"[5][6] The Construction of the Kenny Dam in the 1950s on the Nechako River, reversed water flow and sent water westward to generate electricity for use and sale by the Alcan corporation, devastated the area around Cheslatta Lake, flooding the Cheslatta Carrier Nation village and cemetery and forcing the First Nations to be relocated with little time for preparation and no consultation.

Prior to the flooding, Cheslatta Lake was at the centre of the CCN traditional hunting and trapping territory.

Before 1957 the Cheslatta River was a small stream with an average annual flow of about 5 cubic metres per second (180 cu ft/s).

[7] Alcan began releasing water flows far above the Cheslatta's natural capacity, resulting in a deep channel being carved out and large-scale erosion filling the Cheslatta and upper Nechako Rivers with sediment.

[7] There has been a 7-fold decline in the productive capacity of Cheslatta Lake to support pelagic fishes, namely kokanee salmon.