Powell Lake

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Powell Lake
Aerial view of Powell Lake and the city of Powell River
Powell Lake
Location	Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
Coordinates	50°05′00″N 124°25′00″W / 50.08333°N 124.41667°W / 50.08333; -124.41667
Type	fjord lake / reservoir
Primary inflows	Powell River, Eldred River and Olsen Creek
Primary outflows	Powell River
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	50 km (31 mi)
Surface area	120 km2 (46 sq mi)
Average depth	150 m (490 ft)
Max. depth	360 m (1,180 ft)
Water volume	18 km3 (4.3 cu mi)
Surface elevation	56 m (184 ft)
Islands	Goat Island
Settlements	Powell River

Powell Lake is a lake in the northern Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, adjacent to the city of Powell River, which sits on the low rise of land forming a natural dam between the lake and the Strait of Georgia. The lake flows to the ocean through Powell River and features Goat Island, a large mountainous island. It serves as a reservoir for a small hydroelectric generating station which was built to serve the city's paper mill; and also as a water supply for that paper mill. The damming was completed in 1911. It's surface was raised 10 metres; from 46 to 56 metres above sea level. After damming; the lake consisted of six interconnected basins. The lake is also meromictic. It contains fresh water down to approx. 100 metres depth. From that level and further down; only stagnant "old sea water". This water was trapped in the lake; some 10 000 years ago. The land raising after the retreating glaciers; took care of that issue.