Lake Diefenbaker Reservoir Operations Context and Objectives

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Lake Diefenbaker Reservoir Operations Context and Objectives Lake Diefenbaker Reservoir Operations Context and Objectives Prepared by: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Hydrology And Groundwater Services Date of Publication: May 2012 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 1 2.0 PHYSICAL PARAMETERS ................................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 RESERVOIR .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 OUTFLOW FACILITIES AND CAPACITIES ...................................................................................................................... 7 Gardiner Dam ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Qu’Appelle Dam ................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.3 SITE ACCESS ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 3.0 LAND AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................... 14 3.1 TAKE LINE ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT AREA ........................................................................................................................... 14 4.0 HYDROLOGY AND WATER SUPPLY .............................................................................................................. 16 4.1 WATERSHED AND INFLOWS .................................................................................................................................. 16 4.2 APPORTIONMENT OBLIGATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 19 5.0 RESERVOIR USES ......................................................................................................................................... 20 5.1 CURRENT STATE OF SUPPLY AND USE ..................................................................................................................... 28 6.0 HISTORICAL WATER LEVELS AND DOWNSTREAM FLOW REGULATION ....................................................... 31 7.0 OPERATING PHILOSOPHY ........................................................................................................................... 35 8.0 OPERATING OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................. 39 8.1 SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONSTRAINTS ................................................................................................................ 39 8.2 PRIMARY PURPOSES AND CO-BENEFIT USES ............................................................................................................ 40 Common Operations .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Normal Flow Conditions ..................................................................................................................................... 41 High Flow / Flood Operations ............................................................................................................................. 41 Low Flow / Drought Operations ......................................................................................................................... 42 9.0 INFORMATION AND DECISION FLOW ......................................................................................................... 43 10.0 ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND CHALLENGES ......................................................... 45 11.0 RELATED DOCUMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 46 12.0 DOCUMENT HISTORY ............................................................................................................................. 47 Lake Diefenbaker Reservoir Operations – Context and Objectives Table of Figures FIGURE 1: GARDINER DAM - OPENING CEREMONY JULY 21, 1967 .............................................................................. 2 FIGURE 2 – GARDINER DAM STRUCTURES .................................................................................................................... 3 FIGURE 3 - DOWNSTREAM VIEW OF GARDINER DAM SASKPOWER COTEAU STRUCTURE ........................................... 4 FIGURE 4 - QU’APPELLE DAM ........................................................................................................................................ 5 FIGURE 5 - SOUTH VIEW OVERLOOKING QU’APPELLE DAM ......................................................................................... 5 FIGURE 6 – AREA / CAPACITY CURVE ............................................................................................................................. 7 FIGURE 7 – SPILLWAY RATING CURVE ........................................................................................................................... 8 FIGURE 8 – TUNNEL FIVE RATING CURVE ...................................................................................................................... 9 FIGURE 9 – GARDINER DAM SPILLWAY ....................................................................................................................... 10 FIGURE 10 – GARDINER DAM LOCATION PLAN ........................................................................................................... 12 FIGURE 11 – QU’APPELLE DAM LOCATION PLAN ........................................................................................................ 