{{Infobox dam | name = Ruskin Dam | name_official = | image = Ruskin Dam (34521933030).jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse | image_alt = | location_map = Canada British Columbia geo | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in British Columbia, Canada | coordinates = {{coord|49|11|45|N|122|24|27|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | country = Canada | location = Ruskin, British Columbia | status = O | construction_began = 1929 | opening = {{Start date|1930}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = BC Hydro | dam_type = | dam_height = {{Convert|59.4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_height_foundation= | dam_length = {{Convert|110|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = | dam_elevation_crest = {{Convert|45.7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | dam_crosses = Stave River | spillway_count = | spillway_type = Gated ogee crest | spillway_capacity = {{Convert|4430|m3/s|ft3/s|0|abbr=on}} | res_name = Hayward Lake | res_capacity_total = {{Convert|42000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{Convert|953|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} | res_surface = {{Convert|3|km2|acre|0|abbr=on}} | res_elevation = {{Convert|41.1|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | res_max_depth = | res_max_length ={{Convert|5.6|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} | res_max_width = | res_tidal_range = | plant_operator = BC Hydro | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_turbines = 3 x 35 MW Francis-type | plant_capacity = 105 MW | plant_annual_gen = 374 GWh | website = | extra = }} '''Ruskin Dam''' is a concrete gravity dam on the Stave River in Ruskin, British Columbia, Canada. The dam was completed in 1930 for the primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. The dam created Hayward Lake, which supplies water to a 105 MW powerhouse and flooded the Stave's former lower canyon, which ended in a small waterfall approximately where the dam is today.
==Background== Ruskin Dam was constructed along with the Western Canada Power Company's hydroelectric development of the Stave Valley. Stave Falls Dam was completed in 1912 and Alouette Dam, the third dam in the system, in 1928. Construction on Ruskin Dam, about {{Convert|5.6|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} downstream of Stave Falls began in 1929 by the British Columbia Electric Railway who had previously bought Western Canada Power in 1921.<ref name=BC>{{cite web|title=Ruskin Dam|url=https://www.bchydro.com/community/recreation_areas/ruskin_dam.html|publisher=BC Hydro|accessdate=25 June 2011}}</ref> In November 1930, the dam was inaugurated and local businessmen and politicians celebrated by dining in its powerhouse.<ref>{{cite book|last=Evenden|first=Matthew D.|title=Fish versus power: an environmental history of the Fraser River|year=2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=New York|isbn=0-521-83099-0|pages=68|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwum65mHomYC&q=ruskin+dam+history&pg=PA68|edition=1. publ.}}</ref> Only two generators were operational at first and the third was added in 1950. The first superintendent of Stave Falls Dam was the namesake for Hayward Lake.<ref name=BC/> In 1961, when the provincial government took over the BC Electric Company, the dam became the property of BC Hydro, a Crown corporation.<ref name=museum>{{cite web|last=Veltri|first=Christopher|title=Stave Falls|url=http://www.mission.museum.bc.ca/milestones-stave.html|publisher=Mission Museum|accessdate=25 June 2011}}</ref>
===Upgrade=== Beginning in 2012 and continuing until 2018,<ref>{{cite web|title=Construction Schedule|url=http://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/projects/ruskin_dam_powerhouse_upgrade/construction_schedule.html|publisher=BC Hydro|accessdate=28 March 2014}}</ref> the dam and its facilities are expected to undergo an C$800 million upgrade. The project includes replacing the generators, reinforcing the right bank of the dam, upgrading the intake and penstocks, replacing the spillway piers and gates and relocating the switchyard. The upgrades are aimed at bringing the dam and its facilities up to safety standards, improving their seismic performance and increasing their efficiency and life.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rantanen|first=Maria|title=$800-million upgrades Ruskin dam|url=http://www.mrtimes.com/opinion/million+upgrades+Ruskin/4346327/story.html|accessdate=25 June 2011|newspaper=Maple Ridge Times|date=25 February 2011}}</ref> Three new 38MW turbine-generators provide a slight capacity increase to 114MW.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://journalofcommerce.com/Infrastructure/News/2014/9/Ruskin-Dam-upgrade-is-a-complicated-proposition-1001937W/|title = Journal of Commerce by ConstructConnect}}</ref>
