Lake Diefenbaker

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Lake Diefenbaker
NASA satellite image of Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan Canada.jpg
NASA satellite image of Lake Diefenbaker
Canada Saskatchewan relief location map.jpg
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Lake Diefenbaker
Location in Saskatchewan
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Lake Diefenbaker
Lake Diefenbaker (Canada)
LocationFlag of Saskatchewan.svg  Saskatchewan
Coordinates 51°01′53″N106°50′09″W / 51.03139°N 106.83583°W / 51.03139; -106.83583
Type Reservoir
Primary inflows South Saskatchewan River
Primary outflows
Catchment area 135,500 km2 (52,300 sq mi)
Basin  countriesFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Max. length225 km (140 mi)
Max. width6 km (3.7 mi)
Surface area430 km2 (170 sq mi)
Average depth21.6 m (71 ft)
Max. depth66 m (217 ft)
Water volume9.4 km3 (7,600,000 acre⋅ft)
Residence time 2.5 years
Shore length1800 km (500 mi)
Surface elevation556.8 m (1,827 ft) above sea level (full supply level)
Settlements
References [1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Diefenbaker [2] is a reservoir and bifurcation lake in southern part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was formed by the construction of Gardiner Dam and the Qu'Appelle River Dam across the South Saskatchewan and Qu'Appelle Rivers respectively. Construction began in 1959 and the lake was filled in 1967. The lake is 225 kilometres (140 mi) long with approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi) of shoreline. It has a maximum depth of 66 metres (217 ft), while the water levels regularly fluctuate 3–9 metres (9–27 feet) each year. The flow of the two rivers is now regulated with a considerable portion of the South Saskatchewan diverted into the Qu'Appelle. Prior to the dams' construction, high water levels in the South Saskatchewan would frequently cause dangerous ice conditions downstream in Saskatoon while the Qu'Appelle would frequently dry up in the summer months.

Contents

Lake Diefenbaker provides water for domestic irrigation, drinking, and industrial uses. An extensive aqueduct (canal) system was built from the Gardiner Dam called the South Saskatchewan River Project. From the east-side of Gardiner Dam, the aqueduct system heads in a generally north-easterly direction ending at Dellwood Reservoir north-east of Little Manitou Lake in the RM of Usborne No. 310. Reservoirs along the course of the canal include Broderick Reservoir, Brightwater Reservoir, Indi Lake, Blackstrap Lake, Bradwell Reservoir, and Zelma Reservoir. [3] [4]

Lake Diefenbaker is the largest body of water in southern Saskatchewan, although Last Mountain Lake is the largest naturally occurring one. The lake was named after John G. Diefenbaker, a former Prime Minister of Canada.

Parks and recreation

Lake Diefenbaker in fall, picture taken near Riverhurst, Sask. Lake Diefenbaker 2007.jpg
Lake Diefenbaker in fall, picture taken near Riverhurst, Sask.
The Riverhurst Ferry MVRiverhurstferry.JPG
The Riverhurst Ferry

Three provincial parks and three regional parks are on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker: Danielson Provincial Park, [5] Douglas Provincial Park, [6] Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, [7] Palliser Regional Park, Cabri Regional Park, and Prairie Lake Regional Park.

Recreational activities include fishing, boating, and camping. The town of Elbow contains a marina for boat storage and house boat rental.

The only remaining ferry on the lake is the Riverhurst Ferry, a cable ferry that operates across Lake Diefenbaker near Riverhurst, Saskatchewan.

Ecology

Lake Diefenbaker is home to 26 native and stocked fish species. These include burbot, walleye, northern pike, lake whitefish, lake trout, sauger, goldeye, cisco, yellow perch, rainbow trout, lake sturgeon, longnose sucker, white sucker, shorthead redhorse and Atlantic Salmon. [8] Both the current world-record rainbow trout [9] and world-record burbot [10] were caught in the lake. The lake itself along with Battle Creek are the only two bodies of water in Saskatchewan that support a reproducing population of rainbow trout.

The lake's sandy beaches provide appropriate habitat for the nationally endangered piping plover.

The long stretches of open water and poorly consolidated shore materials makes the shores vulnerable to erosion. Between 1968 and 1992 bank recession rates have commonly ranged up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) a year with higher rates in exposed areas.

