UC-NRLF B M SDb 3DT Water Powers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta ^^: ■ m, l ^m H Commission of Conservation Canada Commission of Conservation Constituted under "The Conservation Act," 8-9 Edward VII, Chap. 27, 1909, and amending Acts, 9-10 Edward VII, Chap. 42, 1910, and 3-4 George V, Chap. 12, 1913. Chairman : Sir Clifford Sifton, K.C.M.G. Members : Hon. Aubin E. Arsenault, Summerside, P.E.I. Dr. Howard Murray, Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S. Dr Cecil C. Jones, Chancellor, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, N.B. Mr. William B. Snowball, Chatham, N.B. Hon. Henri S. Bei.and, M.D., M.P., St. Joseph-de-Beauce, Que. Dr. Frank D. Adams, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science, McGill University, Montreal, Que. Mgr. Charles P. Choquette, St. Hyacinthe, Que., Professor. Seminary of St. Hyacinthe, and Member of Faculty, Laval University Mr. Edward Gohier, St. Laurent, Que. Dr. James W. Robertson, C.M.G., Ottawa, Ont. Hon. Senator William Cameron Edwards, Ottawa, Ont. Mr. Charles A. McCool, Pembroke, Ont. Sir Edmund B. Osler, M.P., Toronto, Ont. Mr. John F. MacKay, Business Manager, "The Globe," Toronto, Ont. Dr. Bern hard E. Fernow, Dean, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. Dr. George Bryce, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. Dr. William J. Rutherford, Member of Faculty, University of Saskatche- wan, Saskatoon, Sask. Dr. Henry M. Tory, President, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Aha. Mr. John Peace Babcock, Victoria, B.C. Members, ex-officio : Hon. Martin BurrELL, Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa Hon. William J. Roche, Minister of the Interior, Ottawa Hon. P. E. Blondin, Minister of Mines, Ottawa Hon. John A. Mathieson, K.C., Premier, President and Attorney-General, Prince Edward Island Hon. Orlando T. Daniels, Attorney-General, Nova Scotia Hon. George J. Clarke, Premier and Minister of Lands and Mines, New Brunswick Hon. Jules Allard, Minister of Lands and Forests, Quebec Hon. G. H. Ferguson, Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines, Ontario Hon. A. B. Hudson, Attorney-General, Manitoba Hon. George W. Brown, Regina, Saskatchewan Hon. Arthur L. Sifton, Premier, Minister of Railways and Telephones, Alberta , „ , Hon. William R. Ross. Minister of Lands, British Columbia Deputy Head and Assistant to Chairman : Mr. James White [•i] Commission of Conservation Canada COMMITTEE ON WATERS AND WATER-POWERS WATER-POWERS OF MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA by LEO G. DENIS, B. Sc, E. E. Hydro- Electric Engineer to Commission of Conservation Additional date respecting Water- Powers of Southern Manitoba and Bow River by J. B. CHALLIES, M. Can. Soc. C. E. Superintendent, Water-Pou-er Branch, Department of the Interior 1916 Warwick Bros & Rutter, Limited, Printers Toronto WCOMENTJ terr. Committee on Waters and Water-Powers Hon. H. S. Beland, Chairman Hon. Jules Aixard Hon. George J. Clarke Hon. G. H. Ferguson Mr. C. A. McCool Hon. W. R. Ross [iv] To Field Marshal, His Royal Highness Prince Arthur Wil- liam Patrick Albert, Duke of Con naught and of Strathearn, K.G., K.T., K.P., &c, &c, Governor General of Canada. May it Please Your Royal Highness : The undersigned has the honour to lay before Your Royal High- ness the report of the Commission of Conservation on the "Water- Powers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta." Respectfully submitted CLIFFORD SIFTON Chairman Ottawa, May 1, 1916. [v] 34888 ^ Ottawa, May 1, 1916 Sir:— I have the honour to transmit herewith a report on the "Water-Powers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta." In the report on "Water-Powers of Canada," published in 1911, it was announced that, owing to the paucity of published or available information respect- ing Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, it would be necessary to institute a reconnaissance survey of the water-powers of these pro- vinces. This volume contains the result of reconnaissance surveys of the water-powers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, together with portions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories, by Leo G. Denis, B. Sc, E. E., of the Commission of Conservation. We are indebted to Mr. J. B. Challies, C. E., M. Can. Soc. C. E., Superintendent of the Dominion Water Power Branch, Department of the Interior, for the reports on the water-powers of Southern Mani- toba and Alberta also regarding the Bow river basin above Calgary. Respectfully submitted JAMES WHITE Assistant to Chairman Sir Clifford Sifton, K.C.M.G. Chairman Commission of Conservation [vil CONTENTS Chapter Page General Introduction 1 I. Winnipeg River 5 II. Red and Assiniboine Rivers 30 III. Western Tributaries of Lake Winnipeg 64 IV. Eastern Tributaries of Lake Winnipeg 81 V. Nelson River and Tributaries and Hayes River 100 VI. Saskatchewan River 121 VII. North Saskatchewan River and Tributaries 129 VIII. South Saskatchewan River and Tributaries except Bow River 143 IX. Milk River 175 X. Bow River below Calgary 178 XI. Bow River above Calgary 193 XII. Athabaska River and Tributaries 227 XIII. Eastern Tributaries of Lake Athabaska 237 XIV. Peace River 239 XV. Slave River and Tributaries of Mackenzie River 242 XVI. Churchill River and Tributaries 249 XVII. Yukon River and Tributaries 256 XVIII. Coppermine, Hood, Dubawnt, Ferguson and Kazan Rivers 265 Appendices I. Table of Watfr-powers on Saskatchewan River and Tribu- taries and Streams Flowing into Lake Winnipeg 273 II. Tables of Estimated Flow and Theoretical H.P. on Streams where Complete Data on Flow are Not Available 281 III. Table Showing Descents on Streams where Lack of In- formation Prevents Estimating Flow 291 IV. Utilized Water-powers in the Yukon 293 V. Monthly Precipitation in Prairie Provinces 294 VI. Water-Power Legislation 302 VTT. Bibliography 312 [vii] ILLUSTRATIONS Bow River — Kananaskis Dam in Winter Frontispiece Facing Page. Winnipeg River— Silver Fall 8 Winnipeg River — Main Weir For Pinawa Channel 8 Winnipeg River — First Seven Sisters Fall 12 Winnipeg River— Second Seven Sisters Fall 12 Winnipeg River — Spillway of Pointe du Bois Plant 16 Winnipeg River — Winnipeg Municipal Hydro-electric Plant at Pointe du Bois 16 Winnipeg River — Pinawa Channel Control Dam 18 Winnipeg River — Power House op the Winnipeg Electric Ry. Co. 18 Winnipeg River — Second McArthur Fall 22 Winnipeg River — Pine Fall 22 Winnipeg River— Little du Bonnet Fall 28 Winnipeg River — Grand du Bonnet Fall 28 Minnedosa River — Reservoir at Rapid City 42 Assiniboine River — Old Dam at Millwood 42 Red Deer River (Man.) at Junction with Etomami River 64 Fairford River, above Fairford 64 Manigotagan River — Wood Fall 84 Manigotagan River — Rapid below Cascade Portage 84 Pigeon River — Peacock Rapid 96 Berens River — Sandisland Chute 96 Nelson River— Grand Rapid (at head) 102 Nelson River — Whitemud Fall (West channel) 102 Nelson River — Kettle Rapid 108 Nelson River — Bladder Rapid 108 Nelson River— Ebb-and-flow Rapid 110 Nelson River — Sea Fall (East channel) 110 Hayes River— Knife Rapid 118 Hayes River— Trout Fall 118 Saskatchewan River — Grand Rapid 136 Saskatchewan River — Red Rock Rapid 136 Norway House, on Nelson River 150 Hayes River — Rapid, six miles below Robinson Lake 150 Bow Lake, showing Glacier 174 Ghost River 174 Bow River— Hydro-electric Plant at Horseshoe Fall 188 Bow River— Kananaskis Fall 188 Cascade River — Minnewanka Dam (Summer) 216 Cascade River— Minnewanka Dam ^Winter) 216 Peace River— Head of Peace River Canon 240 Slave River — One of the Fort Smith Rapids 240 [viii] MAPS AND DIAGRAMS Facing Page Winnipeg River — Profile. Existing plants and power sites 20 Assiniboine River— Profile 42 Minnedosa River — Profile 52 Dauphin and Fairford Rivers — Profiles 66 Mossy River — Profile 70 Valley River — Profile •• 74 Manigotagan River — Profile 86 Pigeon River— Profile ■ • 88 Berens River— Profile i ■ • 92 Nelson River— Profile 100 Nelson River, Whitemud Fall and Grand Rapid 112 Saskatchewan River— Profile 122 South Saskatchewan River— Profile 122 North Saskatchewan River — Profile 130 Bow River — Discharge and Temperature at Banff • ■ 194 Bow River — Discharge at Horseshoe Fall 196 Bow River — Profile. Power and Storage Surveys 202 Horseshoe Fall Development 208 Kananaskis Fall Development 210 Lake Minnewanka Storage — Four diagrams 218 Athabaska River — General Outline of Some Rapids 226 Lesser Slave River— Profile 234 Little Twelve-mile River — Hydrographs 258 Bow River Basin, above Calgary In pocket Water-powers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories In pocket [ix] Water-Powers OF Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta INTRODUCTION IN the report on "Water-Powers of Canada," published by the Commission of Conservation in 1911, the subject was treated in a fairly complete manner with regard to the eastern provinces, but the information covering' the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia was admittedly very incomplete, and the Commission, then, decided to publish, later, more exhaustive reports on the water-powers of those portions of the Dominion which had not been treated in detail in the above mentioned publication. The present report covers the portion of Canada embraced in the three Prairie Provinces together with certain portions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. When the compilation of "Water-Powers of Canada" was undertaken the information respecting water-powers in the Prairie Provinces was very limited, and, except explorations by the Geological Survey, preliminary work of the Dominion Water Power branch and some scattered information available through the courtesy of consulting engineers or private corporations, little or no data relating to the subject were obtainable. This lack of information may be attributed to several causes, chief among which, possibly, is the relatively recent development of this portion of Canada; moreover, this development was more along agricultural than industrial lines, although water-power is useful to both ; and, lastly, the importance of water-power resources has only been appreciated since the advent of high-tension transmission of electrical energy, coupled with the great industrial tendency to replace hand labour by mechanical energy. The Dominion Government controls the water resources of the Prairie Provinces and, during the past three or four years, has been particularly active in investigating them. The Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior administers the water-pow- ers which come under the jurisdiction of the Dominion Government, and has not confined itself to the regulation and supervision of pro- posed developments. In the territory under its jurisdiction it has sent out field parties to investigate many of the water-powers and to [1] Bow Rivbr Kananask s Dam in Wi Water-Powers OF Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta INTRODUCTION IN the report on "Water-Powers of Canada," published by the Commission of Conservation in 1911, the subject was treated in a fairly complete manner with regard to the eastern provinces, but the information covering the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia was admittedly very incomplete, and the Commission, then, decided to publish, later, more exhaustive reports on the water-powers of those portions of the Dominion which had not been treated in detail in the above mentioned publication. The present report covers the portion of Canada embraced in the three Prairie Provinces together with certain portions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. When the compilation of "Water-Powers of Canada" was undertaken the information respecting water-powers in the Prairie Provinces was very limited, and, except explorations by the Geological Survey, preliminary work of the Dominion Water Power branch and some scattered information available through the courtesy of consulting engineers or private corporations, little or no data relating to the subject were obtainable. This lack of information may be attributed to several causes, chief among which, possibly, is the relatively recent development of this portion of Canada; moreover, this development was more along agricultural than industrial lines, although water-power is useful to both ; and, lastly, the importance of water-power resources has only been appreciated since the advent of high-tension transmission of electrical energy, coupled with the great industrial tendency to replace hand labour by mechanical energy. The