==Design== Ruskin Dam is a {{Convert|59.4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall and {{Convert|110|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long concrete gravity type. The dam creates a reservoir (Hayward Lake) with a {{Convert|42000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} capacity and {{Convert|3|km2|acre|0|abbr=on}} surface area. The dam sits at the outlet of a {{Convert|953|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} catchment area and the reservoir extends {{Convert|5.6|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. The dam's spillway is an ogee-type and consists of seven radial gates. It has a {{Convert|4430|m3/s|ft3/s|0|abbr=on}} maximum discharge capacity. The dam's powerhouse is immediately adjacent on the river's eastern bank. It contains three 35 MW Francis turbine-generators and water is fed to each by a single penstock. Access to the powerhouse is by a truss bridge from the company offices on the west side of the river.<ref name=APP>{{cite web|title=Ruskin SEIAM Appendices April 2011|url=http://www.bchydro.com/etc/medialib/internet/documents/planning_regulatory/projects/ruskin/ruskin_seiam_appendices.Par.0001.File.Ruskin-SEIAM-Appendices-April-2011.pdf|publisher=BC Hydro|accessdate=25 June 2011|pages=32–51}}</ref>
==Operation== Ruskin Dam is part of the Alouette-Stave Falls-Ruskin Hydroelectric Complex. Upstream of the dam is the Stave Falls Dam and Powerhouse which has an installed capacity of 90 MW. Supplementing Stave Lake is small amount of water from Alouette Lake which is created by the Alouette Dam in northern Maple Ridge via {{Convert|1067|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long tunnel connecting intakes at the northern end of Alouette Lake and Stave Lake. At the end of the tunnel is a penstock which feeds the 8 MW Alouette Powerhouse on the western shore of Stave Lake approximately 8 km north of Stave Dam. Water released from Stave Falls Dam flows into Hayward Lake and is used by the Ruskin Dam for power generation.<ref name=APP/>
==In popular culture== The dam has been a filming location for the TV series ''The X-Files'', ''MacGyver'', ''Smallville'', ''Dark Angel'', the Lifetime made-for-tv movie ''The Boy Next Door'', starring Dina Meyer,<ref>{{cite web|title=Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "Ruskin Dam, Mission, British Columbia, Canada"|url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=Ruskin%20Dam,%20Mission,%20British%20Columbia,%20Canada|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> and finally the movie ''The Invisible''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "Ruskin Dam, Mission, British Columbia, Canada"|url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=Ruskin%20Dam,%20Mission,%20British%20Columbia,%20Canada|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=25 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Filming Locations|url=http://www.rdanderson.com/macgyver/location/location5.htm|publisher=MacGyver Online|accessdate=26 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Invisible Movie|url=https://www.wildaboutmovies.com/movies/Invisible-Movie.php|publisher=Wild About Movies|accessdate=25 June 2011}}</ref> In ''Smallville'' episodes ''"Prototype"'', ''"Phantom"'' and ''"Bizarro"'', it is referred to as "Reeves Dam",<ref>{{cite web|title=Smallville Episode ''Phantom''|url=http://www.cwtv.com/shows/smallville/episodes/622|publisher=CW Network|accessdate=26 June 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826021740/http://www.cwtv.com/shows/smallville/episodes/622|archivedate=26 August 2011}}</ref> a homage to the late Superman actors George Reeves and Christopher Reeve.
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Canada|Water|Renewable energy}}}} {{GeoGroupTemplate}} {{Commons category}} *List of electrical generating stations in British Columbia
==External links== *[http://www.mapleridgemuseum.org/08_community/08_08_ruskin.html Ruskin page, Maple Ridge Museum and Community Archives website] *[https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrcommunityarchives/sets/72157617218122207/with/3473459121/ Flickr gallery "Ruskin", Maple Ridge Community Association]
==Further reading== *''Valley of the Stave'', Charlie Miller, Hancock House Publishers Ltd., Surrey BC, 1981
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Dams in British Columbia Category:Gravity dams Category:Hydroelectric power stations in British Columbia Category:Mission, British Columbia Category:Dams completed in 1930 Category:BC Hydro Category:Publicly owned dams in Canada