The W. A. C. Bennett Dam is a large hydroelectric dam on the Peace River in northern British Columbia, Canada. At high, it is one of the world's highest earth fill dams. Construction of the dam began in 1961 and culminated in 1968. At the dam, the Finlay, the Parsnip and the Peace rivers feed into Williston Lake, also referred to as Williston Reservoir. It is the third largest artificial lake in North America (after Smallwood Reservoir and Manicouagan Reservoir) as well as the largest body of fresh water in British Columbia. Williston Lake runs 250 kilometres north–south and 150 kilometres east–west.
The construction of the dam cost 750million,makingitthelargestprojectofitskindintheprovinceofBC.ThedamwasnamedafterPremierW.A.C.Bennettbecausehisvisionplayedamajorroleintheprojectinitiation,development,andrealization;thereservoirwasnamedafterthepremier′strustedcabinetcolleague:RayWilliston.TheGordonM.ShrumGenerationStationattheW.A.C.BennettDamhasthecapacitytogeneratemorethan13,000GWhannually,supplyingoverathirdofB.C′spowerdemand.Atthetimeofitsconstructionthepowerhousewasthelargestofitskindworldwide;itcontinuestobethelargestpowerstationinB.CanditisthethirdlargesthydroelectricdevelopmentinCanadaafterRobert−BourassaandChurchillFalls.Inadditiontothebenefitsrelatedtothecleanenergygenerated,theconstructionofthedamandthereservoiralsoprovidedeconomicopportunitiesfortheprovinceofBritishColumbia,forthenewlyfoundedprovinciallyownedelectricutilityBCHydro,andforthelargenumberofworkers.Theseworkerswereinvolvedintheplanning,construction,operation,andmaintenanceoftheproject.Considerablecostswereinvolvedinthegovernmentfundedproject,theclearingoftheareaforthereservoir,calledtheTrench,alonecost5 million.
The building of the dam and the reservoir were not without controversy.
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