Dominion Government controls the water resources of the Prairie Provinces and, during the past three or four years, has been particularly active in investigating them. The Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior administers the water-pow- ers which come under the jurisdiction of the Dominion Government, and has not confined itself to the regulation and supervision of pro- posed developments. In the territory under its jurisdiction it has sent out field parties to investigate many of the water-powers and to [1) 2 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION establish numerous gauging stations, where regular observations are taken. This branch has been in active operation since 1908, and, during the past three years, has covered most of the rivers in the southern portion of these provinces. Particular attention was paid to the Winnipeg river, in eastern Manitoba, and to the Bow river and adjacent basins on the Rocky Mountain slope. Reports on these two districts have been prepared, under the supervision of Mr. J. B. Challies, Superintendent of the Dominion Water Power branch, and have been incorporated in the present report. The Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior has also been actively investigating the water resources in certain portions of these provinces. Field investigations and irrigation surveys of various characters had been carried on since 1894, but systematized investiga- tion really began with the organization of the Irrigation branch in 1908. The progress reports published annually contain general in- formation respecting streams investigated, together with results of stream measurements, which have become a distinct feature of the work. Much information gleaned from these reports has been incor- porated in the present volume. The southern or more settled portion of the Prairie Provinces is fairly well covered by the work of these two branches of the Depart- ment of the Interior. As the northern portion had not been investigated by any other organization, the Commission of Conservation undertook exploratory surveys of the principal rivers in this region, the in- vestigations covering the Athabaska, Peace, Slave, Nelson and other smaller rivers. The rivers were traversed, generally, by canoe, the descent of the falls or rapids being levelled, flow measurements taken, and other details connected with the feasibility of development noted. The results of these surveys are embodied in the present report. For the rivers further north, information was obtained from the reports of explorations made by the Geological Survey, the data being compiled from reports and maps of this branch and from the explor- ers' notes, which were courteously placed at the disposal of the Com- mission. In this region, generally speaking, the information available respecting the different rapids and falls is confined to a statement of the vertical descent, but, in many cases, the geological formation and distances from head to foot of the rapids are also given, as this in- formation may assist in deciding the feasibility of development. The southern portion of the Prairie Provinces may be divided into three sections, having widely different water-power character- istics : 1. The portion in the vicinity of lake Winnipeg, in the east. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 3 2. The more level portion in the centre. 3. The mountain and foothill country in the west. In the first, or eastern portion, the Winnipeg river is the main feature. This river, with its drainage area of 53,500 square miles, has a well-regulated flow and affords numerous water-powers of im- mense value. Two of the sites have already been developed and supply the city of Winnipeg with its electrical energy, while con- struction work on some of the other sites has either been com- menced or is on the eve of starting. Numerous smaller streams in this eastern portion also afford splendid opportunities for water-power development, some of them being actually utilized on the Minnedosa and Shell rivers. This section also includes the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan river, where a head of 80 feet is available, affording an exceptionally good power site. The second, or middle portion, is traversed by two main arteries, the North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan rivers. These, with their main tributaries, flow with an even, moderate current with no concentrated descents of importance. Although, strictly speaking, this portion is not entirely without water-powers, yet the possibilities of such are rather unfavourable. In almost every case the total head would have to be created and several proposed developments have already been abandoned on account of the high cost of development. The third portion, of which the Bow river is typical, has many valuable water-powers. There are none of unusual size, those on the Bow river itself probably being the most important. The slopes of the streams, characteristic of a mountainous region, are generally very steep, and, while the flow of water is subject to fairly large variation, good opportunities for storage and artificial regulation are afforded. With regard to special measures taken by the Dominion Govern- ment in connection with the administration of the water-powers in the southern portion of the Prairie Provinces, the setting aside of the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains as a forest reserve, known as the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve, may be mentioned first. This step was taken on the recommendation of the Commission of Con- servation, and, as a result, an area of 17,900 square miles has been assured protection from such denudation as has already taken place in some of the older provinces. All the upper tributaries of the North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan rivers have their sources within this area, and the beneficial effect of conserving its forest cover is evident as far east as the Grand rapid on the main Saskatchewan river. W r ith a similar object in view, the Commission has recently 4 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION recommended that steps be taken to segregate, as a forest reserve, the upper portion of the drainage area of the Winnipeg river. This recommendation will doubtless be acted upon shortly, and will prevent the useless dissipation of the present facilities which this district offers for storage and conservation of run-off. This step is of particular significance, as the Winnipeg river affords the only water-powers of importance susceptible, under present conditions, of being economically developed and transmitted to the city of Winnipeg and the surround- ing district, an area that will undoubtedly become thickly populated within a very few years. Among other measures may be mentioned, also, the policy adopted by the Dominion Government, of reserving, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of the Water Power branch, all vacant Domin- ion lands which may be valuable for the development of water-power. The land is thus held from the hands of speculators and kept for promoters of bona fide power development. Reservations of this char- acter have already been made on the Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Bow, Elbow, Athabaska, Peace and other rivers. All the water-powers in the Prairie Provinces come under the direct control of the Dominion Government, water-power rights being granted under special regulations. The full text of the regulations is given as Appendix VI, p. 301, from which it may be seen that all water-powers under federal control are "licensed" on strict conditions and, before the license is issued for any water-power site, or for the purpose of storing water, the application must go through three dif- ferent stages: 1. The plans must be submitted to and approved by a com- petent staff (the Water Power branch of the Interior Department), which has been established for the purpose of investigating pro- posed water-power developments, from both engineering and economic standpoints, particularly from the view-point of their maximum efficiency in conjunction with other power sites on the same or tributary rivers. 2. Once the plans have been approved, construction work may proceed under Government supervision. 3. After the construction work is completed the license is granted for a limited period, the Government reserving the follow- ing, among other, rights: (a) The privilege of refusing to renew the license; (b) The right of demanding the development of power suffi- cient to satisfy public demand up to the full amount obtainable from the water-power under license ; (c) The right of the Board of Railway Commissioners of Canada to fix the rates for power charged to the public. CHAPTER I Winnipeg River* METERING STATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE MANITOBA HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY Name of River Situation When established Remarks Winnipeg Otter fall ' Gauge readings were commenced Winnipeg Slave falls at Point du Bois in Jan, 1907, and ■these records used in connection with later discharge measurements at the two stations Whitemouth . . . Whitemouth May, 1912 Water-Powers in Southern Manitoba That Manitoba is richly endowed with numerous water-powers has been generally known, but, prior to the investigations of the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior, their extent and magnitude had been only approximated. Recognizing the great value of such powers, and with a view to the power requirements of both the present and the future, a complete study has been made of certain power rivers, and is being made of all others throughout the province. In such studies it is the aim of the Department to form a comprehensive scheme, contemplating the maximum development of the total head available upon each river. The great power possibilities of Manitoba are due to the geological and topographical features of the province. The central portion of Manitoba acts as a collecting basin for the waters from an immense drainage area. This vast area extends from the Rocky mountains practically as far eastward as lake Superior; it also comprises a portion of the northern United States and reaches into the northerly lands of western Canada. * Practically the whole of this chapter was compiled from field investigations and stream flow study by the engineers of the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior, under the direction of Mr. J. B. Challies, Super- intendent. The description of power plants was obtained directly from the officials operating same. See also Water Resources Paper Xo. 7 , Depart- ment of the Interior. [5] 6 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION As these waters reach the central portion of the province, a depres- sion occurs between the prairie steppes and the Laurentian plateau, through which an extensive fall is available for power development. Lake Winnipeg forms the reservoir into which is collected practically all the run-off from the above-described drainage area. From this lake to Hudson bay the flow is concentrated in the Nelson river, in which a descent of 713 feet occurs. From the foregoing it is apparent that the major portion of the powers contained in the basin are concentrated within the lower por- tion of the drainage area, or, more particularly, in Manitoba. The powers are naturally separated into two divisions, viz., those occurring on the rivers draining into lake Winnipeg, which are situ- ated in the older or southern portion of the province, and, secondly, the powers which occur in the northern portion, lying in the drainage from lake Winnipeg. It should be noted that, while on many rivers possible power con- centrations have been investigated, and estimates of the available power are given for various sites, yet, as future investigations will show, additional power may be available on such rivers. Again, in the case of other rivers, no surveys to determine the extent of concentra- tion available have been made, as yet, and, in these cases, where a record of the flow has been obtained, an estimate is made of the power available per foot head. In many cases the power has been estimated both for the extreme minimum flow and for the lowest monthly mean flow of the highest six months of the year, as obtained from the present record of discharges. The horse-power has been calculated for a turbine efficiency of 80 per cent, while no estimate has been made of the power available during