13 FIGURE 12 – LAKE DIEFENBAKER RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT AREA ........................................................................... 15 FIGURE 13 – SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN WATERSHEDS ............................................................................ 16 FIGURE 14 – MEDIAN ANNUAL RUNOFF ..................................................................................................................... 17 FIGURE 15 – NATURAL AND RECORDED INFLOW VOLUMES (PRAIRIE PROVINCES WATER BOARD) .......................... 19 FIGURE 16 – PIPING PLOVER NESTING BEACHES ......................................................................................................... 24 FIGURE 17 – PIPING PLOVER RISK CATEGORIES .......................................................................................................... 25 FIGURE 18 – REPRESENTATIVE WATER BALANCE – LOW FLOW SCENARIO ................................................................ 29 FIGURE 19 – REPRESENTATIVE WATER BALANCE – MEDIAN FLOW SCENARIO .......................................................... 29 FIGURE 20 – REPRESENTATIVE WATER BALANCE – HIGH FLOW SCENARIO................................................................ 30 FIGURE 21 – LAKE DIEFENBAKER DAILY RECORDED WATER LEVELS ........................................................................... 31 FIGURE 22 – LAKE DIEFENBAKER DAILY LEVELS, 1969-2005........................................................................................ 32 FIGURE 23 – GAUGED FLOWS ON SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AT SASKATOON ................................................... 33 FIGURE 24 – RESERVOIR ZONES AND FILLING OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................... 36 FIGURE 25 – ILLUSTRATION OF WATER USE AND FLOOD CONTROL ZONES IN A TYPICAL YEAR ................................ 36 FIGURE 26 – LAKE DIEFENBAKER FILLING OBJECTIVES AND ANNUAL RESERVOIR LEVEL PROFILE .............................. 37 List of Tables TABLE 1 – PHYSICAL DAM CHARACTERISTICS 6 TABLE 2 – KEY ELEVATION AREA CAPACITY POINTS 6 TABLE 3 – SUMMARY OF DISCHARGE CAPACITIES 11 TABLE 4 – PRECIPITATION STATISTICS FOR THREE CENTRES IN THE SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN 18 TABLE 5 – LICENSED ALLOCATIONS FROM LAKE DIEFENBAKER 21 TABLE 6 – CURRENT LAKE DIEFENBAKER AREA IRRIGATION PROJECTS 22 TABLE 7 – WATER RESERVATIONS FOR FUTURE IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT 22 TABLE 8 – SELECT ESTIMATED DOWNSTREAM FLOW FREQUENCIES 34 TABLE 9 – SUMMARY OF CURRENTLY ESTIMATED FLOOD THRESHOLDS 38 Lake Diefenbaker Reservoir Operations – Context and Objectives File: H6-2 Name: Lake Diefenbaker Version: 1.0 Location: SW 35-26-07- W3 Long: 106 ∙ 53 ∙ 0.5 Watershed: South Saskatchewan River NTS Map Sheet: 72O7 Lat: 51 ∙ 15 ∙ 31 Basin: South Saskatchewan River Region: South West WR#: 05334 Swift Current Regional Office 1.0 Introduction and Background This document presents the physical constraints and current objectives that determine the operations of Lake Diefenbaker. The document is a reference for Saskatchewan Watershed Authority (Authority) staff who plan operations and a resource to inform a broader audience on the operations of Lake Diefenbaker. The South Saskatchewan River was recognized as an important water source in southern Saskatchewan as early as the start of the 20th century. In the early 1900‟s, studies were
Recommended publications
  • Thermal Alteration and Macroinvertebrate Response Below a Large Northern Great Plains Reservoir
    Journal of Great Lakes Research 41 Supplement 2 (2015) 155–163 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Great Lakes Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jglr Thermal alteration and macroinvertebrate response below a large Northern Great Plains reservoir Iain D. Phillips a,b,⁎, Michael S. Pollock a, Michelle F. Bowman c,D.GlenMcMaster d, Douglas P. Chivers b a Water Quality and Habitat Assessment Services, Water Security Agency, 101-108 Research Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 3R3, Canada b Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada c Forensecology, 70 Swift Crescent, Guelph, Ontario N1E 7J1, Canada d Water Quality and Habitat Assessment Services, Water Security Agency, 420-2365 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 4K1, Canada article info abstract Article history: Large hydroelectric dams directly alter the abiotic condition of rivers by releasing water with large differences in Received 26 June 2014 temperature relative to natural conditions. These alterations in the thermal regime along with alterations in flow Accepted 3 July 2015 often result in altered ecosystems downstream. For sustainable management of this aquatic resource, there is a Available online 23 July 2015 need to balance services a reservoir provides with ecosystem protection. Here we conduct a high-resolution study on the thermal regime and associated aquatic macroinvertebrate community downstream of a hydroelec- Communicated by Jeff Hudson tric dam on a large-order Northern Great Plains River and analyze these findings with a non-central hypothesis fi Keywords: test model, Test Site Analysis. Speci cally, we monitor the temperature regime of this tailwater environment, and Lake Diefenbaker compare the annual change in temperature downstream to reference sites unaffected by the dam.
