Williston Lake | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Williston Lake

Williston Lake, 1761 km2, is the largest freshwater body in BC. Created in 1968 as the reservoir of the W.A.C.

Williston Lake, 1761 km2, is the largest freshwater body in BC. Created in 1968 as the reservoir of the W.A.C. Bennett hydroelectric dam on the PEACE RIVER, it was named for Ray Williston, BC minister of lands and forests from 1956-72, who encouraged the development of a pulp economy from the unused forest resource in interior BC, coincident with government hydroelectric energy projects. Spruce forests around the lake supply pulp mills and sawmills at the district municipality of MACKENZIE, an "instant town" on the Parsnip Reach of Williston Lake. The lake is used to transport timber to the mills.