The Province has decommissioned two dams and partially decommissioned another, eliminating some of the biggest flood risks in the Britannia Creek watershed.

Crews have removed 10-metre-wide sections from both the Utopia Lake and Park Lane Dams, allowing the creek to flow freely along its natural creek bed.  

Crews also cut a four-metre wide, nine-metre-deep notch in Tunnel Dam, returning the creek to its natural elevation and reconnecting two fish habitats that have been separated for a century. Eventually, crews will widen the notch  – to fully decommission the dam – or renovate the dam to create a  debris barrier.

Crews will decomission the Mountain Lake dam next summer. The Province is currently consulting with stakeholders about the best course of action at the Mineral Creek, Lower and Thistle Creek dams. 

The work on the dams is part of a plan to deal with the outdated and deteriorating dams on the historic mine site. The dams were built over the last 100 years to supply power and water to the Britannia Mine. The dams have been abandoned since the mine closed in 1974. None of the dams pose an immediate threat to people living in the area. 

Quick Facts:

• The Britannia Mine opened in 1904. It was once the largest copper mine in the country.
• B.C.`s dam safety program monitors more than 1,500 dams regulated under the Water Act. The program works to reduce risks associated with the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a dam.

Learn More:

To see a map of the Britannia Creek watershed and the affected dams, click: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_safety/dam_safety/gen_index.html]

To learn more about B.C.`s dam safety program, visit: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_safety/dam_safety