short periods of high or peak loads, since this would be impos- sible without a knowledge of the purposes for which the power might be utilized. The powers on the Winnipeg river have been considered on a 75 per cent efficiency basis, as explained later. The data for these tables, and also for the more detailed descrip- tion of the rivers, as given in the following chapters, have been secured in the field by the Manitoba Hydrometric and Power surveys, and office compilations of the same have been made in Winnipeg and Ottawa. . General. — Two main factors enter into the in- Evaporation vestigation of any possible power development — the and Run-off head and tne fl ow available. While the first of these is obtainable through field survey, and a knowledge of the extreme and average stages of river level, the second comprises an extensive WINNIPEG RIVER 7 study of the flow, which, dependent on natural conditions, varies not only with the season and year, but also with the topography and character of the drainage area. Primarily, all water carried by rivers comes from precipitation. Of this a portion evaporates, a por- tion enters the soil, and is either absorbed by plant growth, or, by ground flow reaches the rivers or lakes, while the remainder finds its way into streams as surface flow or run-off. Precipitation. — While the record of the run-off from a drainage area is of first importance in the question of power development, the records of the precipitation are also of extreme value, inasmuch as, if of a more extended period than those of the run-off, they indicate the high and low range of flow which may be expected. In like man- ner, precipitation records, in a drainage basin in which no discharge measurements are available, can be used for the estimation of the flow based on the precipitation and run-off records of an adjacent area. Throughout the southern portion of the province of Manitoba, such records have been obtained by the Meteorological Service of the Marine and Fisheries Department, and these records are tabulated below. It is well known that the precipitation not only shows a variation from season to season, but, also, that a record extending over a few years is not sufficient to give the mean annual precipitation ; for this purpose, a period or cycle of long term should be considered. As there are only a few stations in Manitoba at which long term records have been obtained, it is necessary to carry out some system of com- pensation for the shorter records of the adjacent stations. The records of the precipitation at the long term stations have the same general features from period to period. Assuming that the variations in pre- cipitation are similar at both long and short term stations, the pre- cipitation at the short term stations has been estimated from the records at an adjacent long term station. The precipitation, together with the duration of the record, is given for various stations through- out the province. The ratio of all short term records has been com- puted from the nearest long term station, as tabulated, and a com- pensated annual mean for the station has been calculated. COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MANITOBA PRECIPITATION RECORDS (This table has been compiled from the Meteorological Service records. Ten inches of snow have been assumed equal to 1 inch of rainfall.) Station c o > Duration of record L ! 2 * Long term mean based on record at abable ratio of dpitation in s period to g term mean c c £ m 8.-3S W £&sJ o c o Per cent Almasippi 1903—1912 10 20.90 Winnipeg 100 20.9 Asessippi 1,459 1886 1 13.52 Minnedosa 65 18.3 Adelpha 1,886 ! 1888—1912 1 12.25 Bottineau, N.D 86 14 Brandon 1.260 J 1885—1912 21 17.16 100 17.2 Birtle 1.707 : 1884 1 25.40 Hill view 130 17.8 Barnardo 1891—1905 9 16.80 Hillview 122 13.1 Berens River . . 720 1908—1912 5 21.22 Beausejour 816 1886—1888 3 15.09 Winnipeg 52 22.3 Burnside 874 1886—1890 4 14.95 StonyMountain 70 19.4 Craigilea 1888 1 15.05 Winnipeg 78 18.4 Channel Island. 1890—1905 15 17.10 StonyMountain 73 21.7 Cartwright .... 1,529 1884—1912 15 19.82 Bottineau 123 15.3 Clarkleigh 819 i 1886—1888 3 18.10 StonyMountain 86 20.6 Carberry 1.262 : 1909—1911 3 17.07 Minnedosa 90 18.8 Clandeboye . . . 742 1 1884—1888 4 16.72 StonyMountain 72 21.4 Elkhorn 1,640 J 1895—1901 4 17.81 Hillview 115 15.1 Emerson 797 j 1894—1898 3 21.67 Pembina, N.D 106 20.4 Eden 1,306 1884—1887 4 17.14 Minnedosa 74 21.6 Fort Ellice 1885—1891 7 15.25 Hillview 99 15.4 Gretna 831 1903—1910 8 18.67 Pembina, N.D 94 19.8 Gilrad 1904—1905 2 11.77 Bottineau 93 12.6 Hi 11 view 1,400 1891—1912 20 ■ 20 Minnedosa 114 17.2 Minnedosa .... 1,675 1881—1912 32 17.82 100 17.8 Morden 990 1888—1912 17 19.69 Pembina, N.D. 93 21.1 Norquay 798 1888—1912 16 19 Winnipeg 85 21.9 Oakbank 812 1886—1912 22 21.04 100 21 Oakdale Park . 740 1905 1 18.48 Minnedosa 110 16.6 Por. la Prairie 857 1884—1908 14 17 Winnipeg 93 18.2 Pilot Mound . 1,551 1887—1898 4 18.74 Pembina 93 20.1 Rapid City . . . 1,600 1882—1912 15 17.65 Minnedosa 91 18.2 Russell 1.850 1884—1904 9 15.18 Hillview 89 16.8 St. Albans 1,050 1885—1912 25 17.66 100 17.7 Swan River . . 1,115 1901—1910 4 20.85 Shell River ... . 1884-1890 6 15.37 Minnedosa 89 16.9 Stony Mountain 775 1878—1909 22 17.64 Winnipeg 83 20.6 Turtle Mountain 2,150 1884—1904 12 21.92 Bottineau 141 12.9 Treherne 1,212 1910-1912 3 18.28 Winnipeg 93 19.6 Winnipeg 760 1873—1912 40 21.55 100 21.6 Kenora (Ont.) 1,091 1886—1912 9 22.41 Win'g, Pt. Ar 93 24 Norway House 720 1896—1904 8 18.90 York Factory.. 20 1875—1882 3 20.38 Moosomin (Sask.) 1,892 1901—1905 3 17.39 Hillview 113 15.1 Saltcoats (Sask.) 1,736 1900—1903 4 15.69 Hillview 122 12.2 Pt. Arthur (Ont.') 615 1886—1912 27 23.08 Winnipeg River — Silver Fall ission of Constrvaiion Winnipeg River— Main Weir for Pinawa Channel WINNIPEG RIVER 9 Evaporation. — Of the tremendous losses due to evaporation from the ground surface very little is known. It is impossible to arrive at such losses by taking the difference between precipitation and run-off, as in this there would also be included the losses due to absorption by the soil and by vegetation, and, moreover, the rate of run-off does not depend solely upon the precipitation. It is known, however, that a variation does occur in the evaporation, depending upon many factors, including atmospheric conditions, geological and topographical features of the drainage basin, and the extent of forestation and vegetation. A more complete study has been made of the evaporation from the water surface of lakes and rivers, the greatest use of such studies being in the investigation of storage and the losses which are likely to occur on such reservoirs through evaporation. That the losses on lake areas are very great, and often of greater extent than precipita- tion, is well known. The Water Power branch, Department of the Interior, has initiated a comprehensive scheme of evaporation studies throughout the Prairie Provinces and in British Columbia. Arrangements have already been made for stations at the following points, — Kenora on the lake of the Woods; Point du Bois fall on the Winnipeg river; Saskatoon; Prince Albert, in connection with the proposed power development at Cole fall ; Edmonton ; Minnewanka lake, Rocky Moun- tains Park, in connection with a storage project of the Calgary Power Company; at Nelson, B.C., Kamloops, B.C., and Vancouver, B.C. One of these stations, that at Kenora, has been in operation for about two years, and very interesting and instructive data have been col- lected. The investigations will, however, have to be carried on for a period of three or four years before the results would justify publica- tion. Run-off. — While the volume of run-off or stream flow depends principally upon the amount of precipitation and the area of the basin drained, many other factors enter therein and are of extreme importance, such as the geological formation and topographic features of the drainage area, whether of sloping land tending to give a rapid run-off, or of low lying, swampy areas from which the flow is more or less uniform ; it is also dependent upon the extent of the growth of timber and vegetation, together with numerous other factors. While the studies of precipitation and evaporation and the physical features of a drainage area are valuable, the most accurate and reliable data with regard to run-off or stream flow are obtained by a sys- tematic gauging and metering of the flow of the stream, to secure the continuous run-off, extending over sufficient time to obtain the 10 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION extreme fluctuations. The run-off of any stream varies not only from season to season, but also to such an extent from year to year that the same conditions rarely occur on a river in any two successive years. Records for a cycle of at least seven years are, as a rule, necessary to cover the yearly variation to be anticipated. Not only is the study of the run-off of streams of great import- ance in the investigations of power possibilities, but it is also of extreme value in the investigation of possible reclamation of low lands through drainage, or the reclamation of arid lands through irrigation. Such a study is also necessitated on many rivers where schemes for the betterment of navigation are proposed. „ . ,_ Prior to 1911 there had been no systematic or reli- Mamtoba Hydrometric able gathering of data relating to the flow of the Survey rivers in Manitoba. A few scattered discharge measurements had been made throughout the province, but not of sufficient extent to give information as to the continuous flow of any rivers as extending over various stages of their discharge. In 1911 a systematic study of the power possibilities of the Winnipeg river was inaugurated by Mr. J. B. Challies, Superintendent of the Water Power branch, Department of the Interior. The field work consisted of a detailed survey of the river and its power possibilities in Manitoba, and also included the establishment and maintenance of gauging stations thereon. In 1912 this work was extended to embrace a systematic study of the flow and power possibilities of all rivers throughout the province. For this extensive work the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey was organized, with Mr. D. L. McLean as chief engineer. The work is still being carried on under the supervision of the Water Power branch with Mr. M. C. Hendry as chief engineer. Numerous gauging stations were established on the rivers and streams throughout the province, and the collection and compilation of the data have been vigorously carried on. Water-Powers of Winnipeg River* It has long been recognized that there is an enormous reserve of potential water-power on the Winnipeg river within the province of Manitoba. The rapidity with which the existing developments on the river have been, and are being, increased to their capacity, and the active interest that has been taken in the undeveloped power sites of the river, have compelled the Dominion Government to give its water- power resources careful consideration. Within the past few years, *See also Water Resources Paper No. 3, by J. T. Johnston, Chief Hydraulic Engineer, Water Power branch. WINNIPEG RIVER 11 many applications for power privileges on this river have been pre- sented to the Dominion Government ; projects have been proposed for the utilization of various portions of the natural fall, some contemplat- ing the combination of several falls by the concentration of their respective descents at one power site, and others simply proposing the utilization of the descent at a particular fall. These have been so varied and so conflicting, and, at the same time, supported by such reputable engineering advice, that the Government found it inad- visable to commit itself with respect to any further developments on the river until it had first secured a complete survey and investiga- tion of the whole river, with a view to securing such information as would enable the authorization of developments which would con- template the maximum utilization of the water-powers. These investigations were commenced early in 1911, under the consulting advice of J. B. McRae and J. R. Freeman. The field work has been carried on under D. L. McLean, S. S. Scovil and M. C. Hendry, successively. A study and analysis of the field plans by J. T. Johnston is published in Water Resources Paper No. 3. It outlines a compre- hensive project of hydro-electric development for the Winnipeg river in Manitoba. It includes the proposed concentrations of the various separate falls on the