Qu'Appelle River Dam
{{Short description|Dam in Saskatchewan, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Qu'Appelle River Dam
| image = Qu'Appelle River Dam.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = Qu'Appelle River Dam
| name_official =
| dam_crosses =
| location = RM of Maple Bush No. 224, Saskatchewan, Canada
| dam_type = Embankment dam
| dam_length = {{cvt|3100|m}}
| dam_height = {{cvt|27.4|m}}
| dam_width_base =
| spillway_type =
| spillway_capacity = {{cvt|1400|m3}} per second
| construction_began = 1959
| opening = 1967
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner = Saskatchewan Water Security Agency
| res_name = Lake Diefenbaker
| res_capacity_total = {{cvt|9400000|dam3|acre.ft}}
| res_catchment ={{cvt|126000|km2}}
| res_surface =
| res_max_depth = {{cvt|58|m}}
| plant_operator =
| plant_turbines =
| plant_capacity =
| plant_annual_gen =
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| location_map = Saskatchewan#Canada
| location_map_caption = Location in Saskatchewan
| coordinates = {{coord|50|58|57|N|106|25|57|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| extra =
}}
File:NASA satellite image of Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan Canada.jpg satellite image of Lake Diefenbaker showing the Qu'Appelle River Dam at the southeast end and the Gardiner Dam at the northeast end]]
The Qu'appelle River Dam{{cite web |title=Qu'Appelle Valley Dam |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HANIM|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=20 March 2024}} is the smaller of two embankment dams along the South Saskatchewan River that created Lake Diefenbaker in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The bigger of the two dams is Gardiner Dam, which is the largest embankment dam in Canada and one of the largest in the world. Construction of both dams began in 1959 and was completed in 1967.{{cite web |title=Qu'Appelle River Dam |url=https://www.wsask.ca/lakes-rivers/dams-reservoirs/major-dams-and-reservoirs/quappelle-river-dam/ |publisher=Water Security Agency |access-date=1 April 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Macdonald |first1=Max |title=Gardiner Dam |url=http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.wat.010 |website=Encyclopedia of the Great Plains |publisher=University of Nebraska–Lincoln |access-date=20 March 2024}} Lake Diefenbaker is the largest lake in southern Saskatchewan.{{cite web |title=Lake Diefenbaker |url=https://www.wsask.ca/lakes-rivers/dams-reservoirs/major-dams-and-reservoirs/lake-diefenbaker/ |publisher=Water Security Agency |access-date=20 March 2024}}
The dam is the source of the Qu'Appelle River and it keeps the flow of water down the river relatively constant. Formerly, the Qu'Appelle River dried up in many places every summer at the conclusion of the spring freshet from the Rocky Mountains. Constant, steady flows down the Qu'Appelle River are important as downstream there are several smaller dams and reservoirs that supply water for irrigation, industry (such as the Mosaic potash mine at Belle Plaine), and drinking water for cities such as Regina and Moose Jaw. The dam is {{convert|3100|m}} long, {{convert|27.4|m}} high, and, along with the Gardiner Dam, holds back a reservoir that contains {{cvt|9400000|dam3|acre.ft}} of water.{{cite web |title=Dams and Reservoirs |url=https://www.wsask.ca/lakes-rivers/dams-reservoirs/ |website=wsask |publisher=Water Security Agency |access-date=20 March 2024}}
Qu'Appelle River
{{Main|Qu'Appelle River}}
During the time of glaciation on North America, the retreating glacier would block the flow north and would force the water flow down the Qu'Appelle River. When the glaciers retreated further, water would then flow north. Before the Gardiner Dam was built, spring flows were high enough to allow water down the Qu'Appelle but would dry up later in the fall. Now as the Qu'Appelle Dam always retains the water of Lake Diefenbaker, water is released into the Qu'Appelle River in order to maintain flows throughout the entire year. This serves the farmers along the Qu'Appelle who use it for irrigation and watering their livestock.{{cite web |title=The Qu'Appelle Valley |url=https://www.cmste.uregina.ca/valley/naturalhistory.html |website=University of Regina |access-date=20 March 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Norm |title=Qu'Appelle Valley |url=https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/quappelle_valley.html |website=University of Regina |publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre, University of Regina |access-date=20 March 2024}}
There are multiple dams and lakes along the Qu'Appelle River as it meanders through the glacial meltwater-carved Qu'Appelle Valley en route to its mouth at the Assiniboine River in Manitoba. These lakes and dams provide a stable water source for consumption and recreation. Some of these include Eyebrow Lake, Buffalo Pound Lake, Craven Dam, the Fishing Lakes, Crooked Lake, and Round Lake.{{cite web |last1=Karpan |first1=Robin |last2=Karpan |first2=Arlene |title=Through the Qu'Appelle Valley |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/blog/2021/05/18/Through-the-QuAppelle-Valley |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=20 March 2024 |date=18 May 2021}}
Tourism and access
Public access to the Qu'Appelle Dam is from a scenic viewpoint that provides views of the dam itself, Lake Diefenbaker, and the Qu'Appelle Valley. A short road from Highway 19 leads to the viewpoint. Along the top of the dam runs the Canadian Pacific Railway; the dam was designed with this type of loading in mind.{{cn|date=March 2024}}
Douglas Provincial Park (named after former premier of Saskatchewan Tommy Douglas){{cite web |title=Douglas Provincial Park |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/provincialpark/308/douglas-provincial-park#sort=relevancy |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=18 March 2024}} extends from the dam to the community of Mistusinne to the north.{{cite web |title=Lake Diefenbaker |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/listings/18/lake-diefenbaker |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=20 March 2024}}{{cite web |title=Gardiner Dam Turning 50 Years Old |url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2017/june/16/gardiner-dam-turning-50 |website=Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=20 March 2024 |date=16 June 2017}} Lake Diefenbaker has over {{convert|800|km}} of shoreline and around the lake there are many communities, parks, and recreational facilities, such as campgrounds, beaches, golf courses, and marinas.{{cite web |title=Lake Diefenbaker |url=https://greatsouthwest.ca/lake-diefenbaker/ |website=Discover Southwest Saskatchewan |publisher=Mooseworld Inc. |access-date=20 March 2024}}{{cite web |title=Stay and Play at Lake Diefenbaker |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/blog/2023/07/27/stay-and-play-lake-diefenbaker |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=20 March 2024}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
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Category:Maple Bush No. 224, Saskatchewan