Qu'Appelle River Dam

Qu'Appelle River Dam
Qu'Appelle River Dam
Location in Saskatchewan Show map of Saskatchewan Qu'Appelle River Dam (Canada) Show map of Canada
Location	RM of Maple Bush No. 224, Saskatchewan, Canada
Coordinates	50°58′57″N 106°25′57″W / 50.98250°N 106.43250°W / 50.98250; -106.43250
Construction began	1959
Opening date	1967
Owner(s)	Saskatchewan Water Security Agency
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Height	27.4 m (90 ft)
Length	3,100 m (10,200 ft)
Spillway capacity	1,400 m3 (49,000 cu ft) per second
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Diefenbaker
Total capacity	9,400,000 dam3 (7,600,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	126,000 km2 (49,000 sq mi)
Maximum water depth	58 m (190 ft)

The Qu'appelle River Dam^[1] 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.^[2] Lake Diefenbaker is the largest lake in southern Saskatchewan.^[3]

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 3,100 metres (10,200 ft) long, 27.4 metres (90 ft) high, and, along with the Gardiner Dam, holds back a reservoir that contains 9,400,000 dam³ (7,600,000 acre⋅ft) of water.^[4]