river which have been designed to utilize all the natural fall and, at the same time, make each unit a component part of the development project for the whole river. These investigations have resulted in an economical and practical project for the power development of the river as required by the people of southern Manitoba. . . , Winnipeg; river is one of the most notable power Description of . , ° . . _ . . . , . River and rivers on the continent ; it flows in a westerly direction, Drainage Basin connect j n g the lake of the Woods with lake Winnipeg. The basin drained comprises an immense area of some 53.500 square miles. As is typical of Laurentian country, the area is dotted with innumerable muskegs and lakes, the latter varying in size from small ponds to the lake of the Woods, with an area of 1,500 square miles. Since practically the entire basin is of Laurentian formation, containing areas of overlying soil of glacial origin, certain general characteristics apply to the drainage basin as a whole. The country is rough and hilly, with large areas of rock outcrop. This latter feature applies in the main throughout the Winnipeg river, and lends itself to a characteristic formation throughout the river channel, which is of exceptional value in the interests of power development. The larger proportion of the river bed in the province of Manitoba consists of a 12 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION series of deep, cup-like basins, forming small, lake-like expanses, with little or no current. The river flow finds its way from these basins by falls and rapids over the rock formation, which is always in evidence at the outlets, and which forms both the means of egress from and the controlling feature of the basin water level. These falls form the natural power sites along the river. A valuable timber growth, including spruce, tamarack, birch and pine, occurs throughout the whole district. Lumbering is carried on extensively, and, in addition, pulp and paper industries have been established at Fort Frances and Dryden. Notwithstanding the great extent of rock outcrop, considerable areas are available for farming, particularly in the Whitemouth and Rainy River districts. While there are several prosperous towns in the basin, such as Fort Frances, Rainy River and Kenora, the greater portion of the country is still unsettled. The upper watershed reaches to the height-of-land separating the Atlantic drainage from that of Hudson bay, into which the waters of the Winnipeg river eventually flow. North lake, which is situated on the international boundary, some 45 miles west of lake Superior, is the headwater of the main stream. From North lake the stream flows westward, traversing many small lakes, collecting the flow of numerous tributaries, and finally discharging into Rainy lake. These upper waters in the main constitute a portion of the international boundary. Many streams, rising in lakes and muskegs, also con- tribute to the flow from Rainy lake. This lake has a surface of 330 square miles, and a drainage area of some 14,400 square miles. Rainy river, which is the outlet, discharges into the lake of the Woods. Thence to lake Winnipeg, the river is known as the Winnipeg. Forty miles down the river from the lake of the Woods, the flow of the English river enters that of the Winnipeg. This tributary is almost of as large dimensions as the river into which it flows, as it drains an area of 22,000 square miles, while the Winnipeg, at the lake of the Woods outlet, has a drainage area of 26,400 square miles. From the lake of the Woods to lake Winnipeg there is a total descent of 347 feet, 77 feet occurring above and 270 feet below the confluence with the English river ; as this junction occurs practically at the boundary between Ontario and Manitoba, the combined flow of the two rivers, together with the greater descent as noted above, is available for power purposes in Manitoba. Of this head, a considerable portion is already being utilized by existing developments. Estimates of the daily flow of the Winnipeg river have been com- piled by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey, based on discharge measurements secured by them, together with results of measure- Winnipeg River— First Seven Sisters Fai Winnipeg River— Second Seven Sisters i-'\u. WINNIPEG RIVER i:5 merits supplied by Col. Ruttan, D. A. Ross and the City of Winnipeg power engineers. These estimated discharges extend over a period of eight years. For this period, a maximum flow of 53,400 second-feet and a minimum flow of 11,700 second-feet have been recorded. The high water marks along the shore indicate that floods of 100,000 second- feet have occurred, but such freshets take place only at rare intervals. The question of storage on the upper waters of Storageon the t h e Winnipeg river is, at present, somewhat involved, pper a ers j nasmuc j 1 as t j ie regulation of the lake of the Woods is an international question, and is now before the International Joint Commission. As the lake has a tributary drainage area of 26,400 square miles and a surface area of 1,500 square miles, offering unex- celled storage facilities, it is of vital importance to the powers of the Winnipeg river that storage should be had on this lake. Partial regulation of the drainage tributary to Rainy lake is now controlled on Rainy lake by the dam of the Ontario and Minnesota Power Com- pany at Fort Frances. By the establishment of storage reservoirs on the English river, the flow of the latter can be regulated ; and, in conjunction with storage on the Lake of the Woods basin, a very complete regulation of the flow of the Winnipeg river in Manitoba can be attained. During the past seven years, over which records of the flow of the Winnipeg river extend, a minimum flow of 11,700 second-feet has been recorded, while the maximum flow in the same period is 53,400 second-feet, a range of only one to four, which is illustrative of the extremely low fluctuation under practically natural conditions. Yet, by an adequate system of storage, this flow can be so regulated that the minimum flow will be increased from about 12,000 second- feet to over 20,000. DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS OF WINNIPEG RIVER, NEAR POINT DU BOIS, MAN. Date Gauge Height Discharge Remarks 1906 Mar. 7 1907 Aug. 1 Aug. 2 Oct. 31 Feet 160.5* 162.2* 162.2* 164.2* Sec. ft. 19.876 31,047 30,600 41,300 Above Pt. du Bois falls Below diversion dam and Pinawa channel. Barrier chute. Otter falls. Gauge heights referred to lower gauge at Point du Bois. 14 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF WINNIPEG RIVER, AT OTTER FALL, MAN. (Drainage area, 50,300 square miles.) Discharge in ,econd-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1907 28,170 29,100 19,180 16,700 20,420 33,440 34,060 34,060 39,020 43,980 42,740 42,740 26,000 18,560 15,500 14,400 14,400 21,660 30,340 30,340 34,680 39.020 42,120 36,540 26,960 22,880 17,320 14,590 16,290 28,030 32,020 31,340 37,140 42,520 42,680 39,500 .536 February March April .455 .344 .290 May .324 .558 July August .637 .623 .738 October .846 .848 .785 43,980 14,400 29,460 .585 1908 40,260 40,880 33,440 29,100 37,780 43,980 43,980 41,500 39,020 34,680 30,340 24,760 35,300 32,820 28,480 27,240 29,100 38,400 41,500 37,780 33,440 30,340 25,380 21,660 36,880 36,650 31,380 28,500 32,600 41,640 42,980 39,560 35,900 33.040 28,400 23.340 .733 .728 .624 .566 .648 .828 July .854 .786 .714 .657 November .565 .464 43,980 21,660 34,230 .681 1909 28,480 26,620 22,280 17,320 24,140 24,760 25,070 25,070 23,520 21,660 21,040 25,070 22,280 22,280 16,700 16.100 16,100 24,140 23,830 23,520 21.660 19,490 19,490 21,040 24,770 24,180 18,820 16,700 20,300 24,560 24,650 24,530 22.290 20,330 20,470 22,530 .492 .481 March .374 .332 May .- .404 .488 July .490 .488 .443 .404 .407 .448 Year 28.480 16,100 22.010 .438 1910 27,240 24.760 24,140 50.240 53,440 52,160 24.140 24.140 22.900 25,380 50,880 • 43.360 25,260 24,280 23,830 39,900 52.820 48,690 .502 .483 .474 .793 1.050 .968 J WINNIPEG RIVER 15 DISCHARGE OF WINNIPEG RIVER, AT OTTER FALL, MAN. Continued. Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1910— Con. T u iv 43,050 28.480 21,660 18,250 15,500 13,450 27,550 21,970 18,560 15,500 13,450 12,400 36,950 24,700 19,630 17,000 14,280 12,920 .734 .491 .390 .338 November December .284 .257 53,440 12,400 28,360 .564 Note.— These discharges were obtained by using the gauge heights recorded at the City of Winnipeg municipal power plant, Point du Bois, together with the discharge measurements taken by Pratt & Ross for the Street Railway Co. at Otter fall. « Gauge readings were commenced at Point du Bois on January 23, 1907, and hence, the discharge given for January, 1907, applies only for 9 days, and the year period is for 343 days. DISCHARGE OF WINNIPEG RIVER, AT SLAVE FALL, MAN. (Drainage area, 49,700 square miles.) Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1911 January 17,140 14.550 13,350 12,950 16,860 19.660 25,260 26,940 25,820 27,220 25,260 20,500 13,350 12,600 11,700 11,700 12,780 16.860 19,660 25,260 24,140 24,420 20,780 17,980 14,820 13,280 12,540 12.390 14,770 18.340 22,900 26,130 24,810 25,960 22,950 19,330 .298 .267 March .252 .249 .297 .369 July August September October November .461 .526 .499 .522 .462 .389 27,220 11,700 19,060 .384 1912 22,460 18,540 15,550 16,200 27,500 30,580 27,220 28,060 30,860 34,780 34,500 30.860 17,980 15,800 12,300 12,700 16,500 26,380 25,820 27,500 27,500 30,300 31,700 28,060 20,080 16,840 13,820 13,570 22,800 28,100 26,380 27,710 29,410 33.070 32,610 29,400 .404 .339 March April .278 .273 .459 .566 July . .531 .558 .592 .666 .656 .592 Year 34.780 12,300 24,510 .493 16 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF WINNIPEG RIVER, AT SLAVE FALL, MAN, Continued. Month 1913 January . . February March April May June . . . . July .... August . . September October November December Year . 1914 January . . February March . . . April May June July August September October November December Year . 1915 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . September October . . November December Year . Discharge in second-feet Maximum 28,170 28,170 21,690 20,610 32,490 33,570 32,760 28,710 26,820 22,500 16,290 16,290 33,570 14,670 14,440 14,670 15,750 23,310 34,650 35,460 33,300 29,790 26,550 22,700 21.150 35,460 18,952 18,952 16,807 23,406 32,248 33,958 37,348 37,198 27,561 22,597 21,867 22,398 37,348 Minimum 27,630 22,230 16,290 16,290 21,690 31,950 26,010 26,550 23,040 14,940 14,670 13,050 Mean 13,050 12,510 11,700 11,970 13,590 14,670 24,930 33,300 29,790 24,660 22,500 20,610 18,450 11,700 16,903 16,109 14,791 14,543 23,778 30,823 33,260 28,388 22,498 19,860 20.154 21,369 14,543 27,996 26,145 19,095 17.847 28,370 32,733 29,503 27,695 25,263 18,276 15,662 14,722 23,609 13,703 13,233 13,845 14,589 18,745 31,480 34,735 31,550 26,170 24,805 21,230 19,840 21,995 18,209 17,369 15,816 17,939 28,051 32,554 36,114 34,950 23,876 20,779 21,238 21,976 24,072 Per square mile .563 .526 .384 .359 .571 .658 .594 .557 .508 .368 .315 .296 .475 .276 .267 .279 .294 .377 .634 .698 .635 .526 .499 .428 .399 .443 .366 .349 .318 .361 .564 .655 .727 .703 .480 .420 .427 .442 .484 Note.— These discharges were obtained by using the gauge heights recorded at the municipal power plant, Point du Bois, together with the discharge measurements taken by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey at Slave fall. Winnipeg River Spillway of Pointe dd Mens Plant - - « - - • - e : ' Winnipeg River Winnipeg Municipal Hydro-Electric Plant \t Pointi di Boij WINNIPEG RIVER 17 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF WINNIPEG RIVER AT WHITEDOG FALLS (Drainage area, 27,500 square miles) Month 1913 September October . . November December 1914 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August September October . . November December . Year . 