BC Hydro: Buntzen Lake high water from upgrades, rain

**ALERT: Buntzen Lake recreation area closures are extended until the end of December 2025.**

Flooding that has submerged beaches and trails at Buntzen Lake for over a month is expected to continue until the end of December 2025, a result of BC Hydro conducting major capital projects combined with heavy rainfall and warm temperatures. This situation matters because it affects a popular recreation area near Anmore and involves significant upgrades to a century-old hydroelectric system.

The high water levels are caused by several factors, according to BC Hydro. A main generator has been taken offline for a life extension project, which prevents water from being released through the powerhouse. This leaves only a spillway to manage the water levels, which is insufficient to handle the high inflows from recent weather patterns. Water has also been diverted from the Coquitlam Reservoir to Buntzen Lake to manage upstream water levels. Due to the ongoing work, the north and south beach docks, boat launch, floating bridge, and several trails are closed to the public.

The work is part of a larger series of upgrades to the Coquitlam-Buntzen facilities, which first began producing hydroelectric power in 1903. The system, originally built by a predecessor company to BC Hydro, involved constructing a 3.6-kilometre tunnel to divert water from Coquitlam Lake to Buntzen Lake. The original construction of the dam blocked salmon from reaching their spawning grounds, which significantly impacted the Kwikwetlem First Nation, who derive their name—"Red Fish Up The River"—from the sockeye salmon that were once abundant.

As part of the current upgrades, and in an act of reconciliation, BC Hydro is partnering with the Kwikwetlem First Nation to build an experimental sockeye salmon hatchery near the Coquitlam Dam. This project aims to restore the sockeye population, which was nearly eliminated by the dam's construction over a century ago. The hatchery is one of several capital projects, which also include improving flood discharge capabilities and upgrading dock infrastructure. BC Hydro anticipates lake levels will return to normal once the generator work is complete and weather patterns become drier.