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Duncan Dam and Lake

Duncan Dam and Duncan Lake

BC Hydro
Published Sept. 29, 2015
Built in 1967, Duncan Dam is a storage reservoir, built as part of the Columbia River Treaty. Duncan Dam and Duncan Lake spans the Duncan River in British Columbia, Canada.
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Built in 1967, Duncan Dam is a storage reservoir, built as part of the Columbia River Treaty. Duncan Dam and Duncan Lake spans the Duncan River in British Columbia, Canada.

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Duncan Dam's reservoir is shown in the upper right corner with the embankment reaching toward a rock face spillway. Two spillway gates realease water with a forest of evergreen trees on the upper bank along the left side of the photo. Construction began September 17, 1964 and storage became fully operational July 31, 1967.

Reservoir Elevations

  • Normal full pool: 577 meters (1,892 feet)
  • Normal minimum pool: 547 meters (1,794.2 feet)
  • Surface area at full pool: 7,290 hectares (18,000 acres)
  • Total storage capacity: 1.77 kilometers3 (1,432,400 acre-feet)
  • Usable storage capacity: 1.73 kilometers3 (1,400,000 acre-feet)
  • Treaty storage commitment: 1.73 kilometers3 (1,400,000 acre-feet)

Dam, Earthfill

  • Crest elevation: 581 meters (1,907 feet)
  • Length: 792.5 meters (2,600 feet)
  • Approximate height above riverbed: 39.6 meters (130 feet)
  • Maximum spillway capacity: 1,350 meters3/sec (47,700 cfs)
  • Maximum discharge tunnels capacity: 570 meters3/sec (20,000 cfs)

Power Facilities

  • None

Read more information about BC Hydro's Columbia Region Facilities.


Columbia River Treaty
BC Hydro
Duncan Dam