Provincially owned utility BC Hydro is investigating several options for upgrade work at Stave Falls in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The project, expected to take up to six years to complete, includes a seismic stability upgrade of the Ruskin dam, to withstand a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
The Hayward Reservoir, impounded by the Ruskin dam, was lowered to 41.4m in October and will remain at this level until the upgrade is complete. The Ruskin dam was built in the 1930s and while it met the design standards of the day, it does not meet current seismic safety requirements.
Ruskin dam is a part of the Stave River generation complex which includes the 9MW Alouette, the 91MW Stave Falls, and the 105MW Ruskin generating stations.