The Grant Devine Dam, formerly Alameda Dam,[1] is an embankment dam located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan near Alameda and Oxbow. It was constructed in 1994 to control flows on Moose Mountain Creek and Souris River. It provides flood protection and irrigation for this area of Saskatchewan, along with protection for Minot, North Dakota.[2] The Grant Devine Reservoir provides opportunities for recreational use such as boating and fishing. At the full supply level of 562 metres (1,844 ft), the reservoir holds 105,000,000 m3 (3.7×109 cu ft) of water. The project is owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (formerly Saskatchewan Watershed Authority).
| Grant Devine Dam | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Grant Devine Dam and reservoir | |
| Location | RM of Enniskillen No. 3, near Alameda |
| Coordinates | 49°15′32″N 102°13′51″W / 49.25889°N 102.23083°W |
| Opening date | 1994 |
| Owner(s) | Saskatchewan Watershed Authority |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Moose Mountain Creek |
| Height | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Length | 1,660 m (5,450 ft) |
| Spillway capacity | 1,400 m3 (49,000 cu ft) per second |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Grant Devine Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 105,000,000 m3 (3.7×109 cu ft) |
| Catchment area | 2,130 km2 (820 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 12.4 km2 (4.8 sq mi) |
| Maximum water depth | 35 metres (115 ft) |
Structure
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The Grant Devine Dam is a 1660-metre long earthfill dam, with a height of 42 metres (138 ft). The volume of earth in the main dam is 2,900,000 m3 (100,000,000 cu ft). The dam is protected by a 224-metre long spillway with a maximum discharge capacity of 1,400 m3 (49,000 cu ft) per second.[2]
The dam includes a low-level outlet structure for discharge of water to maintain the quality of the riparian environment downstream of the project, and for irrigation outflow.
The reservoir has a surface area of 12.4 km2 (4.8 sq mi) at full supply level. The surrounding drainage area is 2,140 square kilometres (830 sq mi).
A full-time staff of about five people supervises and operates this dam and the Rafferty Dam built at the same time. Together, the two projects provide flow control on the Souris River and flood protection for the city of Minot. Operation of the project is governed by an international treaty between Canada and the United States.
Moose Creek Regional Park
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Moose Creek Regional Park (49°17′38″N 102°12′08″W / 49.2939°N 102.2022°W) is a regional park on the east side of the reservoir, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of the dam. The park encompasses about 3/4 of a section, which is about 480 acres.[3] The park is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of Alameda off of Highway 9 and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of Oxbow off of Highway 18.[4] The park features full-service camping, tenting, picnicking, swimming, boating, and fishing. There is also Moose Creek Golf Club, a 9-hole golf course. The third weekend in June each year, the Alameda Fishing Derby takes place on the lake.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Grant Devine Lake 1 of 3 new landmarks named for Sask. premiers | CBC News".
- ^ a b Water Security Agency (WSA) of Saskatchewan Fact Sheet Rafferty-Alameda Project, file FS-305
- ^ "Moose Creek". Regional Parks of Saskatchewan. Copyright. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Moose Creek Regional Park | Tourism Saskatchewan".
- ^ "Alameda". Town of Alameda. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
Further reading
edit- Bill Redekop Dams of Contention: The Rafferty-Alameda Story and the Birth of Canadian Environmental Law, Heartland, Canada, 2012, ISBN 978-1-896150-71-0
- George N. Hood Against the Flow:Rafferty Alameda and the Politics of the Environment, Fifth House Publishers, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, 1994, ISBN 1-895618-35-5