    [Show full text]
  • Saskatchewan Birding Trail Experience (Pdf)
    askatchewan has a wealth of birdwatching opportunities ranging from the fall migration of waterfowl to the spring rush of songbirds and shorebirds. It is our hope that this Birding Trail Guide will help you find and enjoy the many birding Slocations in our province. Some of our Birding Trail sites offer you a chance to see endangered species such as Piping Plovers, Sage Grouse, Burrowing Owls, and even the Whooping Crane as it stops over in Saskatchewan during its spring and fall migrations. Saskatchewan is comprised of four distinct eco-zones, from rolling prairie to dense forest. Micro-environments are as varied as the bird-life, ranging from active sand dunes and badlands to marshes and swamps. Over 350 bird species can be found in the province. Southwestern Saskatchewan represents the core of the range of grassland birds like Baird's Sparrow and Sprague's Pipit. The mixed wood boreal forest in northern Saskatchewan supports some of the highest bird species diversity in North America, including Connecticut Warbler and Boreal Chickadee. More than 15 species of shorebirds nest in the province while others stop over briefly en-route to their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada. Chaplin Lake and the Quill Lakes are the two anchor bird watching sites in our province. These sites are conveniently located on Saskatchewan's two major highways, the Trans-Canada #1 and Yellowhead #16. Both are excellent birding areas! Oh! ....... don't forget, birdwatching in Saskatchewan is a year round activity. While migration provides a tremendous opportunity to see vast numbers of birds, winter birding offers you an incomparable opportunity to view many species of owls and woodpeckers and other Arctic residents such as Gyrfalcons, Snowy Owls and massive flocks of Snow Buntings.
    [Show full text]
  • Reactive Silicon Dynamics in a Large Prairie Reservoir (Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan)
    Journal of Great Lakes Research 41 Supplement 2 (2015) 100–109 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Great Lakes Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jglr Reactive silicon dynamics in a large prairie reservoir (Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan) Taylor Maavara a,⁎, Jennifer L.A. Hood a, Rebecca L. North b, Lorne E. Doig c, Christopher T. Parsons a, Jessica Johansson b, Karsten Liber c,JeffJ.Hudsonb, Brett T. Lucas c, David M. Vandergucht b, Philippe Van Cappellen a a Ecohydrology Research Group, Water Institute and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada b Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada c Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada article info abstract Article history: There is an up-coming global surge in dam construction. River damming impacts nutrient cycling in watersheds Received 4 July 2014 through transformation and retention in the reservoirs. The bioavailability of silicon (Si) relative to nitrogen Accepted 9 March 2015 (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, in combination with light environment, controls diatom growth and Available online 4 June 2015 therefore influences phytoplankton community compositions in most freshwater aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we quantified reactive Si cycling and annual Si retention in Lake Diefenbaker, a 394 km2 prairie reservoir Communicated by John-Mark Davies in Saskatchewan, Canada. Retention estimates were derived from 7 sediment cores combined with high- Index words: resolution spatiotemporal sampling of water column dissolved Si (DSi). Current annual DSi retention in the res- 8 −1 Reactive silicon ervoir is approximately 28% of the influx, or 2.5 × 10 mol yr .
    [Show full text]
  • Upper Qu'appelle Water Supply Project
    Upper Qu’Appelle Water Supply Project Water Scarcity, Water Supply, Water Security A Long Term Investment in Saskatchewan’s Future An Economic Impact & Sensitivity Analysis Water security has always been important for Saskatchewan. Prior to settlement, First Nations moved with the droughts and wintered in the river valleys. Droughts of the 1930s created a human and environmental tragedy that lasted for generations. It set November 2012 South Central Enterprise Region the foundation, however, for visionary water planning with the formation of a secure water supply in Lake Diefenbaker and a distributional opportunity for all regions of the province. The water investments in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s are still benefiting Upper Qu’Appelle Regional Water Conveyance generations of Saskatchewan residents. Over 100,000 acres has been irrigated around the Lake, clean hydro electric power is generated from turbines at Coteau Creek, tourism has grown around the water source and wildlife have thrived in the healthy man made aquatic environment. In 1980, Regina and Moose Jaw requested the federal and provincial governments complete a comprehensive water supply study that concluded municipal requirements for raw water could be met from Buffalo Pound Lake via the existing Qu’Appelle River channel to 2030, with the addition of granular activated carbon treatment. At the time, water quality rather than water supply issues were paramount and central to the evaluation. At the time a multi-purpose canal via several routes through the Qu’Appelle and Thunder Creek as far as the Souris was identified. In the thirty years since there have been major changes in the levels of development and scope of opportunities available to the area.
