Nechako Reservoir

BW

The Nechako Reservoir, sometimes called Ootsa Lake Reservoir, is a reservoir in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

It was created in 1952 after the completion of the Kenney Dam and the impoundment of the Nechako River. Several natural lakes were flooded. The dam is located at the eastern end of lake. To the west of the reservoir splits into two main branches. The northern arm of the reservoir comprises the former lakes Ootsa Lake, White Lake Sail, White Sail Reach, while the southern arm includes the following lakes: Lake Eutsuk, Natalkuz Lake, Chedakuz arm, Knewstubb Lake, Lake Tetachuck. Between these two arms extending from west to east the mountain chain of Quanchus Range.

There are about 3 /4 of the amount of water via a 16 km long tunnel under the mountain range of the Kitimat Ranges, part of the Coast Mountains, through diverted to Kitimat directly to the Pacific Ocean. The gradient of about 850 m is used by a hydroelectric power plant, which has a capacity of 790 MW. This energy is used by the operated there from Alcan aluminum plant.

Tweedsmuir North Provincial Park and Protected Area and Entiako Provincial Park are two protected areas that are adjacent to the reservoir.