1915 January . . February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile *12,600 .458 10,500 7,300 8,250 .300 7,800 7,150 7,550 .274 7,800 7,300 7,600 .276 7,900 7,300 7,600 .276 7,300 6,700 6,950 .253 10,500 7,300 9,400 .342 10,500 9,600 10,000 .363 15,600 10,200 11,800 .429 21,400 15,900 19,600 .713 22,200 20,800 21,600 .786 21,400 16,400 19,600 .713 15,700 13,300 13,800 .502 14,200 10,100 12,200 .444 10,300 9,600 9,800 .356 *9,700 .353 22,200 6,700 12,700 5.530 *9,830 .321 *10,020 .364 *10,080 .367 * 10,450 .380 * 15,700 .571 20,583 19,517 20,029 .728 24,973 20,864 24,002 .873 24,973 18,342 22,648 .824 17,454 11.966 12,832 .467 11,853 9,749 10.304 .375 10,336 9,847 10,049 .365 10,010 9,717 9,880 .359 * Estimated. Note. — This table gives the total combined discharges, run-off, etc., for the North and South channels at Whitedog falls. Power Sites Developed Point du Bois fall is utilized by the city of Winnipeg to generate power for its municipal electric plant. The natural fall was from 33 feet to 28 feet, depending upon the stage of the river, and the dams, as now constructed, increased the fall to 48 feet and 44 feet at low and high water stages, respectively, while the normal head is 45 feet. There was, originally, a stretch of slack water, eight miles long and about 3,600 acres in area above Thirty-foot and below Lamprey falls. It has been increased by the development works to 6,500 acres, and is of considerable advantage in the operation of the plant. 2 18 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The quantity of water to be utilized by this plant Extensions is unusual and, as a result, the power-house is con- Provided for structed U p 0n a huge scale. The building, for the accommodation of an equipment of a rated capacity of 47,000 h.p., is 252 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 100 feet high : its length is to be increased to 476 feet. The power-house was originally designed to house units of 3,000 k.w. normal rating. As a result of improvements in the design of water-wheels, it has since been possible to accommo- date wheels of greater capacity in the same wheel pits. The present installation consists of five units of 3,750 k.w. and three units of 5,100 k.w. capacity, making a total of 34,050 k.w. Future extensions are planned which will accommodate eight additional units of 5,100 k.w. each. The power is generated at 6,600 volts, 60 cycles, and transformed up to 66,000 volts, with taps on the transformers permitting a range of line pressure at the generating station of from 53,000 to 72.000 volts. The transmission line is built over a private right-of-way 100 feet wide. It is 77 miles in length and traverses a varied country. The eastern section is typically Laurentian — rock, muskeg, and scattered areas of arable soil ; the western section is prairie and fanning country, large areas of which are closely wooded. A patrol road 12 feet wide has been built, and a considerable stretch of it has been corduroyed where the bottom is extremely unfirm. The line consists of double-circuit steel towers from 42 feet to 56 feet high, supporting two three-conductor circuits of 278,600 circular mills aluminum con- ductors and each circuit has a capacity of 11,250 k.w. under ordinary conditions. This capacity has now been increased by installing two synchronous motors at the receiving end of the line to overcome reactance losses. A second line with a voltage of 110,000, and ultimately raising the voltage on the existing line to this higher tension, are projects under consideration. The terminal transformer station in Winnipeg, situated on the river front at Point Douglas, is designed to receive the entire capacity of the generating plant. The equipment of this terminal station consists of line protective and control apparatus and six trans- formers of 2,700 k.w. capacity, stepping the voltage down to 13,000 volts, at which voltage the electrical energy is distributed to the differ- ent sub-stations throughout the city. An extension to the present terminal station, to be built shortly, will accommodate six 5,000- k.w. transformers and is designed as the terminal for the new trans- mission line. The Winnipeg Electric Railway Company's power- Winnipeg Elec- . , , t->- •. i_ £ ax. trie Railway house is constructed on the Pinawa branch ot the Co. Plant Winnipeg river. The development work involved much rock cutting and the construction of a diversion weir, which raises the nnipeg River Pinawa Channel Control Dam ^ .... n~mr~i* 1 1 1 in 1 1 1 ■ 1UHUJ • l *l Winnipeg River Power House of the Win: ri< R \ I I.W.W U WINNIPEG RIVER 19 water by about six feet at the head of the channel. The head utilized is 39 feet and the generating equipment consists of four units of 3,000 k.w. and five units of 1.500 k.w. each, giving a total capacity of 19,500 k.w. ; but a greater load than this has been carried on the plant. The current is generated at 2,200 volts, 60 cycles, 3-phase, and the voltage raised to 60,000 volts by transformers, of which there are six of 1,800 k.w. and nine of 800 k.w. capacity. The transmission line is 60 miles in length and consists of one line of steel towers supporting two three-conductor lines which terminate at Winnipeg, where the voltage is stepped down in a sub-station containing transformers of the same capacity as those at the generating station. In connection with this system, there are two auxiliary steam plants in Winnipeg; one is a steam turbine plant of 9,000 k.w. capacity, generating 2,200 volts alternating current, while the other has a capacity of 2,800 k.w. for 2,200- volt alternating and 1,800 k.w. for 550-volt direct current. These auxiliary plants are used to avoid interruptions in the service during electrical storms and to supplement the hydraulic plant during short intervals at peak loads during the winter. Government Power Proposals The cost estimates for the government power pro- sion on Govern- posals on the Winnipeg river refer in all cases to the ment Power capital cost of installation, and are based on both an initial and final development. The initial develop- ment is designed to utilize at each site the present minimum flow of the river, i.e., 12,000 second-feet, or such portion of it as may be available at the particular site in question. The final development is designed to utilize, at each site, a regulated flow of 20,000 second- feet, or such portion of it as may be available at the site. After the diversion of sufficient water in the Pinawa channel to properly operate the plant of the Winnipeg Electric Railway Company under normal peak-load conditions, there would remain for use at Seven Sisters, in the main river, about 4,000 and 12,000 second-feet under unregulated and regulated conditions of the river, respectively. It is important to note that, it is on this basis the available power at the Seven Sisters site is discussed. To compare the power sites on a rational and equitable basis, all the layouts and designs have been standardized in so far as possible, giving full consideration to the varying heads and to the local physical conditions at each individual site. No allowance has been made in the estimate for transmission, the costs being in all cases the capital cost for power on the low tension switchboard in the 20 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION power-house, and the power being considered as straight 24-hour service at 75 per cent efficiency, based on the flow. This forms a very conservative basis. Transmission costs are omitted from the estimates, as it is impossible to foretell the use to which the power at the various sites may be applied when developed, and a straight comparison of the sites as they stand is desired. In all cases the dams are designed in solid concrete, with ample discharging capacity to pass the severest floods to be anticipated. The power stations have been developed on single runner, vertical turbine installations, varied for the different heads and to meet local condi- tions. A continuous profile of the river, referred to mean sea level, was run at the beginning of the field work, and forms the groundwork upon which the whole survey was developed. The future needs of navigation have been recognised and, in the permanent work, provi- sion has been made for the accommodation of future lockage facilities at the different sites. For full details see Water Resources Paper No. 3. Slave Fall Site. — The proposed development at Slave fall con- centrates a head of 26 feet, formed by the combination of Slave and Eight-foot falls. The dam runs along the crest of the fall, and, curving downstream, through an arc of about 90°, connects with the power station on the right bank of the river. Provision has been made for the future installation of a lock on the left bank. The head-water and tail-water elevations, as at prevent proposed, are 928 and 902, respectively. The initial installation, upon which the estimate is based, provides for eight 5,000-h.p. turbines, sufficient to provide for a flow of 12,000 second-feet at eight-tenths gate, with a spare machine for emergencies. On a 75 per cent efficiency, 24-hour basis, 26,600 h.p. will be available at a capital cost of $87.50 per horse- power at the low tension switchboard. The final installation pro- vides thirteen 5,000-h.p. turbines, sufficient for a flow of 20,000 second-feet, at eight-tenths gate, with a spare machine for emergencies. On a 75 per cent efficiency, 24-hour basis, 44,400 h.p. will be avail- able, at a cost of $77.40 per horse-power at the switchboard. Upper Pinazua site. — This site is about three miles above the Win- nipeg Electric Railway Co.'s plant on the Pinawa channel. It utilizes a hitherto inconsidered source of power in what may be termed the headrace of this Company's plant. The head to be developed here will normally average 18 feet, with the head- and tail-waters at eleva- tions 899 -5 and 881 *5 respectively. A flow of 8,000 second-feet will produce 12,300 continous twenty- four hour power at 75% efficiency. To develop this power an instal- WINNIPEG RIVER 21 lation of four 4,500 h.p. turbine units has been assumed, the capital cost of the installation being $104.05 per horse power on the low tension switchboard on a basis of twenty-four-hour power. Upper Seven Sisters Site. — The Upper Seven Sisters site is situ- ated about 4 miles above the lower. The tail-water, under normal con- ditions in the river, will be at elevation 870, i.e., the proposed head- water elevation of the plant below. The head-water level has been placed at an elevation of 899, giving- a normal head of 29 feet. Since, to properly operate the existing development of the Win- nipeg Electric Railway Company, an average flow of 8,000 cubic feet per second is assumed down the Pinawa channel, it will not be feasible to develop the Seven Sisters sites until the flow has been regulated to a minimum of 20,000 cubic feet per second. Assuming the use of 12,000 second-feet, the power station provides for a complete installation of eight 6,000-h.p. units, providing a spare unit for emergencies. The estimated output on the low tension switchboard at 75 per cent efficiency is 29,600 horse-power, 24-hour service. The estimated capital cost per horse-power would be $92.00. Lower Seven Sisters Site. — The Lower Seven Sisters site is situ- ated about 19 miles above the McArthur site, and contemplates the development of the lower five descents of the Seven Sisters fall. The tail-water elevation has been assumed at 833, six feet being allowed for the hydraulic gradient in the river between the site and the regulated lac du Bonnet. The head-water is placed at elevation 870, the river banks permitting this raising of the water without necessitat- ing embankments. A head of 37 feet will be available under normal conditions. The power station provides for a complete installation of six 10,000-h.p. turbine units, sufficient to utilize a flow of 12,000 cubic feet per second. On a 24-hour and 75 per cent efficiency basis 37,900 horse-power will be available, at an estimated capital cost of $90 per horse-power, on the switchboard. McArthur Site. — At the lower of the two McArthur falls, a head of 18 "feet awaits development. The river is here divided into two channels by a large island. The general project consists of a solid concrete spillway, along the crest of the fall on the right or main channel, and a long spillway and embankment, including sluiceway provision, running diagonally across the island and connecting with the power station spanning the left channel. Provision is made on the island for the future construction of a lock. The head-water elevation is at present fixed at 827, i.e., about the highest recorded water level of lac du Bonnet. The tail-water is proposed at 809, giving a head of 18 feet. 22 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The initial installation provides for eleven 2,500-h.p. turbines, sufficient to provide for 12,000 second-feet at eight-tenths gate, with a spare machine for emergency. On a 75 per cent efficiency, 24-hour basis, 18,400 h.p. will be available, at a capital cost of $110.40 per horse-power at the switchboard. The final installation provides for seventeen 2,500-h.p. units on a basis of a 20,000 second-feet flow, and 75 per