BC Hydro is currently proceeding with dam safety upgrades at Strathcona and Sugar Lake dams, after recently completing comprehensive dam safety reviews.
The work at Strathcona dam is stage 2 of a two-stage riprap improvement project started in 2000.
BC Hydro has awarded a contract to add graded rock riprap to a portion of the upstream side slope of the dam to local company, Upland Excavating.
To facilitate the work, Upper Campbell Lake reservoir will be lowered to no less than elevation 213m for a period of about four weeks starting in early April 2002.
BC Hydro has also begun the final phase of its seismic improvement work on Sugar Lake dam. The work will complete anchoring work started at the dam in 1999. Steel straps will be placed on the dam buttresses and anchors will be drilled into six buttresses over an eight to ten week period.
The improvements will reflect recent more stringent earthquake standards, as well as improve the ability of the dam to safely pass extreme flood inflows.
Once the project is complete, BC Hydro will again be able to use the storage capacity in Sugar Lake Reservoir to a maximum operating level of 601.72m.
For the past two years, BC Hydro has maintained the maximum operating elevation below 601.52m as an interim measure until the seismic improvement work could be completed.
Sugar Lake dam was constructed in 1929.