Seton Canal facts for kids

The Seton Canal is a special waterway in British Columbia, Canada. It helps move water from the Seton River to a power station. This power station uses the water to make electricity for homes and businesses. The canal is near the town of Lillooet, British Columbia.

What is the Seton Canal?

The Seton Canal is a man-made channel that carries water. It starts at the Seton Dam, which is just below Seton Lake. The canal's job is to take this water to the Seton Powerhouse. This powerhouse is located on the Fraser River in the town of Lillooet.

The canal is about 3.5 kilometers (about 2.2 miles) long. It crosses over a stream called Cayoosh Creek near its beginning. The canal ends just before a bridge used by the Texas Creek Road. From there, the water flows into tunnels that lead to the Seton Powerhouse.

How Does the Canal Work?

The main purpose of the Seton Canal is to help generate electricity. Water flows through the canal and then into tunnels. These tunnels carry the water to the Seton Powerhouse. Inside the powerhouse, the moving water spins large machines called turbines. These turbines are connected to generators, which then create electricity. This process is a clean way to make power, using the natural flow of water.

Where Does the Water Come From?

Most of the water in the Seton Canal actually comes from another river, the Bridge River. The Bridge River's water is moved into Seton Lake through a big project. This project is run by BC Hydro, which is a company that provides electricity in British Columbia.

The Bridge River water first goes into Carpenter Lake. This lake was created by a dam called Terzaghi Dam. From Carpenter Lake, the water travels through long tunnels. These tunnels go through a mountain area called Mission Ridge. The tunnels lead the water to power stations near a place called Shalalth. These power stations are part of the Bridge River Power Project. After passing through these stations, the water flows into Seton Lake, and then into the Seton Canal.