5th September 2026 – (Vancouver) A small forested island that appeared on Williston Reservoir in northern British Columbia and later seemed to vanish has been found again close to the shoreline, around 30 kilometres from where it was first recorded. The feature, estimated at about 9,800 square metres—roughly one hectare, or around one and a half American football fields—was initially spotted by boaters in early August and confirmed in satellite imagery from 21st July. By 5th August the island no longer appeared in images of the original location, prompting widespread speculation about whether it had sunk or drifted elsewhere.
BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer said the utility traced the island’s movement using fresh satellite images and eyewitness accounts from pilots, concluding it had simply drifted towards land. He cautioned that the mass is not a stable structure and warned the public against attempting to set foot on it. Gammer added that the most plausible explanation is that the island formed over years from floating logs and other woody debris that created a base for soil, plants and eventually trees, before breaking free during unusually high water levels this summer—the highest since 2012.
The unusual phenomenon echoes other documented “floating islands”, including a well‑known bog in Wisconsin’s Lake Chippewa that occasionally has to be nudged away from infrastructure by local boaters. Such islands can harbour wildlife but remain inherently unstable. Officials in British Columbia stressed that while the Williston feature has become a curiosity, it is remote and access is neither advised nor necessary, with the priority remaining public safety around the reservoir and nearby dam operations.
Nadine Yousif, Senior Canada Reporter with the BBC, earlier reported on the island’s disappearance as the story drew international attention. Local authorities say they will continue to monitor the reservoir and surrounding shoreline, noting that floating landmasses can shift with wind and water conditions and may fragment without warning.