Social media could be behind 200% increase in trespassing at dams, reservoirs and recreation sites: BC Hydro

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VANCOUVER – The British Columbia utility said it has noticed a sharp increase in intrusions on its sites in recent years and believes social media could be to blame.

BC Hydro released a report on Friday that said trespassing cases have increased 200 percent in the past five years. The report claims that this risky behavior is, in many cases, “linked to the desire to get an awesome selfie, photo or video for social media.”

The BC Hydro survey summary found that nearly half of BC residents surveyed saw someone doing something risky outside to get a perfect photo or video. Fifteen percent admitted to doing it themselves.

According to the survey, some of these actions include standing on the edge of a cliff (16%), trespassing or disobeying signs (12%), and taking a selfie from an unsafe height (nine percent). However, the BC Hydro report did not clarify whether these incidents were their own sites.

The state-owned company operates 31 power plants and many of the dams have recreation sites with parks and beaches.

“Dams and reservoirs are particularly dangerous places to take social media risks, as one of the most common causes of selfie-related deaths is drowning,” the BC Hydro report said.

“BC Hydro has recorded dozens of safety incidents and near misses at or near its dams, power plants, reservoirs and recreation sites over the past few years, and the numbers are likely much higher because most incidents go unreported if there is no injury or vandalism. . “

The report cites an incident in which someone scaled the Buntzen Lake Dam power plant, took the footage and posted it on YouTube.

In another example, the report says someone was seen swimming on the downstream side of the Comox Dam on Vancouver Island last year. The report says they were “dangerously close” to the spillway gates, both of which were open at the time.

“Similarly, in the Kootenays, reckless whitewater kayakers often dive above natural falls below the Aberfeldie and Elko Dams,” the BC Hydro report said.

“About once a year, local search and rescue teams are called in to rescue someone who has been injured while passing the falls, including an incident last year that left a woman with a major injury at the bottom. back. In Elko, kayakers sometimes even pass the weir. in their kayaks to enter the canyon between the dam and the power plant.

To address these concerns, BC Hydro recommends that people stay away from generating facilities, including dams, power plants and power lines. The company is also asking the public to obey signage and stay within designated trails and areas.

The online survey was conducted by Majid Khoury among 800 British Columbians from May 17 to 19, 2021.

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