How did the Peace River dam change the upper Mackenzie River system?

The construction of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River in 1967 significantly altered the upper Mackenzie River system by creating Williston Lake. This large storage reservoir, formed in the Rocky Mountain Trench, allowed for the development of hydroelectric power in a region previously considered too remote for such industrial use.12

In addition to generating electricity—which is transmitted hundreds of miles south to Vancouver—the dam provides flood control for the valley. While the dam transformed the river's flow and landscape, the Mackenzie River system itself remains largely undeveloped for waterpower, continuing to serve primarily as a route for river transportation.12