Across the vast expanse of Williston Lake in British Columbia, an unusual natural phenomenon has caught attention: a cluster of trees and vegetation forming what appears to be a small floating island. Captured by a local boater's camera, the sight was initially met with skepticism until satellite images confirmed its existence.
After several weeks drifting on the water, this floating island mysteriously showed up again, hundreds of kilometers from its original location. Managed by the energy company BC Hydro, Williston Lake is one of the planet's largest reservoirs, created by a hydroelectric dam, making it a unique environment to observe such occurrences.
Its discovery is particularly intriguing given that the reservoir recently hit full capacity for the first time in over ten years, a factor that may explain how part of the shoreline became detached and started drifting.
An Unexpected Discovery on Video
The drifting island was first recorded by Rocky Avery, a British Columbia resident and passionate boater, who shared footage on social media showing a dense patch of thriving trees afloat on the lake. It resembled a natural raft more than a typical island. With the rise of AI-generated media, BC Hydro’s spokesperson Bob Gammer noted initial doubts about the video's authenticity. Speaking to CBC, he said:
“It’s certainly something we’ve not heard of before. And with not very many people reporting it, it was difficult to locate.”
To verify the phenomenon, BC Hydro along with independent analysts examined public satellite images from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 mission. A snapshot from July 21, 2026, distinctly displays a small green mass afloat approximately 100 kilometers west of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam. No traces appeared before that date, and its fate afterwards remains unclear, though reports suggest it emerged again weeks later.
The Floating Island's Reappearance
On August 31, Avery updated his Facebook page with news of spotting the island once more—this time along the Ospika River, which connects to Williston Lake. Avery and his team plan further exploration by filming beneath the island to better understand its composition and structure.
The questions remain: how far did the island travel between sightings in July and August? And is this the same floating landmass, or another similar formation? These mysteries have yet to be solved.
Reservoir Levels Could Explain the Phenomenon
The most plausible explanation involves the reservoir’s water levels. Williston Lake filled to capacity this year for the first time in 14 years, causing BC Hydro to release excess water through dam spillways during June and July. Gammer suggested this rise in water might have loosened accumulated materials along the shoreline, saying to CBC:
“When we have full reservoirs, these higher water levels can lift material that may have been lodged along the shoreline, in a sheltered bay, and then allowing it to float free.” He added, “We can’t pinpoint the origin of this floating island, but that’s one explanation that seems reasonable.”
While BC Hydro states that the drifting island does not pose any risks to dam operations, it remains a potential hazard to recreational boaters and fishers due to its unmarked and unpredictable movement across the water.
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