Coquitlam Lake
Coquitlam Lake | ||
---|---|---|
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
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.
There is a glacier in the watershed of the reservoir, Coquitlam Glacier, which is the only glacier in Metro Vancouver. It formed during the Little Ice Age and is shrinking due to the effects of climate change. It is expected to melt by 2050.[3]
See also
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 Archived 2006-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 22 February 2009
- ^ Pitargue, Ali (20 October 2022). "Metro Vancouver's last remaining glacier is disappearing fast". CBC.