cent efficiency, 24-hour power, i.e., of 30,700 h.p. The cost per horse-power on the switchboard is $89.25. This site can be given a much more favourable aspect, when the local storage available in lac du Bonnet (whose 32 square miles form the head-waters) is taken into consideration. Du Bonnet Site. — The proposed scheme of development at the Du Bonnet falls will ultimately concentrate there a head of 56 feet, made up of the Grand and Little du Bonnet falls and Whitemud fall. The latter will be removed by blasting out the rock-dam over which the present fall flows. The dam, consisting of embankment, spill- way and sluiceway sections, leaves the left bank and crosses the river on the brink of the Little du Bonnet fall, connecting with the power station which parallels the right shore line below the pitch. Ice sluices and embankment connect the power station with the high land on the right bank. Provision is made for future lockage facilities on this bank. The head-water elevation has been fixed at 808, with the tail- water at 762 previous to the blasting out of the Whitemud fall, and 752 subsequent thereto. This secures a head of 46 feet for the pre- liminary, and 56 feet for the final installations. The initial installation is figured on seven 10,000-h.p. turbine units, utilizing 12,000 second-feet at eight-tenths gate and 46-ft. head. This, on the foregoing basis, will render available 47,100 horse-power, at a capital cost of $77.20 per horse-power, at the low tension switchboard. An intermediate installation, comprising 12 units, providing capacity for 20,000 second-feet at 46-ft. head, and producing 78,700 horse-power, has also been estimated. The cost of the power at the switchboard for this intermediate installation is $66.70 per horse- power. The final installation consists of fourteen 10,000-h.p. units for the development of 20,000 second-feet at 56-ft. head, the extra ten feet being secured by the removal of the Whitemud fall. On the above basis, 95,500 continuous horse-power will be available at a cost of $68.60 per horse-power on the switchboard. Pine Fall Site.— The Pine fall development will concentrate the natural descent of the Pine and Silver falls, giving a head of 37 feet. The dam runs diagonally across the river from the right bank and joins directly to the power station, which forms a continuation of *3JtBii Winnipeg Rivkr — Skcoxd McArtiiik I'ai.i. JSjk^^^^^i 9P9P ™ ! JB9HH ' ,,-• ** „•* . .J^ Winnipeg River Pink 1'm.i. WINNIPEG RIVER 23 the dam. ^The power station is connected with the high ground on the left bank, by sluices and embankment. Provision is made for lockage facilities on this bank. The head-water and tail-water elevations have been placed at 750 and 713 respectively. As the tail-water is practically lake Winnipeg level, it will vary slightly from year to year with the level of the lake. The initial installation is placed at six 10,000 h.p. turbine units using 12,000 second-feet at 37 feet head. On the foregoing basis, this will render available 37,900 h.p. at a capital cost of $80.70 at the low tension switchboard. The final installation consists of ten 10,000 h.p. units for the development of 20,000 second-feet, rendering available 63,100 h.p. at a cost of $69.80 per horse power. Summary of the Power Possibilities of the Winnipeg River The developed and undeveloped powers of the Winnipeg river, under regulated and under unregulated conditions, are tabulated on page 26. The undeveloped power is considered on a 75 per cent efficiency, 24-hour basis, and the capital cost per horse-power is given in terms of this power, estimated to the switchboard in the power- house. With regard to the future economic value of Future Economic the powers of the Winnipeg river, the following is ^egRiver^Powers q uoted from a re P ort made t0 the Water P ° W6r BranCh ' Dept. of Interior, in September, 1911, by Mr. J. R. Free- man, one of the consulting engineers retained by the department for advice in connection with water-power matters. Mr. Freeman says: — Economy and Conservation. — While water-power opportunities on the Winnipeg river may have, a very few years ago, appeared so far beyond possible use that ordinary economies were unneces- sary, it is, I believe, plain to-day beyond serious question that all the remaining opportunities for power should be carefully con- served, and only developed under such conditions as will not necessitate any great waste or the impairment of remaining oppor- tunities. Sundry remarkable electro-chemical processes have been very recently invented, which promise to be of great future benefit to agriculture and other arts. Fertilizer for farmers' use is now being successfully made by electricity from the nitrogen of the air, and great water-powers in Norway are now being developed for these purposes, in addition to those already in use, and recent developments have also been made of similar processes not far from the southern boundary of Canada. The great uses of hydro-electric power at Niagara Falls and at Sault Ste. Marie, for making aluminum, carbide for gas lighting, bleaching powders, caustic soda and sundry other important pro- 24 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION ducts, were unknown only a few years ago. Indeed, it may be said that every one of the electro-chemical plants now situated at Niagara Falls has been invented since the first of the large hydro- electric power stations was built at that point. It is idle to say that the era of important electro-chemical invention is yet more than begun, and with the many able investigators now earnestly working on these lines in many parts of the world, great additional dis- coveries and commercial developments in the application of cheap electric power are almost certain to come, particularly in metallurgy or the reduction of ores. The Winnipeg Market now Fully Supplied. — The city of Win- nipeg will soon have all the power that it needs for public service, corporation and for any conceivable manufacturing purposes likely to locate in or near the city for perhaps a score of years to come, from the railway company's plant already in use and to-day under- stood to be delivering about 22,000 horse-power, and from the new municipal hydro-electric power plant at Point du Bois, now (1911) nearing completion, with a first installation of 26,000 horse- power and with works planned to be extended to more than three times that capacity. Thus these two plants will be capable of de- livering to Winnipeg more than 100,000 horse-power of 24-hour electrical energy, a quantity which can be best appreciated by a statement that this is far greater than the total water-power at Lowell, Lawrence, Manchester and Holyoke, Mass., combined. A Possible Field for Use. — The best use that I can foresee for the vast water-powers upon the Winnipeg river now remaining untouched is as the basis for founding three or four new industrial cities based upon electro-chemical industry, very much as water- power was the basis for creating, years ago, the cities of Lowell, Lawrence, Manchester, Holyoke, Bellows Falls, and, as in recent years, it has brought together hundreds of new homes at Niagara Falls, Shawinigan Falls and at the Sault. We cannot to-day say what the line of manufacture may be, for the electro-chemical arts are still in a state of ferment and creation. It has already been demonstrated that, by electric smelt- ing, steel for the manufacture of tools can be made having a quality and value difficult to obtain otherwise. Fertilizer in the form of artificial saltpetre is being produced commercially in large quantities under German processes, while carbide, carborundum, aluminum and numerous other useful products, are being made by electro-chemical means in great quantity at Niagara and else- where, and sooner or later the time will come when fertilizer will not be scorned by the farmers of the Canadian Northwest. There is promise of new metallurgical processes for which cheap elec- tricity is a necessity and the price per pound of several of those products is such that they could stand a considerable cost of freighting to their markets, and such that a power capable of being developed in so vast quantity at one point, and at so low a cost per horse-power as appears practicable at three of the sites along the Winnipeg river, will surely be very attractive. WINNIPEG RIVER 25 These New Industries Must Build Close to the IV at erf all. — These electro-chemical processes, when carried on in a large commercial way, demand that the work be done close to the point where the power is generated, for two reasons : — first, because although the air-saltpetre process uses alternating current, most electro-chemical processes require the direct current at low voltage, which cannot be transmitted to great distances with anything like the facility of alternating current ; and, second, because, in order to attract those processes, it is necessary that the cost per horse- power be the very lowest, and not overloaded by the cost of long transmission lines or the percentage of power necessarily lost in such transmission. Wherever a new industrial centre, with some hundreds of homes, can be established in the wilderness within a hundred miles of Winnipeg, it will add to Winnipeg's prosperity in a degree but little less than if situated within its borders, and will add to the prosperity of the province by the new opportunities that it brings for employment, the diversity that it adds to its business interests, and by the money that it will put into circulation. It is plain that many of the recent power developments made in various parts of America, from which the power is transmitted long distances, to displace steam power in populous centres, results in putting a much larger number of men out of work than it sets at work. Such a development is of less benefit to the country than the early water-power developments, which were used locally in erecting the cities already named, in building hundreds of new homes, and in setting thousands of men working at new opportunities. 26 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION U r- O isn "3 u~ -A •S a ,c « jj u u «i u tog bo rt-S cs rt 5 rt C £ . te.fl JS.C « o 5? £ S ^ no c 4) rt w rt u c •g 8-v 8"v O 4) cm «> en «/3- 9 8 89.25 66.70 68.60 69.80 ©«£ O '. o o o o i 110.40 77.20 80.70 padojaAjp dH u-j o r —.CM c~ 8888 88 r*3 Os cm"oC 888: c rt rt a. 3 >?£ 2 C°£ P B3 H UOi;BA3J3 'jaJEM-JIEJL 23 8 8888 iO o o o cm"o"o"o" oo IT) O 2gJ S3 o\c5 OsCMCMfi oot^r-^t^ UOI}EA3p 'J3;EA\-pB3H 8^ oo oooo oo oo ooi^ ^ : "g' s JB c co 3 ^^^ a, a. fe o o a, a, as oo O O C be 111 IP» > 5 9 u- > r - 1 3gSM s II z * J z o § cd w < ,hZ °- ^ < § £ s si £. a si M6I-CH-/ ?3f»S>< PS3 \ MSI-Oi- 5|=>«S* P9 3 4 1 ;\ -el «1 i\ el •M6l-( M-i2 39£ *P9"3 5\ s8pi-> Q =.'«*■>. . -IS 4-ISI M6l-« X-/12M S'^3 3 \ o a z < \ X 61-01- S 2 ! i CI imz.i -< BWTM s#PH & SI#*L. 7m \ ei | '^3 -^ 'HTM M8I-0 -61 3a S *PQW I L z AM it-OI-02 raS'to 1'3 * O > \ X 1 o u. r O M 91-01- 1 »»s X >QN s «5 = o U V A9i-0( 2 "ios ONIQ KlV-l aiwuro i O (0 33A33 V33 1A0SV 131 A Nl SN0liVA3n3 RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 43 The Assiniboine flows through the most thickly settled sections of Manitoba. On its banks are the three largest cities in the province, namely, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie and Brandon, while its con- fluence with the Red is directly opposite the city of St. Boniface. In the lower reaches it can be navigated by boats of small draught, but, on account of its very winding nature and the numerous shoals, it is not used for commercial navigation. At almost any point in its length in Manitoba, it is easily accessible from good roads and prairie trails. It is crossed by numerous lines of railways and is closely paralleled by them for a large percentage of its length within the pro- vince. Precipitation. — From the records of the meteorological stations scattered throughout its basin, the average annual precipitation for its drainage area is found to be approximately seventeen inches. During the spring freshets, the river is subject to wide variations in flow; during 1913, a range of 12 feet was noted between the extreme high and low water levels. The period of high water, how- ever, does not cover more than three weeks, and the average varia- tion during the remainder of the year is approximately five feet. There are no power developments on the river in velopments on" Manitoba, the development at Millwood having been River - destroyed in the spring of 1913. A total head of 18 feet was obtained, and the power operated a flour mill. While a large part of the wooden dam still remains in fairly good condition, the foundations of the mill itself were destroyed by the scouring action of the water, and the building, chiefly of timber construction, was carried down the river. A photograph of this site, in its present condi- tion, is shown facing page 42. Three surveys of possible dam sites for the development of power for Brandon have been made on the river in the vicinity of the city. One of these was made in 1902 by the late Cecil B. Smith for the Western Electric Light and Power Company. The second was made by R. E. Speakman, city engineer of Brandon, for the purpose of investigating a proposition made to the city by the above mentioned power company. During 1913, a reconnaissance, by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey, was made under the direction of the late G. H. Burnham, at Currie Landing, about 12 miles below Brandon. The results of these surveys show that, in the vicinity of Currie Landing (see profile facing page 42), a possible head of 18 feet is obtainable. This head would probably be diminished somewhat dur- ing high water. 