    [Show full text]
  • Healthy Beaches Report
    Saskatchewan Recreational Water Sampling Results to July 8, 2019 Water is Caution. Water Water is not Data not yet suitable for quality issues suitable for available/Sampling swimming observed swimming complete for season Legend: Recreational water is considered to be microbiologically safe for swimming when single sample result contains less than 400 E.coli organisms in 100 milliliters (mLs) of water, when the average (geometric mean) of five samples is under 200 E.coli/100 mLs, and/or when significant risk of illness is absent. Caution. A potential blue-green algal bloom was observed in the immediate area. Swimming is not recommended; contact with beach and access to facilities is not restricted. Resampling of the recreational water is required. Swimming Advisory issued. A single sample result containing ≥400 E.coli/100 mLs, an average (geometric mean) of five samples is >200 E.coli/100 mLs, an exceedance of the guideline value for cyanobacteria or their toxins >20 µg/L and/or a cyanobacteria bloom has been reported. Note: Sampling is typically conducted from June – August. Not all public swimming areas in Saskatchewan are monitored every year. Historical data and an annual environmental health assessment may indicate that only occasional sampling is necessary. If the quality of the area is deteriorating, then monitoring of the area will occur. This approach allows health officials to concentrate their resources on beaches of questionable quality. Every recreational area is sampled at least once every five years. Factors affecting the microbiological quality of a water body at any given time include type and periodicity of contamination events, time of day, recent weather conditions, number of users of the water body and, physical characteristics of the area.
    [Show full text]
  • Gardiner Dam's Historic Movement and Ongoing Stability Evaluation
    10/18/2018 10/18/2018 Gardiner Dam’s Historic Movement and Ongoing Stability Evaluation Jody Scammell, M.Sc., P. Eng. Director, Dam Safety and Major Structures 1 10/18/2018 2 10/18/2018 Outline • South Saskatchewan River Project Introduction • Lake Diefenbaker Reservoir • Gardiner Dam – Foundation Conditions – Major Components – Movements – Previous Stability Evaluations • Grant Devine Dam Stability Evaluation • Expected Results – Not expected results 3 10/18/2018 SSRP Introduction Gardiner Dam Qu’Appelle River Dam 4 10/18/2018 SSRP Introduction • 1894 first consideration for large irrigation • 1968 completed • Total cost $120 million (1968 value) • Replacement value $2.41 Billion • Owned and operated by Water Security Agency • Operation, maintenance and monitoring complete by 8 onsite staff 5 10/18/2018 Lake Diefenbaker Reservoir 6 10/18/2018 Reservoir Drainage Basin • Three Regions • Effective Distribution – Eastern Rockies 50% Area / 80% Flow – Foothills – Prairies 50% Area / 20% Flow • 60% Snowmelt • 38% Rainfall runoff • 2% Glacier melt 7 10/18/2018 Reservoir Operation • Runoff patterns – Low winter flow – Spring peak, April – Summer peak, May/June – Recession, Aug/Sept 8 10/18/2018 Reservoir • Lake Diefenbaker • 225 km long (near Eston, SK) • 760 km shoreline • Volume 9.25x109 m3 • Usable Storage 3.95x109 m3 • Up to 58 m deep 9 10/18/2018 2013 Release • Largest flow released • 1600 m3/s spillway • 2000 m3/s total 6000 558 Lake Diefenbaker April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 5000 556 4000 554 3000 552 Inflow Flow (m3/s) Flow Outflow
    [Show full text]
  • Developing a New Reservoir Operating Plan for Lake Diefenbaker: Questionnaire Summary
    Developing a New Reservoir Operating Plan For Lake Diefenbaker: Questionnaire Summary November 2012 Executive Summary Responses to this questionnaire are from a wide variety of users who have a number of interests in the management of Lake Diefenbaker. Of the 31 questionnaire respondents, 35% relied upon or valued the system primarily for recreational services, 13% primarily for irrigational services, 6% primarily for environmental services, 3% primarily for flood control services, 3% primarily for municipal/domestic water supply services, 3% primarily for ferries/riverboat services, 3% primarily for industrial services, 3% primarily for electrical production services, and 29% indicated that their organization/community/First Nation relies upon more than one of Lake Diefenbaker services. The majority of the respondents thought all of the services that the reservoir provides are important to extremely important in the decision making associated with the management of the South Saskatchewan River Project (Question 