Campbell River’s John Hart Dam project continues to demonstrate engineering in action as another milestone was reached in the seismic upgrade recently.
BC Hydro is working to upgrade the John Hart Dam on the Campbell River so that it can withstand a major earthquake, and the first seismic upgrade milestone is complete with an improvement to the main earthfill section of the dam.
“The project is progressing well and we’re pleased to celebrate the completion of a new water seepage barrier within the main earthfill dam,” says BC Hydro spokesperson, Stephen Watson. “This new concrete wall is 1 metre wide, up to 37 metres deep, and over 100 metres long, and retains water within the John Hart Reservoir. It’s like a back-up wall to the existing wall within the dam.”
“This is a very interesting and important project to maintain hydroelectric facility reliability and the ongoing protection of downstream public safety,” says North Island MLA, Michele Babchuk. “It’s great to see the first of many seismic upgrade milestones complete as we look ahead to project completion in 2029. This capital project is a good example of BC Hydro’s $36 billion 10-Year Capital Plan in community and regional infrastructure investments across the province.”
Aecon-EBC General Partnership is the general contractor working on the civil work upgrades to the dam. Bauer Foundations, one of the main subcontractors started work on the new water seepage barrier wall in November 2023. The wall was completed in April.
“Observing this upgrade project and the unique equipment used was fascinating,” said Watson. “Essentially, they completed concrete panels by excavating downward through the earthfill dam to the bedrock below, and as they excavated, the material removed was replaced with clay bentonite mix so the integrity of the excavation was maintained. Once the excavation was complete, a pipe was lowered down through the clay bentonite to the bottom, and then concrete pumped in pushed the clay bentonite out, leaving a nice concrete panel. This process was replicated over a hundred times and the panels now provide one cohesive wall.”
Starting in March 2024 through to 2025, work will be taking place downstream and upstream of the main earthfill dam so the dam is wider and able to withstand the shaking from a major earthquake. Work on the project began last summer and is expected to be complete in 2029.
More information on the project can be found at majorprojects.ca or at the Campbell River Hydroelectric Facilities Discovery Centre, located beside the Elk Falls Suspension Bridge parking lot.