Crews at the Salmon River Diversion Project are heading home.

BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson says the dam removal work has been completed.

"It's wonderful news for us in terms of getting the work done this summer and particularly for First Nations agencies and stakeholders with such an interest in unhindered fish passage."

As it regards to Coho Salmon, Watson says the fish are migrating smoothly up-stream.

He adds that, "we've been able to provide fish passage to Salmon River and Patterson Creek within the in-stream fisheries work window. The past few weeks, we removed the concrete abutments on the right bank so basically at that river site itself, it's hard to know that there was ever a dam there."

The post Salmon River Diversion Dam Project Wraps Up appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

BC Hydro is working to remove a 60-year-old dam on the Salmon River. Spokesperson Stephen Watson says the 8-metre tall dam is causing some issues to the fish habitat.

Watson says Hydro has filed an application to the BC Utilities Commission to move forward on the removal process. "It's just better overall conditions for fish in the future, and I think that's what a lot of people in the community are looking for", says Watson.

Watson notes the work will lead to unhindered fish passage, making things easier for fish in the water system. Watson adds that they've received tremendous community support as part of the application. They received 19 community letters from First Nations, local MLA's, governments, government fish agencies, and environmental and sport fishing groups.

If the application is approved by the BCUC, work will begin this summer.

The post BC Hydro files application to remove Salmon River dam appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

BC Hydro is doing a kayak flow down the Puntledge River this weekend.

BC Hydro spokesperson, Stephen Watson says there's been significant inflows into the Comox Lake reservoir over the last few days, so hydro has begun spilling water.

[audio wav="http://www.mypowellrivernow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ALL_Puntledge-Safety_Watson-1.wav"][/audio]

Watson says they are targeting ideal kayak flows through the weekend so paddlers can take advantage of the spill. He notes all others are urged to stay away from the river, while the water flows are increased.

The post Kayak flows in place on Puntledge River appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

The John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project has hit another milestone. Work on the first turbine is getting underway.

BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson says it's the first of three that will be installed to generate power when the new generating station comes online.

[audio wav="http://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ALL_John-Hart-Update_Watson-1.wav"][/audio]

Watson says they have also hit the one kilometre mark on the power tunnel, which will bring water from the reservoir to the underground power house.

The tunnel is expected to be completed by this summer.

The post Work starting on turbines for John Hart Generating Station Project appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

A new update video has been released on the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project.

The more than $1-billion project is replacing the old generating station, which was built in 1947.

BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson says the project is on schedule and on budget.

Watson says most of the work on the project so far has been underground, doing excavation and pouring concrete for the caverns for the equipment.

[audio wav="http://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ALL_John-Hart-Update_Watson-1.wav"][/audio]

Watson says 2017 will see the completion of the power tunnel and a focus on the building stage. He says the first units are set to be installed and tested in 2018.

[audio wav="http://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ALL_John-Hart-Update_Watson-2.wav"][/audio]

Watson notes there's been a lot of attention and interest in the project, with more than 1000 people attending the tour day last summer and more than 17,000 people visiting the interpretive centre this year.

The post Generating station project coming along appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

Equipment is beginning to be installed at the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project.

The more than $1-billion build is set to be complete in about two years. BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson says it's exciting to see the generating station begin to come together. He says crews have begun to place concrete at the site.

[audio wav="http://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CR_John-Hart-Update_Watson-2.wav"][/audio]

Watson says the project hit a peak of 420 jobs in September, which will now start to trend down until the project wraps up at the end of 2018.

The post Equipment being put in place at John Hart Project site appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

Another component of the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project has been completed.

BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson says crews completed the main access tunnel into the power house cavern this week.

He says it's incredible to be checking these milestones off as the project moves forward.

[audio wav="http://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ALL_John-Hart-Access-Tunnel_Watson-2.wav"][/audio]

BC Hydro has also posted a new construction video to its YouTube site so people can check out the work being done.

Watson notes that one of the challenges of the project is so much of the work is done underground it's hard for the public to see the progress of the work.

The post Another milestone for John Hart Project appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

The post River Flows down Elk Falls appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

BC Hydro continues their work at the John Hart Generating Station.

Spokesperson Stephen Watson says they're working on all elements of the project; up at the dam with the new water intake, on the new surge tower that will connect to the tunnel and provide pressure protection, as well as the power house cavern.

[audio wav="http://www.mytriportnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CR_John-Hart_Watson-3-edit.wav"][/audio]

Watson says BC Hydro currently has 245 people working on the project in Campbell River, which will certainly grow later this year.

The post John Hart Generating Station continues appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.

The post Use Caution around Elk Falls appeared first on My Tri-Port Now.