La Joie Dam improvement project
![Image of La Joie Dam La Joie Dam](/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/photographs/places/geographical/la-joi-dam.png)
La Joie Dam is at the top of the Bridge river system and significantly influences the watershed. Parts of the dam are nearing the end of their life and need upgrades to ensure the facility continues to operate safely.
What's new
Share your feedback with us
We're hosting a public open house this September to share updates about the La Joie Dam Improvement Project and get feedback from the community.
We'll have experts on hand to answer questions and get your feedback as we continue in our early planning stage. Topics include engineering and design, environmental studies and management plans, early construction planning, and more.
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
In person location:
Gold Bridge Community Club
699 Gun Lake Road S
Gold Bridge, B.C.
We look forward to seeing you!
Questions about the project or the open house?
We're making significant capital investments in the Bridge River system facilities. La Joie Dam is at the top of the Bridge river system and significantly influences the watershed. Parts of the dam are nearing the end of their life and need upgrades to ensure the facility continues to operate safely.
We're in the early planning stages of the La Joie Dam (LAJ) Improvement Project. For more than a year, we've worked with St'at'imc Nation, stakeholders, and the public to evaluate the following alternatives for a leading alternative for the project:
- Decommissioning
- Do nothing
- Improve dam to a lower reservoir level
- Improve dam to full reservoir level
After a detailed review, we identified the leading alternative: improve dam to full reservoir level. This alternative includes working with St'at'imc Nation to review future operational options and regimes that could maximize the overall environmental benefits to upstream wildlife and downstream fish habitats. We're currently working on identifying the upgrade options for the various aspects of the project.
In 2015, we adjusted dam operations to mitigate seismic risks by reducing Downton Reservoir's maximum elevation from 750m to 734m. This lowered the reservoir's storage capacity by approximately one-half, reducing ability to buffer large inflows into the La Joie basin, which effects flows throughout the Bridge system.
The La Joie Dam Improvement Project will address dam safety risks related to ageing and seismic vulnerabilities. By restoring full capacity of Downton Reservoir, the project will re-establish operating flexibility for the benefit of fish and fish habitat throughout the Bridge-Seton watersheds, and meet commitments to St'át'imc Nation.
BC Hydro's Bridge River system is about 300 km north of Vancouver and includes of the La Joie Dam and Powerhouse (Downton Reservoir) near Goldbridge.
Based on early design work, low water levels in Downton Reservoir will be needed for the project. Construction at La Joie is expected to begin in 2027 with targeted completion in 2032.
Early planning estimates show the project will significantly exceed the $100 million threshold for projects requiring regulatory approval by the B.C. Utilities Commission.
Environmental impact studies are underway, and considerations will be shared with stakeholders as they are available.
Reports and documents
- La Joie Access and Accommodation Study Open House – June 2024 [PDF, 13.4 MB]
- La Joie Access and Accommodation Study Open House – January 2024 [PDF, 1.9 MB]
- Bridge River capital projects update, SLRD – December 2023 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- Bridge River capital projects update, SLRD – June 2023 [PDF, 1.6 MB]
- Bridge River – La Joie Access and Accommodation Studies storyboards – June 2023 [PDF, 9.2 MB]
- Bridge River Capital Projects Open House storyboards – June 2023 [PDF, 8.3 MB]
- Bridge River newsletter – Winter 2023 [PDF, 3.2 MB]
- Bridge River capital projects update, SLRD – December 2022 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
- La Joie Dam Improvement Project, Lillooet open house – December 2020 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Contact us
If you'd like to learn more about the project, please contact us at:
Email: projects@bchydro.com
Toll free: 1 866 647 3334
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BC Hydro is collecting your personal information (specifically, name, and email), for the purposes of the La Joie Dam Improvements Project and will be used to contact you in the future about project updates, correspondence and notifications about future consultation opportunities. This is done in accordance with BC Hydro's obligations under the Utilities Commission Act and under the authority of the Hydro and Power Authority Act. Data may be stored outside of Canada. If you have specific questions about the project or privacy concerns, please contact projects@bchydro.com.