regulate the flow of the Columbia. Three of the dams (Mica, Hugh Keenleyside and Duncan) were built as a result of the Columbia River Treaty, signed by Canada and the United States in 1964. The Treaty dams provided badly needed flood control, made possible development of power plants on the Columbia and its tributaries in B.C., and increased power generation at plants in the United States.

The hydroelectric complex comprises a 175 m high concrete gravity dam in Little Dalles Canyon, a 122 m high earthfill dam on the west bank of the river, and a powerhouse in the riverbed, immediately downstream of the concrete dam.

The reservoir created by the dam extends 130 km back to the tailwaters of the Mica Dam. It has a surface area of 11,534 ha. Since regulated release water from Mica provides almost three-quarters of the inflow into the reservoir, the Revelstoke powerplant operates as a run-of-the-river plant, with normal maximum fluctuations in the reservoir level of 4.5 metres.

The Generating Station has an installed capacity of 2,480,000 kW, with provision for an ultimate capacity of 2,980,000 kW. The powerhouse has four large generating units, in service since 1984, with room for two more. Revelstoke Unit 5 became operational 2011, added approximately 500 MW of capacity. The sixth unit will be installed at an undetermined future date. www.bchydro.com/planning_regulatory/projects/revelstoke...
The enormous Unit 5 turbine was delivered to Revelstoke in August 2009, completing its long journey from Brazil. It was carried by barge up the Columbia River to Pasco, placed on a giant flatdeck trailer to bypass the Grand Coulee Dam before returning to barge to reach Galena Bay, then finally hauled by giant flatdeck trailer along Highway 23 to the dam site.


BC Hydro has established an interesting visitor centre at the dam, with displays and a self-guiding tour of the facilities. It is a popular tourist attraction in Revelstoke.