THE SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN, CANADA: A GEOGRAPHICAL APPRAISAL OP THE WATER RESOURCES DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By CRAIG DUNCAN, BS A., M. A. The Ohio State University 1955 Frontispiece The mountains: Peyto Lake and the Mistaya Valley, North Saskatchewan Basin PREFACE The economic potentialities of semiarid regions are considerably enhanced if the meager supply of precipitation is supplemented by water from other sources. The writer obtained an appreciation of both the possibilities and the problems associated with surface water use as a result of a study of Irrigation farming in the rain shadow area of southern New Zealand. In 1951 his interest in the use of the water resource was further stimulated after traveling across the rain shadow area of the Prairie Provinces, Canada* The three major cities through which he passed are located on important tributaries of the Saskatchewan River. Dams across the upper Bow River provide both storage and head for hydroelectric generation. An area of intensive farming, centering on Lethbridge, Alberta, contrasts with the grazing lands of the high plains and the dry-farmed cropland of the western lowlands. Irrigation ditches parallel the fences in the area between Lethbridge and Taber. Beyond, the land is sterile. A few beef cattle are grazed on vast expanses of steppe grassland. At Medicine Hat the author learned of plans to bring water from the west to serve these dry lands* Many of the problems of the Prairie Provinces are associated with the lack of water. A step towards solving iii some of these was made In 1948 when the Prairie Provinces Water Board was formed by the Dominion government of Canada, and the Provincial governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Its primary functions were to coordinate activi­ ties over the basin and to recommend water allocations among the three Provinces. In considering allocations of inter­ provincial water, the Board has become increasingly aware of the lack of basic Information concerning the nature and economic significance of the water resource. A need was expressed for a broad study of interprovincial watersheds in order to coordinate (1) all facts known concerning their geographical location in relation to present and probable future human activities and needs, (2) the economic signifi­ cance of various physical and engineering possibilities re­ lated to these activities, (3) the present and required legal framework regulating human activity in relation to water, and (4) any other relevant aspects. This study was envisaged as a contribution to the literature on the basic needs of the basin. The writer undertook to collect and coordinate the regional material relating to the hydrology of the Saskatchewan River Basin, to examine the characteristics of stream flow in terms of this material, to study the modification of stream flow re­ sulting from present utilization, and to anticipate future modification in terms of proposed future needs. The work was sponsored by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration and employment was offered the writer by that organization from June to December, 1954* The following procedure was used in carrying out the details of the assignment: (1) A bibliography was assembled and the basic litera­ ture relating to the area and the problem was examined. (2) Field trips were made from the headquarters at Edmonton, Alberta, to give a representative coverage of the basin. During the summer months the author traveled by car along selected routes noting the land use, the physical characteristics, and the situation and characteristics of stream beds. An adaptation of the well-known fractional code for land classification was used as a quick and con­ venient method of recording observations. As this was to be a macrostudy, regional characteristics and differences, rather than the details within areas, were noted. It had been found in the earlier reading that detailed studies had been made of small, usually problem areas, but that there was a lack of literature on the basin as a whole. Through the field work it was possible to obtain the areal coverage required and also to place the smaller studies in proper perspective. (3) A series of interviews was arranged and visits were vi made to people representing organizations, both governmental and private, located within the basin. Field trips were undertaken in order to examine specific activities. Of these, the most outstand­ ing were trips into the foothills sponsored by the Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board, and those to the various irrigation districts where field officers explained problems of water with­ drawal and reticulation. (4) A complete set of hydrometric statistics for the Saskatchewan River system was obtained and an analysis was made of these in terms of the geo­ graphical background. The literature on underground sources of supply was examined. From the material examined and from observations in the field, this study was written and certain conclusions have been reached. The study is not complete. Some areas are known in detail, but a more comprehensive survey of so large a basin must await more exhaustive regional surveys within the confines of the basin. The investigation which the writer has undertaken represents a starting point for these suggested detailed regional surveys. It would be difficult to acknowledge individually all who aided the writer in his Investigations. Information was readily supplied by members of government departments, both Provincial and Dominion, in office interviews and on field trips. Representatives of private organizations utilizing the water supply also gave of their time in supplying in­ formation. Mr. W. M. Berry offered frank and valuable criticism of early drafts of this study. Mr. E. P. Collier supplied the copies of recent hydrometric records and gave the writer much good advice as to their use. To Dr. J. A. Boan the author is particularly indebted. His advice re­ garding the organization of the text, his help in obtaining difficult source material, and his suggestions and activity in arranging interviews contributed considerably towards the success of the study. In January, 1955 the writer returned to Ohio State University to complete the writing of the dissertation. The task was lightened and the text considerably Improved as a result of the suggestions of Professor Guy-Harold Smith who served as adviser. Further textual criticism was given by Professors A. J. Wright and F. A. Carlson. Finally, the writer wishes to acknowledge the constant encouragement given him by his parents during the past four years. TABLE OP CONTENTS Page PREFACE .................................................... H i LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS.................................. x LIST OP T A B L E S ........................................... xil Chapter I: INTRODUCTION .................................. 1 IIS THE CLIMATE ................. 15 Introduction Precipitation and Temperature The Climatic Regions The Mountain and Foothill Region The North Saskatchewan Region The Central Region The South Saskatchewan Region The Lower Saskatchewan Region III: PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ........... 51 Introduction The Physiography The Vegetation and Soils The Vegetation The Soils Hydrologic Regions within the Saskatchewan River Basin The North Saskatchewan River Basin The South Saskatchewan River Basin The Lower Saskatchewan River Basin IV! THE SURFACE W A T E R S ...............................107 Introduction The North Saskatchewan River The South Saskatchewan River The Bow River The Oldman River The South Saskatchewan River The Saskatchewan River vill ix Chapter Page V: WITHDRAWAL PROM THE SURFACE SUPPLY 163 Introduction The North Saskatchewan Basin The South Saskatchewan Basin The Bow River The Oldman River The South Saskatchewan River VI! THE SUBSURFACE WATER S U P P L Y ..................... 216 Int r oduc 11 on The Geological Conditions and Subsurface Water Supply The Subsurface Water Regions The Mountain Region The Alberta Plain Region The South Saskatchewan Region VII! SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ..........................240 Introduction Characteristics of the Water Resource The Influence of Climate The Influence of Physiography The Influence of Vegetation and Soils Water as a Resource Future Water Demands The Province of Alberta The Province of Saskatchewan The Province of Manitoba The Changing Value of the Resource APPENDICES ............................................... 268 A Hydrometric Data B Water Withdrawal Data BIBLIOGRAPHY................................. 282 AUTOBIOGRAPHY ............................................. 292 LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page The mountains: Peyto Lake and the Mistaya Valley, North Saskatchewan Basin . Frontispiece 1. The plains: grain elevators on the Saskatchewan Plain, South Saskatchewan Basin ................ 15 2. Average annual precipitation, Saskatchewan River B a s i n ................ .................. 22 3. Average annual temperature, Saskatchewan River B a s i n ..................................... 27 4. Daily flow: Sunwapta River at Athabaska G l a c i e r ................... ................... 34 5. The Saskatchewan River Basin, physiography .... 59 6. The Saskatchewan River Basin, vegetation ......... 73 7. The Saskatchewan River Basin, soils . .......... 83 8. The foothills: the Waiparous River, Bow River B a s i n ....................................