A floating forest draws attention
This summer, residents near the Williston Reservoir in northern British Columbia encountered an unusual sight: a forested island drifting in the man-made lake. The island, which appeared to be roughly the size of two football fields, was spotted by locals and later confirmed by satellite imagery.
Rocky Avery, a local resident, received video and photographs of the floating island from a boater and shared them on social media, where they quickly drew widespread attention. "It was a pretty amazing sight to see, never seen anything like that in my 40 years in this country," Avery said.
The island was initially reported by locals in the reservoir north of MacKenzie. BC Hydro, the provincial utility that operates the reservoir, became involved after the reports gained traction.
Confirmation and disappearance
Satellite imagery confirmed the island's presence in the reservoir. One report places the confirmation on July 20, while another cites July 21. The island was estimated to cover an area of over 105,000 square feet, with dimensions of roughly 70 by 140 meters.
BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer said he was initially skeptical of the reports, noting that photos can easily be faked with AI. "It's certainly something we've not heard of before," Gammer told CBC News. "And with not very many people reporting it, it was difficult to locate."
By August 5, the island had vanished from satellite imagery. "We've been taking more updated snapshots and we can't see the object anymore. So it's disappeared now," Gammer said. "It doesn't mean it's gone to the bottom of the reservoir. It may have returned to a more sheltered area along the shoreline."
BC Hydro explains the phenomenon
BC Hydro attributed the island's appearance to record-high water levels caused by heavy snow and rain, which lifted a mat of vegetation and driftwood from the shoreline. Winds then pushed the mat into open water.
Gammer speculated that the island likely formed over several years, with driftwood accumulating along the shore and plants and trees taking root in the decomposing wood, creating a landmass atop the water. He said the island likely broke free from the shore due to rising water levels.
"The most recent satellite images from two weeks ago showed no sign of the floating island. We plan to acquire a few more images just to be sure, but our current assessment is that the island is not a concern for our operations," Gammer said.
The appearance of the island sparked speculation online, with one social media user questioning how an island with mature trees could appear suddenly. BC Hydro's explanation points to a natural process rather than a supernatural event.