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Mica Dam and Kinbasket Lake

Mica Dam and Kinbasket Lake

BC Hydro
Published Sept. 29, 2015
Mica Dam was built in 1973. Mica Dam, which forms Kinbasket Lake was built as one of three Canadian projects under the terms of the 1964 Columbia River Treaty and is operated by BC Hydro.
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Mica Dam was built in 1973. Mica Dam, which forms Kinbasket Lake was built as one of three Canadian projects under the terms of the 1964 Columbia River Treaty and is operated by BC Hydro.

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The embankment of Mica Dam with a rock face enters the photo from the right and cuves around back off the photo. The three spillway gates overlook the canyon with water behind the gates and the river down below.

Reservoir Elevations

  • Normal full pool: 754.4 meters (2,475 feet)
  • Normal minimum pool: 707.1 meters (2,320 feet)
  • Surface area at full pool: 42,930 hectares (106,000 acres)
  • Total storage capacity 24.7 kilometers3 (20,000,000 acre-feet)
  • Usable storage capacity14.8 kilometers3 (12,000,000 acre-feet)
  • Treaty storage commitment: 8.6 kilometers3 (7,000,000 acre-feet)

Dam, Earthfill 

  • Crest Elevation: 762.0 meters (2,500 feet)
  • Length: 792.5 meters (2,600 feet)
  • Approximate height above foundation: 244 meters (800 feet)
  • Maximum spillway capacity: 2,250 meters3/sec (150,000 cfs)
  • Maximum outlet works capacity: 1,060 meters3/sec (37,400 cfs

Power Facilities

  • Designed ultimate installation: 6 units at 434 MW total 2,604 MW
  • Currently installed: 4 units at 434 MW total 1,736 MW
  • Date power commercially available: December 1976
  • Head at full pool: 183 meters (600 feet)
  • Maximum turbine discharge of 4 units at full pool: 1,080 meters3/sec (38,140 cfs)

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


Mica Dam
BC Hydro
Columbia River Treaty