44 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Assuming a minimum mean monthly flow of 45 second-feet, 74 h.p. could be developed at Millwood with 80 per cent efficiency under the 18 feet of head, while for the period of six months, from May to October, with an assumed flow of 118 second-feet, 193 h.p. would be possible. At the Currie Landing site, a minimum mean monthly flow of 60 second-feet may be assumed, which, with an efficiency of 80 per cent under a head of 18 feet, can produce 98 h.p.; for the period of six months, May to October, an assumed flow of 180 second- feet would give 295 h.p. at this site. DISCHARGE OF ASSINIBOINE RIVER, AT MILLWOOD, MAN. (Drainage area, 7,590 square miles) Month 1913 January . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . 1914 January . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . November December Year 1915 January . February March . . . April May .... June July August . . September October . November December Year Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 6,351 3,235 4,073 3,908 1,609 890 111* 3,800 4,649 2,184 540 184 136 160 157 117 4,649 1,202 373 329 625 308 136 163 163 1,202 3,305 1,025 1,210 1,658 758 535 89* 90* 2,352 544 196 103 105 113 20 20 199 163 258 88 98 130 Mean 170* 160* 200* 4,794* 4,520 1,858 3,381 2,534 1,104 705 101* 96* 91* 1,740* 3,655 1,185 362 126 118 144 131 74 660 45* 63* 65* 590* 247 257 370 149 119 140 130* 75* Per square mile .022 .021 .026 .632 .596 .245 .445 .334 .145 .093 .013 .013 .012 .229 .481 .156 .048 .017 .016 .019 .017 .010 1.031 .006 .008 .009 .078 .032 .034 .049 .020 .016 .018 .017 .010 .025 * Estimated RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 45 DISCHARGE OF ASSINIBOINE RIVER, NEAR BRANDON, MAN. (Drainage area, 34,500 square miles) Discharge in second-feet Month 1912 July (4-31) August September October November (1-25) December 1913 January February March April May June July August September October (1-25) . 1914 January March April May June July August September October November December 1915 January February March April May June July August September October November December Maximum 2,510 2,081 5,069 5,223 2,365 5,303 5.245 4,548 2,343 1,121 5,850 4,200 1,140 529 242 330 215 2,464 684 691 876 722 313 Minimum 1,822 1,270 1,472 2,410 1,426 2,178 2,103 2,395 1,140 945 4,320 1,030 435 203 169 148 106 57 502 357 379 187 171 Mean 2,057* 1,711 3,065 3,542 1,920* 400* 400* 400* 400* 5,664* 10,099* 3,464 4.043 3,550 1,620 1,029* 200* 400* 3,000* 5,350 2,400 774 280 189 235 250* 173 65* 60* 90* 900* 580 462 582 358 245 180* 170* 100* Per square mile .06 .05 .089 .103 .056 .012 .012 .012 .012 .164 .293 .100 .117 .103 .047 .03 .006 .012 .087 .155 .070 .022 .008 .005 .007 .007 .005 .002 .002 .003 .026 .017 .013 .017 .010 .007 .005 .005 .003 Estimated 46 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF ASSINIBOINE RIVER, AT HEADINGLY, MAN. (Drainage area, 59,420 square miles) Month 1913 January . February March . . April May June July August . . September October . 1914 January . February March .'. . April . . . May June July August . . September October . November December Year 1915 January . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . November December Year Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 14,069 6,768 5,355 5.035 2,693 1,390 420 324 6,550 5,900 1,730 840 495 484 275 6,550 132 163 371 1,685 1,380 694 829 900 488 494 1,685 7,030 2,800 2,335 2.619 1,390 827 305 212 5,550 1,470 762 440 385 340 114 126 159 342 653 543 543 310 236 365 114 Mean ♦500 *400 *400 ♦5,191 1,225 4,541 3,801 3,978 2,021 1,182 354 318 ♦325 ♦3,400 6,100 3,300 1.240 571 432 409 ♦300 195 1,410 122 140 210 1,070 843 632 667 545 382 438 ♦350 ♦160 463 Per square mile .008 .007 .007 .087 .021 .075 .064 .067 .034 .020 .006 .005 .005 .057 .103 .056 .021 .009 .007 .007 .005 .003 .284 .002 .002 .004 .018 .014 .011 .011 .009 .006 .007 .006 .003 Estimated. Souris River The Souris river rises in the southern portion of Saskatchewan, about 20 miles northwest of Weyburn. The upper course of the river is southeasterly to North Dakota, where it bends to the north- east, following this general course until it joins the Assiniboine river, about 22 miles southeast of Brandon. RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 47 The basin of the Souris is probably larger in corn- Large Drain- parison with its flow than that of any other western 3p*c Arcs. river ; it includes an area of 22,860 square miles. Its extreme width is 160 miles, and the length, from headwaters to mouth, is 200 miles. The river, following' its windings, is nearly 550 miles long and has a width varying from 85 to 170 feet. The upper por- tion of the basin in Manitoba consists, principally, of a sandy or gravelly sub-stratum, overlain with a light alluvial soil. In this area the valley is shallow, but, near the mouth, the soil becomes heavier and the valley much bolder, with steep banks occasionally rising to a height of 150 to 200 feet. The banks of the stream vary from 20 to 30 feet in height, and consist of sand, gravel and clay. The land above the banks of the valley is, as a rule, bare prairie, with very little timber, all of which is small and in isolated clumps. The difference between high and low water levels of the river in some districts has been noted as being 20 feet, but this is an extreme condition ; the normal variations are about 10 or 12 feet. In Manitoba the basin is well settled, with several thriving towns along the river, including Wawanesa, Souris, Hartney and Melita. The river is not navigable except by rowboat or canoe, and tra- velling would be difficult even in this manner during low water periods. Passing through a well-settled country, with a soil which tends to be rather sandy, the roads are good, and the river is easily accessible therefrom at many points. It is also in close touch with railways throughout its entire length. From the town of Souris, the Estevan branch of the Canadian Pacific railway closely follows the course of the river to within a short distance of the point at which it crosses the international boundary from North Dakota. Precipitation. — The precipitation over the area SmaU Run-off drained by the Souris is very small, varying from 15 to 18 inches, and the actual run-off for the year ending Oct. 31, 1913, was found to be 1.4 in. per square mile of drainage area. This extremely small run-off from the large area drained may be attributed to: — (1) Small rainfall and snowfall. (2) The topography of the country. The flat prairie country bordering the river holds the water in the sloughs, where it evaporates rapidly, aided by the winds which have full play across the open stretches. (3) The dis- tribution of the rainfall. It is noted from meteorological reports that the greatest rainfall in this area comes in the growing season of the year when evaporation losses are also greatest. Between its confluence with the Assiniboine and the point where it first enters Manitoba, it descends 305 feet, or about two feet per mile. The flow in the river is very irregular and, as it sometimes goes down to nil during summer and winter, no definite estimates for power are given. 48 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION A power site, situated about one mile above Souris, Man., has been investigated by the Department of Public Works, Manitoba, in the interest of the town of Souris. A head of approximately 25 feet could be created by a dam constructed just above a rapid which has a fall of one and one-half feet. This site was first investigated in July, 1906, by Mr. K. S. Patrick, who found the flow at that time to be over 4,600 cubic feet per second, giving 1,300 theoretical h.p. with 25- feet head. The same site was afterwards inspected by Mr. A. Livingston in the month of March for winter conditions. The flow was then found to be 100 cubic feet per second, giving 285 minimum theoretical h.p., with the 25-feet head. Mr. Livingston further states that from 600 to 800 h.p. would be available for eight months in the year. Subsequent stream-flow observations show that the available power would be much less than Mr. Patrick's estimate. A stream gauging station was established at Wawanesa, in October, 1912, by the Manitoba Hydro- metric Survey. The following is a summary of the records obtained : DISCHARGE OF SOURIS RIVER, NEAR WAWANESA, MAN. (Drainage area, 22,500 square miles) Month 1912 October (7-31) . November (1-15) December 1913 January February March April (15-30) ... May June July August September October 1914 January February April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Vlaximum Minimum Mean 88 79 80* 92 54* 20* 10* 5* 10* 1,425 966 1,445 264 917 237 73 133 78 A6 59 70 45 54 62 50 55 60 39 50 5* 0* 0* 1,090 500 1,000 348 683 334 162 239 204 123 163 130 75 98 81 33 55 47 16 28 50 20* 5* Per square mile .003 .002 .004 .0004 .0002 .0004 .043 .041 .006 .0026 .0024 .0024 .0022 .0002 .022 .030 .011 .007 .004 .002 .001 .0009 .0002 RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 49 DISCHARGE OF SOURIS RIVER, NEAR WAWANESA, MAN.— Continued Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1915 January . February March . . . April .... May June July August . . September October . November December 86 116 62 22 96 57 .000 .004 .003 .002 .002 .000 .001 .002 .000 .000 * Estimated A stream gauging station was established near Estevan, Sask., by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior in 1911. The following is a summary of discharges : DISCHARGE OF SOURIS RIVER, NEAR ESTEVAN, SASK. (Drainage area, 4,550 square miles) Discharge, in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1911 June (23-30) 16.5 22.7 4.1 4.7 73.0 34.0 22 15 8.8 4.0 10.1 6.5 3.3 2.20 9.80 319.00 1,705.00 33.00 31.00 39.00 8.60 1.75 3.30 2.50 2.50 7.7 .60 .50 .42 .50 9.6 18.8 9.5 3.6 2.3 2.6 2.8 1.4 0.00 0.00 9.80 30.00 11.70 3.50 8.10 2.30 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.33 12.2 4.39 1.49 1.91 33.8 19.1 20.2 13.2 5.15 3.02 6.67 4.41 2.26 0.287 2.420 44.000 409.700 17.300 12.400 21.400 4.230 0.659 1.050 2.230 0.961 .003 July 0.001 0.003 September 0.0004 0.007 November (1-15) 1912 June (25-30) 0.004 0.004 July 0.003 0.001 .0006 0.0010 0.001 0.0005 1913 0.0001 .0005 .0100 .0900 .0040 June July . . .0030 .0050 .0010 September .0001 .0002 November .0005 0.0002 4 50 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF SOURIS RIVER, NEAR ESTEVAN, SASK.— Continued Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 0.43 0.07 0.30 0.00007 0.57 0.34 0.50 .00011 200.00 0.49 86.00 .019 500.00 77.00 229.00 .05 132.00 36.00 65.00 .014 613.00 28.00 155.00 .034 34.00 3.60 14.40 .0032 5.20 0.80 2.20 .0005 1.50 0.46 0.83 .00018 2.00 0.59 1.35 .0003 1.20 0.53 0.76 .00017 1.10 0.90 1.00 0.00022 1.11 .96 1.01 .000222 5.90 .81 1.85 .000407 3.80 .81 1.86 .000410 3.80 2.10 3.00 .000660 3.00 1.24 1.96 .000430 2.40 .47 .99 .000218 8.90 .47 1.20 .000264 .60 .01 .28 .000061 .05 .01 .04 .000009 .06 .01 .05 .000011 1.05 .04 .43 .000094 .76 .60 .72 .000158 1914 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . . September October . . November December 1915 January . . February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December Discharge observations on this river, covering a longer period, are available for a station established by the U. S. Geological Survey at Minot, N. Dak. The following is a summary of same: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SOURIS RIVER, AT MINOT, N. DAK. (Drainage area, 8,400 square miles) Month 1904 Spring flood (estimated) July August September October November (1-25) 1905 March (5-31) April May June July August September October November (1-28) Discharge, in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean mite 3 12,000 427 152 108 87 87 108 78 130 119 108 108 87 20 33 152 108 68 68 50 78 33 33 68 59 33 10 10 20 258 114 81.7 71.8 64.3 97.6 61.2 64.1 98.6 81.3 68.4 30.3 15.5 24.6 .031 .014 .0097 .0085 .0077 .012 .0073 .0076 .012 .0097 .0081 .0036 .0018 .0029 RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS HI DISCHARGE OF SOURIS RIVER AT MINOT, N. D\K.