BC Hydro ‘hopeful’ new Site C boat launches open in early summer 

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Hydro says it is “hopeful” three new boat launches will be open early this summer. 

In a statement provided to Energeticcity.ca on April 30th, 2026, BC Hydro said there are “three new boat launches on the Site C reservoir.” 

Site C is a hydroelectric dam near Fort St. John on the Peace River, which BC Hydro said provides enough energy to power the equivalent of 450,000 homes each year. 

In August 2025, BC Hydro announced the dam was fully operational after the sixth generating unit was commissioned, ten years after construction began in August 2015. 

The Site C reservoir began filling on August 25, 2024, and was completed on November 7th, 2024, a BC Hydro release said.

In November 2025, BC Hydro revealed geotechnical issues it faced during Site C construction.

The reservoir is currently closed between Fort St. John and Hudson’s Hope as BC Hydro monitors for slope instability and erosion. 

According to the statement, the new boat launches include two full-size ramps at Halfway River and Lynx Creek and one small craft launch at DA Thomas Recreation Area in Hudson’s Hope. 

The new Halfway River Boat launch will include: 

• Safe road access, along with a pull-through parking for vehicles with trailers
• 10 to 15 per cent grade double-wide concrete boat ramp
• Turnaround area for trailered motorized boats longer than five metres
• A day-use area including a picnic site, interpretive kiosk and pit toilet

BC Hydro said on its Site C website it has developed a recreation site at the bottom of D.A. Thomas Road featuring a small craft boat launch with a gangway. It will also include a floating dock, which is expected to be completed before boating season, allowing the launch of car-topper-type boats, such as kayaks and canoes. 

It also said the new Lynx Creek boat launch would include:

• Safe road access and pull-through parking for vehicles with trailers.
• A double-wide concrete boat ramp with a 10 to 15 per cent grade
• Turnaround area for trailered, motorized boats longer than 5 meters.
• Picnic site, interpretive kiosk and pit toilet 

In the statement, BC Hydro said it is in the process of determining when the reservoir will be safe for public use.

“We are working with our contractor to determine when [the] reservoir slopes are stable enough for the public to safely use the reservoir. We’re hopeful that we can open the boat launches in early summer,” the statement read. 

On August 12th, 2024, the previous boat launch at Halfway River was permanently closed due to the filling of the reservoir as part of the construction of the Site C project. 

The Halfway River closure added to the list of boat launch closures alongside the D.A. Thomas and Lynx Creek launch sites, which were similarly closed due to the reservoir filling. 

More information on the boat launches, including frequently asked questions, can be found on the Site C project website.