Wahleach Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jones LakesWahleach Lake |
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Jones (Wahleach) Lake, September 2012
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 Jones Lakes
Wahleach Lake Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°14′N 121°37′W / 49.233°N 121.617°W |
| Type | natural lake, reservoir |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Wahleach Lake, often called Jones Lake, is a beautiful lake and reservoir in British Columbia, Canada. It's nestled in the Skagit Range, east of Chilliwack and southwest of Hope.
This lake was once a quiet resting spot for people traveling to summer hunting grounds. Today, it's much larger thanks to an earthfill dam. It stretches about 6.4 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. Wahleach Lake sits high up, more than 600 meters above the Fraser River. Most of its water is sent through a tunnel in Cheam Peak. This water then powers the Wahleach Powerhouse, which is near Bridal Falls.
When the Wahleach power project finished in 1952, it made a lot of electricity. It produced 14% of the power for the BC Electric Company. This company later became part of BC Hydro. Even though it makes less than 1% of BC Hydro's power today, it's still one of their most efficient operations! Besides a few private cabins, BC Hydro also runs three campgrounds here. These campgrounds offer about 60 spots for people to enjoy the lake.
What's in a Name?
The name Jones Lake first appeared on maps in 1904. It's the name most people use locally. You'll even see it on highway signs for the Jones Lake Forest Service Road, which is the only way to get there. The nearby Wahleach Creek is also known as Jones Creek.
The name Wahleach comes from a Sto:lo person. His name was Camille Walecia. He lived in Union Bar, near Hope. His name in the Halkomelem language is "Xwelích". This means "crossing a neck of land between two bodies of water." It refers to a place where people would carry their canoes or goods between two waterways. You can also find the name Wahleach on an island and an Indian reserve across the Fraser River. There's even a railway point called Waleach on Sea Bird Island.