1). It is obvious throughout the responses that users believe that no one management response will work in all situations. The renewed Lake Diefenbaker reservoir operating plan will need to be dynamic and flexible to accommodate the various flow/water level situations that arise. When looking at the ten trade-offs between services provided by the reservoir, as outlined in Question #2, six trade-off situations had equal votes for each of the two services. However, there were responses that indicated respondents had preferences to one service over another, these comparisons included: 1) a preference to flood control over hydroelectric power generation; 2) a preference to fish and aquatic habitat over hydroelectric power generation; 3) a preference to flood control over recreation downstream of the reservoir; and 4) a preference to flood control over recreation on the reservoir.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Diefenbaker: the Prairie Jewel
    Journal of Great Lakes Research 41 Supplement 2 (2015) 1–7 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Great Lakes Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jglr Lake Diefenbaker: The prairie jewel Introduction with intakes that are 34 m below FSL. The proportion of inflowing water that flows out of Gardiner Dam varies from ~70% in low flow years (e.g., 2001 average flow was 84 m3 s−1)toover97%inhigh fl 3 −1 Fighting drought with a dam: Lake Diefenbaker, the reservoir of ow years (e.g., 2005; 374 m s ; Hudson and Vandergucht, 2015) fl life-giving water.CBC's Norman DePoe. with a median proportional out ow of ~94%. Additional water losses in- clude net evaporation, which can represent over 10% in dry years, irriga- On the broad expanse of flat land of the northern Great Plains of tion, and direct use from the reservoir. From the Qu'Appelle Dam, Lake Canada lies a large, narrow, river-valley reservoir, Lake Diefenbaker. Diefenbaker water is transferred out of the natural catchment and re- The reservoir was developed for multiple benefits including the irriga- leased down the Qu'Appelle River to supply southern regions of the tion of ~2000 km2 of land in Central Saskatchewan, the generation of province. With a mean depth of 22 m, the water residence time, though hydroelectricity, a source of drinking water, flood control, water for in- variable, is typically just over a year (Donald et al., 2015; Hudson and dustry and livestock, and recreation. This semi-arid region has an aver- Vandergucht, 2015).
    [Show full text]
  • Water Quality in the South SK River Basin
    Water Quality in the South SK River Basin I AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN I.1 The Saskatchewan River Basin The South Saskatchewan River joins the North Saskatchewan River to form one of the largest river systems in western Canada, the Saskatchewan River System, which flows from the headwater regions along the Rocky Mountains of south-west Alberta and across the prairie provinces of Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). The Prairie physiographic region is characterized by rich soils, thick glacial drift and extensive aquifer systems, and a consistent topography of broad rolling hills and low gradients which create isolated surface wetlands. In contrast, the headwater region of the Saskatchewan River (the Western Cordillera physiographic region) is dominated by thin mineral soils and steep topography, with highly connected surface drainage systems and intermittent groundwater contributions to surface water systems. As a result, the Saskatchewan River transforms gradually in its course across the provinces: from its oxygen-rich, fast flowing and highly turbid tributaries in Alberta to a meandering, nutrient-rich and biologically diverse prairie river in Saskatchewan. There are approximately 3 million people who live and work in the Saskatchewan River Basin and countless industries which operate in the basin as well, including pulp and paper mills, forestry, oil and gas extraction, mining (coal, potash, gravel, etc.), and agriculture. As the fourth longest river system in North America, the South Saskatchewan River Basin covers an incredibly large area, draining a surface of approximately 405 860 km² (Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin, 2009). Most of the water that flows in the Saskatchewan River originates in the Rocky Mountains of the Western Cordillera, although some recharge occurs in the prairie regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan through year-round groundwater contributions, spring snow melt in March or April, and summer rainfall in May and early July (J.W.