Important Bird Areas

There two Important Bird Areas (IBA) of Canada on Lake Diefenbaker, with one at each end. [11]

Galloway and Miry Bay (SK006) is located at the western end of the lake about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Cabri. The IBA site includes the shoreline and spans the width of the lake covering an area of 59.48 km2 (22.97 sq mi). Miry Bay [12] is located on the western shore and Galloway is on the eastern shore about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the north. Geese found in Miry and Galloway Bays include the greater white-fronted, snow, and Ross's. Sandhill cranes are also found at the site. [13]

East Lake Diefenbaker (SK055) is located at the eastern end of the lake. It totals 361.69 km2 (139.65 sq mi) and encompasses most of both the Gordon McKenzie and Thomson Arms of the lake. This IBA is designated as critical piping plover habitat. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Saskatchewan River</span> River in Western Canada

The South Saskatchewan River is a major river in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The river begins at the confluence of the Bow and Oldman Rivers in southern Alberta and ends at the Saskatchewan River Forks in central Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan River Forks is the confluence of the South and North Saskatchewan Rivers and is the beginning of the Saskatchewan River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle Creek (Milk River tributary)</span> River in central North America

Battle Creek is a river that begins in the south-eastern region of the Canadian province of Alberta, near the border with Saskatchewan, in the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. From Alberta, Battle Creek flows east and across the border into Saskatchewan. It flows south out of Saskatchewan across the Canada–United States border into Montana, where it joins the Milk River in Blaine County, Montana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gardiner Dam</span> Dam in Saskatchewan

The Gardiner Dam on the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan is the third largest embankment dam in Canada and one of the largest embankment dams in the world. Construction on Gardiner Dam and the smaller Qu'Appelle River Dam was started in 1959 and completed in 1967, creating Lake Diefenbaker upstream and diverting a considerable portion of the South Saskatchewan's flow into the Qu'Appelle River. The dam rises 64 metres (209 feet) in height, is almost 5 km (3.1 mi) long and has a width of 1.5 km (0.93 mi) at its base with a volume of 65,000,000 cubic meters. The dam is owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qu'Appelle River Dam</span> Dam in Saskatchewan, Canada

The Qu'appelle River Dam is the smaller of two embankment dams: which created Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada. The larger dam is Gardiner Dam, the biggest embankment dam in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. Construction of both dams began in the 1959 and was completed in 1967. The dam keeps the flow of water in the Qu'Appelle River relatively constant, as the Qu'Appelle River formerly dried up in many places every summer at the conclusion of the spring freshet from the Rocky Mountains, which feeds the South Saskatchewan River. This along with Buffalo Pound Dam at Buffalo Pound Lake, which supplies water to Regina, Moose Jaw and the Mosaic potash mine at Belle Plaine, keeps the lake from fluctuating excessively. The Canadian Pacific Railway crosses the river via the top of the dam, and the dam was designed with this type of loading in mind. The dam is 3100 metres long and 27 metres high. Douglas Provincial Park extends from the dam to Mistusinne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qu'Appelle River</span> River in Western Canada

The Qu'Appelle River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba that flows 430 kilometres (270 mi) east from Lake Diefenbaker in south-western Saskatchewan to join the Assiniboine River in Manitoba, just south of Lake of the Prairies, near the village of St. Lazare. It is in a region called the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, which extends throughout three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states. It is also within Palliser's Triangle and the Great Plains ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold Lake Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in Alberta, Canada

Cold Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in northeastern Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rural Municipality of Maple Bush No. 224</span> Rural municipality in Saskatchewan, Canada

The Rural Municipality of Maple Bush No. 224 is a rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within Census Division No. 7 and SARM Division No. 2. It is located in the southwest portion of the province.

Round Lake is the last part of a chain of eutrophic prairie lakes connected by the Qu'Appelle River in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The lakes — known as the Fishing Lakes — were formed by glaciation about 10,000 years ago. Round Lake Dam, an embankment dam was constructed on the east end of the lake in 1941 to control water levels and protect from floods downstream on the Qu'Appelle River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Mountain Lake</span> Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada

Last Mountain Lake, also known as Long Lake, is a prairie lake formed from glaciation 11,000 years ago. It is located in south central Saskatchewan, Canada, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north-west of the city of Regina. It flows into the Qu'Appelle River via Last Mountain Creek, which flows past Craven. It is approximately 93 km (58 mi) long, and 3 km (1.9 mi) wide at its widest point. It is the largest naturally occurring body of water in southern Saskatchewan. Only Lake Diefenbaker, which is man-made, is larger. The lake is a popular resort area for residents of south-eastern Saskatchewan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Pound Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in Saskatchewan, Canada

Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is a provincial park located in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-east of Moose Jaw and 86 kilometres (53 mi) north-west of the city of Regina. Access to the park is from Highways 301 and 202.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candle Lake (Saskatchewan)</span> Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada

Candle Lake is a reservoir in the central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-east of Prince Albert. A dam completed in 1979 at the southern end of the lake regulates water levels; several small creeks feed into the lake and Torch River flows out of the lake at the dam. Candle Lake Provincial Park surrounds most of the lake and the resort village of Candle Lake is at the southern end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobin Lake</span> Reservoir in Saskatchewan, Canada

