Upper Kitsault Valley Projects
Capacity: 50.8 MW

The Kitsault River valley runs north for approximately 36 km from Alice Arm. We are developing 6 hydroelectric projects along this corridor. To facilitate development of the sites, the company is in the process of rehabilitating the Provincial Highways #82 and #83, and extending the road up the valley. To date, 30 km of roads and 12 bridges have been either rehabilitated or constructed. The Upper Kitsault Valley projects will utilize a 30 km extension of the 69 kV transmission line that will extend up the valley from the Alice Arm Cluster of projects.

The Upper Kitsault River Project is being designed as a 7 MW hydroelectric plant on 370 m of developable head. An existing timber-crib dam will be replaced by a concrete and rock fill structure resulting in a storage capability that is equivalent to 60 days of full production with no net inflows. Hydrologic studies have been completed using nearby watersheds with long-term flow gauges, and over 4 years of on-site stream flow data. All field work and environmental reports are completed. The company will continue to collect water quality and stream flow data. The project has been issued its Conditional Water License, as well as being issued a Leave to Commence Construction.

The Homestake Creek Project is being designed as a 12 MW run-of-river hydroelectric plant. The project is located entirely on crown land, and a steam flow gauging station was installed in August 2003. All field work and environmental reports are completed. The project has been issued its Conditional Water License for 7 MW as well as being issued a Leave to Commence Construction.

There are seven additional hydroelectric projects in development in this cluster; Evindsen Creek (6.2 MW), Falls Creek (3.0 MW), Klayduc (5.2 MW), LaRose (4.6 MW), Lyall Creek (2.5 MW), Stark Creek (4.8 MW), and Trout Creek (5.5 MW). These are all run-of-river projects located entirely on crown land. Each project will consist of a concrete gravity diversion weir, a penstock, a powerhouse, and a 69 kV interconnection to be constructed as part of the Kitsault Valley transmission system. A stream flow gauging program was initiated in 2004 on LaRose Creek, Stark Creek, Trout Creek and Bug Creek. This program will be extended in 2009 along with engineering studies that will further define the projects. We expect to bid the projects into the expected BC Hydro 2010 Clean Power Call, and/or qualify under BC Hydro's recently announced Standard Offer Program.