    [Show full text]
  • State of Lake Diefenbaker Report
    State of Lake Diefenbaker Prepared for: Consultation Meeting on May 30, 2012. Document was edited and revised on October 19, 2012 Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to provide the stakeholders with some context of the South Saskatchewan River project, the management issues associated with the operation of the Gardiner and Qu’Appelle River Dams, and the health of Lake Diefenbaker and the Lake Diefenbaker Watershed. This report summarizes the management activities associated with the operation of the South Saskatchewan River Project and the potential outcomes related to these management activities. Information within this report provides a basis for evaluating the management objectives and setting priorities for the operation of the Project. Table 1 outlines the various reservoir management activities and the resulting consequences of these activities. The South Saskatchewan River Project, of which Lake Diefenbaker and the Gardiner and Qu’Appelle River Dams are the primary components, is a critical water resource for the province of Saskatchewan. The South Saskatchewan River Project is currently owned and managed by the Water Security Agency of Saskatchewan for multiple services, including irrigation, municipal and industrial water supply, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, aquatic and wildlife habitat, and downstream flood control. The services provided by the Project are fundamental to the province’s economic, social and environmental well being. Lake Diefenbaker construction started after an agreement between the province of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada, which was signed in 1958. The initial purpose of the project was to form a reservoir that could provide source water to irrigate approximately 200,000 hectares of farmland in central Saskatchewan and the Qu’Appelle Valley.
    [Show full text]
  • Variable Movements After Catch-And-Release Tournament Angling and Isotopic Niches
    Variable movements after catch-and-release tournament angling and isotopic niches of walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis) A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Biology University of Regina by Jessica Carroll Butt Regina, Saskatchewan November, 2016 © 2016: J. C. Butt UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH SUPERVISORY AND EXAMINING COMMITTEE Jessica Carroll Butt, candidate for the degree of Master of Science in Biology, has presented a thesis titled, Variable movements after catch-and-release angling and isotope niches of walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis), in an oral examination held on November 14, 2016. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material. External Examiner: Dr. Douglas Chivers, University of Saskatchewan Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Somers, Department of Biology Committee Member: Dr. Mark Brigham, Department of Biology Committee Member: Dr. Richard Manzon, Department of Biology Chair of Defense: Dr. Maria Velez, Department of Geology ! II ABSTRACT Walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis) are closely related freshwater species that are ecologically and economically important throughout North America. These two species are sympatric in many areas, and are often regulated as a single entity. However, the important similarities and differences that exist between these species in the context of various management issues remain uncertain. The first chapter of my thesis addresses the effects of catch-and-release fishing that is part of angling tournaments on walleye and sauger.
    [Show full text]
  • Our Greatest Resource: a Look at Irrigation in Saskatchewan in 2015
    OUR GREATEST RESOURCE A look at irrigation in Saskatchewan by Cassi Smith A fully-diversified irrigation economy will create returns to farmers and society and make significant contributions to provincial output (GDP) as well as increase household and rural farm incomes and employment. It will create a foundation for even higher value-added SIPA food production, increase tourism development and Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects stabilize rural populations. Association Inc. Photo: Ron Garnett / AirScapes.ca September 2015 Saskatchewan Business Magazine 41 “Water is the lifeblood of agriculture, and irrigation and water development projects have the potential to provide security for ag processing as well as production. In the right circumstances, they can be a fundamental enabler for one of Saskatchewan’s most significant economic sectors.” Ron Kehrig, Sector Manager for Life Sciences and Biomass with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of the Economy Saskatchewan has only ever scratched the surface environmental and agricultural benefits of completing the of its irrigation potential. With the construction of province’s proposed water infrastructure projects are vast and Gardiner Dam and the Qu’Appelle Dam and the subsequent Saskatchewan has everything we need to turn the sleeping creation of Lake Diefenbaker, the province’s water-holding potential of irrigation into a province-wide success story. capacity is huge and has been for many years. Investing in our province’s future is a lot like farming. One In 1957, the federal government, through Prairie Farm year the weather cooperates, yields are high and bills are paid, Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), began construction of while the next, a series of setbacks can put everyone in a dan- the Gardiner and Qu’Appelle River dams to impound water in gerous position.
    [Show full text]