Next phase of John Hart Dam work to temporarily close trail access to Dolphin Pool area

August 22, 2024

BC Hydro’s ongoing seismic upgrade of the John Hart Dam is making improvements to the downstream side of the main earthfill dam, and part of that work includes the installation of about 300 steel H-piles to anchor the base of the dam. The sound from that piling work will exceed safe hearing levels so nearby public trails will be closed for about eight weeks.

The upper trails within the Elk Falls Provincial Park that lead to the Dolphin Pool area will be closed Monday to Friday from September 3 to November 4. Temporary fencing and awareness signage will be in place. Access to the Elk Falls Suspension Bridge will remain open.

“We’ve been working closely with BC Parks for years on this project to coordinate and consider impacts to the park and the visiting public,” says BC Hydro spokesperson, Stephen Watson. “We originally thought the work may take up to six months and we have refined it down to about two months. We’ve also picked a good time of the year for wildlife. We appreciate people’s understanding to please stay away from that area and obey site signage.”

When sounds exceed 85 decibels, with extended exposure, it can cause hearing damage. BC Hydro says the sound may slightly exceed that sound threshold during the H-pile driving work when pounding in the 17 metre-long steel piles, and why the trails in the immediate area need to be closed.

Site workers at the dam will have hearing protection protocols in place.

“We have had sound and wildlife monitoring in place before this H-pile work, and that will continue through the piling activities as well as when the work is complete,” says Watson. “We may adjust the closure areas and signage based on the actual sound readings as we are unsure how the canyon and trees may ricochet or mute the sounds. We’ll start off being conservative for safety reasons with a larger cordoned off area. There is a possibility people at the suspension bridge may hear the upstream piling work, though if so, it will be well within safe levels.”

The John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project started in summer 2023 and will take about six years to complete. In April, a new water seepage barrier was completed in the main earthfill dam, and an upstream earthfill berm on the north section of the dam is planned to be complete this summer. More information on the project can be found at the majorprojects.ca website or at the Campbell River Hydroelectric Facilities Discovery Centre.

Photo: An August 14 view from the Dolphin Pool area, within Elk Falls Canyon, of the seismic upgrade work on the downstream side of the John Hart Dam.