Tobin Lake is a reservoir along the course of the Saskatchewan River in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Tobin Lake was formed by the building of the E.B. Campbell Dam on the Saskatchewan River in 1963. Tobin Lake is named for William Thorburn, who was a fur trader on the Saskatchewan River. He had built a trading post on the Saskatchewan River where it is met by the Petaigan River. The rapids near the post became known as the "Thornburn Rapids". The name was later shortened to "Tobin Rapids".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Pound Lake</span> Lake in Sasketchewan, Canada

Buffalo Pound Lake is a eutrophic prairie lake in Saskatchewan, Canada, formed from glaciation about 10,000 years ago, on the Qu'Appelle River approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of Moose Jaw and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north-east of Tuxford. The lake gets its name from the method used by First Nations people to capture the bison using the natural topography as corrals or buffalo pounds. Bison, once numbering more than 60 million on the prairies but almost extinct by 1900, were reintroduced into the area in 1972.

Mistusinne is a resort village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within Census Division No. 7. It is on the shores of Gordon McKenzie Arm of Lake Diefenbaker in the Rural Municipality of Maple Bush No. 224.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackstrap Lake</span> Reservoir in Saskatchewan, Canada

Blackstrap Lake is a man-made reservoir in central Saskatchewan, Canada, south of Saskatoon in the Rural Municipality of Dundurn No. 314. The lake was created as a reservoir in 1967, as part of the Saskatoon South East Water Supply System. Blackstrap Lake has an area of 1,200 ha and is generally used to support irrigation, and the industrial and municipal water supply.

Danielson Provincial Park is located at the northern end of Lake Diefenbaker in the southern part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The park surrounds the Gardiner Dam, which was built in 1967 and is among the largest embankment dams in Canada and the world. The South Saskatchewan River flows north beyond the park, towards Outlook and Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Highways 44, 45, and 219 provide access to the park. SaskPower's Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station is located near the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder Creek (Saskatchewan)</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Thunder Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The watershed of Thunder Creek is within the semi-arid Palliser's Triangle in south-central Saskatchewan. It begins at small, man-made reservoir near Lake Diefenbaker and flows in a south-easterly direction towards the city of Moose Jaw and the Moose Jaw River. The Moose Jaw River is a major tributary of the Qu'Appelle River For most of its course, Thunder Creek follows a valley called the Thunder Creek meltwater channel that was formed over 10,000 years ago near the end of the last ice age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echo Lake (Saskatchewan)</span> Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada

Echo Lake is a lake along the course of the Qu'Appelle River in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Echo Lake is so named because of the echo heard by the First Nations while paddling on the lake. It is one of four lakes that make up the Fishing Lakes. Pasqua Lake is upstream and Mission Lake is downstream. The lake can be accessed by Highway 56 and Highway 210. In 1942, a 4-metre (13 ft) high dam was built on the Qu'Appelle River at Echo Lake's outflow to control the lake's water levels.

Douglas Provincial Park is a provincial park in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Established in 1973, it is named after Tommy Douglas, the seventh premier of Saskatchewan and father of Canada's first single-payer, universal health care programme. The park is located along the Gordon McKenzie Arm of Lake Diefenbaker and at the Qu'Appelle River Dam, which is the source of the Qu'Appelle River. The closest community is Elbow and access to the park is from Highway 19.

Broderick Reservoir is a reservoir about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south-southeast of Outlook in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the Rural Municipality of Rudy No. 284. Broderick Reservoir was built in 1967 as part of South Saskatchewan River Project. That project involved the building of aqueducts and a series of reservoirs to supply water for irrigation, consumption, and industry originating at Gardiner Dam at Lake Diefenbaker. Broderick is the first reservoir in the series. Downstream reservoirs include Brightwater Reservoir, Indi Lake, Blackstrap Lake, Bradwell Reservoir, Zelma Reservoir, and Dellwood Reservoir.

References

  1. "World Lake Database (Lake Diefenbaker)". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  2. "Lake Diefenbaker". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. "Dams and Reservoirs". Water Security Agency. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  4. "Your Partner in Water" (PDF). SaskWater. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  5. "Danielson Provincial Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  6. "Douglas Provincial Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  7. "Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  8. Fish Species of Saskatchewan Archived 2015-11-03 at the Wayback Machine
  9. IGFA All-Tackle World Record for Rainbow Trout
  10. "IGFA All-Tackle World Record for Burbot". Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  11. "Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas". Nature Saskatchewan. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  12. "Miry Bay". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  13. "Galloway and Miry Bay". IBA Canada. Birds Canada. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  14. "East Lake Diefenbaker". IBA Canada. Birds Canada. Retrieved 10 January 2023.

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