— Continued Month 1906 April May June July August September October November (1-18) 1907 April May June July August September October November December 1908 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 1,320 218 499 286 130 31 18 18 621 2,190 2,100 885 219 52 Year 1909 March (21-30) April May June July August September .... October November .... 1910 January February March April May June July August September a Partly estimated. b Estimated. Minimum 644 163 407 174 120 89 35 35 644 546 1,080 422 546 163 70 52 196 207 141 70 38 7 240 108 286 130 31 18 8 18 35 707 268 243 52 20 Mean 174 109 152 99 15 243 436 231 174 29 11 454 159 401 214 61.9 26.2 16.1 18.0 Per square mile 141 79 28 10 8 6 20 311 136 239 125 94.1 63.0 23.1 30 15 89.2 411 727 289 322 82.1 37.7 15.5 .509 .507a 0.5b .5b 127 171 110 46 21 6 9 2.13 .40 .054 .019 .048 .025 .0074 .0031 .0019 .0021 183 0.022 ,500 .179 820 .098 470 .056 104 .012 36.2 .0043 20 .0024 16 .0019 11 .0013 .00095 .00071 .0024 .037 .016 .028 .015 .011 .0075 .0028 .0036 .0018 .011 0.049 .087 .034 .038 .0098 .0045 .0018 .000061 .000060 0.000060 .000060 .015 .020 .013 .0055 .0026 .00025 .000048 52 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF SOURIS RIVER AT MINOT, N. DAK.— Continued Month 1910— Con. October November December 1911 March (19-31) April May June July August September October November December 1912 March (24-31) April May June July August September . . . October November . . . 1913 March April May June July August September October November . . . 1914 March April May June July August September . . . Discharge, in second-feet m , . ,,• • -kit Per square Maximum Minimum Mean m j ]e 14 744 722 214 64 24 4.4 7.6 18 450 1,200 983 498 69 60 52 69 69 1.080 266 90 174 125 79 5.6 47 665 1.080 293 482 200 9 6.5 2.6 14 146 55 14 3.6 .7 .7 13 306 235 69 60 30 24 24 30 266 90 23 17 68 5, 2 3 266 150 137 9 2 1.8 .52 .57 .56 6.80 339 449 138 34.1 15.6 2.27 2.55 10.1 2 173 695 511 239 66.7 42.7 33.5 48.0 42.3 59 795 144 30.4 74.9 87.3 20.6 3.17 24.5 186 646 227 265 47.8 5.10 4.07 .000061 .000068 .000060 0.00081 .040 .053 .016 .0041 .0019 .00027 .00030 .0012 .00024 .021 .083 .061 .028 .008 .005 .004 .006 .005 .007 .095 .017 .004 .009 .010 .002 .0004 .003 .022 .077 .027 .032 .006 .0006 .0005 Note.— Discharge has been estimated for period October 1, 1907, to March 31, 1908, and is very approximate, there being only one measurement during the period. Discharge for November 29 to December 31, 1908, has been estimated and is only approximate. Minnedosa River The Minnedosa (Little Saskatchewan) river rises in the southerly portion of Riding Mountain forest reserve, and flows in a southeasterly direction until it reaches Minnedosa. At this town the river turns § vT s § g s M 8 t * CM o o E * s ♦ 1 as o | -s « I'SiflS S If a. - * u m H t ^ e \ *!' BUR »H«»LL W< 13 \ S'Afc tt? — — ta \ A6I w-i-a*a S^'fl'N a \ N \ M6l ►«• 310 99*1 9N 1 1 . •ti wsi Cl-SEOa A> N f til R N ■* ( ea«. »o» 'MI'W A-ir > P! Jey flf \ 1 \ i-ta 03<; AD4 12 o \ (0 it UoE -Zl-2 e'^a SAP B'N * >g-A M ■0 \ o r Ml -21- 51-9 B5 A >a 9 IS *\ s ' f>SK * saa Ap ft "1 N 1- > « . \ ° u ... r . .... z Aid l-t J >3< *AW 1 3 j \ o 1 1 > iot- 11-6 ooc *pg 1 u. I ^ O * • ^03 ) -6 *S *»8'M o j 8k •M IB=I K "J '3"H <| M X E!"" !*p 3N HV( 1 JLMV " d y \ w 1 1 1 1 L_ Jo f. o a S n 8 a S 5S 3 I E 5j 5 s N K N 8 N r- 8 RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 53 almost at right angles, and flows southwesterly, until within about 15 miles of its mouth, where it resumes its original course to the south- east and joins the Assiniboine river. The confluence with the latter occurs eight miles west of Brandon, almostly direct south of the headwaters. The watershed of the river includes an area of 1,640 River Basin square miles, the greater portion of which is hilly and undulating. The width of the basin in the upper reaches approximates 45 miles, and its length, from mouth to head- waters, 60 miles. In its upper basin there are numerous small lakes, draining into the upper tributaries; from this section most of the drainage is derived. In the lower reaches of the river very few tri- butaries are met with. The largest single drainage entering it, Rolling river, is encountered about 13 miles north of Minnedosa. Its course throughout is very tortuous, and though, as above noted, the length of the basin from headwaters to mouth is 60 miles, the actual length of the river is 125 miles. The valley of the river is well defined. The banks vary in height from 100 to 300 feet, while the distance between them varies from 1,000 feet to a mile and a quarter. The soil is principally sandy clay, which, in some parts, particularly on the lower levels, is thickly strewn with boulders. This soil generally overlies a stratum of gravel, and, at a depth of about five feet, blue clay is encountered in most sections. Pockets of quicksand also occur but are not common. The river, almost throughout its entire length, flows over a bed composed of fine gravel and sand, which, in some localities, is thickly covered with large boulders. In width, the bed varies from 50 to 90 feet. No rock outcrops have been noted, and it is not likely that they occur in any portion of the river. In the upper reaches, much valuable timber has Timber and b een observed, but, elsewhere, very little marketable timber is to be had ; the country is well settled and the land largely under cultivation throughout the basin. The unbroken land is generally covered with small poplar and scrub. This basin is one of the oldest settled in the province. The soil is lich, and the section north of Minnedosa is noted for its oat crops, while, in the southern portion, wheat forms the chief product. It con- tains the settlements of Rivers, Gauthier, Rapid City, Riverdale, Min- nedosa, Rolling River and Elphinstone. The river is navigable only by rowboat or canoe. Throughout its course, with the possible exception of the extreme upper portion of its basin, the roads are in very good condition, and the river easily accessible. It is also in close touch with the different railways along 54 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION the lower 100 miles of its course. At no place in this distance is the river farther than six miles from a railway. Precipitation, — Records for Minnedosa, covering a period of 32 years, give the mean annual precipitation as 18 inches. In 1913, there was an extreme variation between flood and low water of slightly over five feet. The flood conditions lasted for a period of three weeks, but, with this exception, the maximum varia- tion in the stage of the river has been 2 7 feet. A reconnaissance survey of available water-power Power Surveys s j tes was mac Je during the summer of 1913 by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey. The river was exam- ined from the Assiniboine to a point about four miles above Minnedosa, and investigations respecting possible storage were made up to the headwaters above Elphinstone. The profile of the Minnedosa river facing this page gives the location of four possible sites for dams and also the two existing developments, as investigated by this survey. The lake and stream areas, with the adjacent low land and marshes in the upper basin, which might be utilized for storage pur- poses, are as follows: — Andy lake, including Big Jackfish creek . . 1,000 acres Jackfish lake 1,280 " Bottle and Spruce lakes 1,100 Squaw creek 2,500 Clear lake 8,960 " Proutt lake 350 " Stuart lake 650 Oak lake 1,300 " Thomas lake 2,000 " Beauford lake 600 " Long lake 1 .800 Sandy lake 2.500 " Further investigations of the storage possibilities on the above lakes, however, render it extremely doubtful if any feasible storage can be secured in this watershed. The data at hand show quite a variation in the flow of the rive*- from year to year, but is not sufficient to allow of definite estimates for power. Should a regulated flow of 200 second-feet be feasible, which seems possible during certain years and portions of others, the following power would be available at the different sites with an assumed efficiency of 80 per cent: Brandon Electric Light. 30 feet of head 545 horse Minnedosa Power Co. . . 25 " " 455 Dam Site No. 1 40 " " 730 Dam Site No. 2 45 " " 820 Dam Site No. 3 47 " " 860 Dam Site No. 4 20 " " 365 power RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 55 Power Developments The hydro-electric plant of this company is situ- Electric Light ated on the Minnedosa river, one mile above Company j ts junction with the Assiniboine and nine miles west of the city of Brandon. A timber dam, 260 feet long, gives a head of 30 feet. The power-house contains two units, each of which con- sists of a 54-inch wheel geared to a 300-k.w. generator. The elec- trical energy is generated at 60 cycles, three phase, 1,100 volts, and stepped up to 11,800 volts by six 100-k.w. transformers. A nine- mile transmission line of No. 6 hard-drawn copper wire carries the energy to Brandon, where it is received at the company's steam sta- tion and stepped down to 2,300 volts by a set of transformers similar to that at the power-house. With regard to the fluctuation in the flow of the river at this point, the operating company states there is a sufficient supply of water during eight months of the year, commencing about the middle of April, but that there is very little water between January and April. Partly as a result of these conditions, and partly on account of having to supply an important central steam-heating system operated by the company, the water-power plant is practically inoperative during the winter months when the energy is derived from steam power. The company's steam plant, located in the cen- Auxiliary tre of the city, in addition to the steam-generating equipment, includes the water-power plant sub-sta- tion, distributing system, central steam-heating system, and two 300- k.w. rotary converters for the street railway. The maximum demand, not including the street railway load, is 600 k.w. in summer and 1,100 k.w. in winter. Before the street railway commenced operations, the hydro-electric plant carried all the load from April 1st to September 1st, and part of it from then to December, closing down in winter. The requirements of the street railway have added 300 k.w. to the foregoing figures. This company has built a dam across the Min- Minnedosa r J . , . „_ Power nedosa river, creating a head of about 25 feet, nn- Company mediately above the town of Minnedosa. The dam is approximately 1,800 feet long, 125 feet wide at the base, and is constructed of earth and heavy clay with concrete core. The power- house is situated several hundred feet below the dam. At present it contains one unit but provision is made for the installation of a second. The unit comprises a 31-inch horizontal wheel, direct connected to a 250-k.w., 3-phase generator. The electrical energy is generated and distributed at 2,200 volts. The maximum load carried is 150 h.p., but it is expected that, with the help of the local storage created by 56 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION the dam, combined with the storage available in Clear lake, this may be materially increased. The local storage is one-quarter of a mile wide and three and one-half miles long. A storage dam has been erected on the outlet of Clear lake which is 35 miles distant in a straight line, but about 200 miles following the river. A steam plant of 125 h.p. capacity served the town before the installation of the hydro-electric plant. A gauging station was established in January, 1913, by the Man- itoba Hydrometric Survey. The following is a summary of the results obtained : DISCHARGE OF MINNEDOSA RIVER, NEAR RIVERDALE, MAN. (Drainage area, 1,250 square miles) Month Discharge in second-fee : Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 50* .04 60* .05 60* .05 1,942 507 927* .74 901 180 520 .42 487 154 330 .26 507 211 372 .30 475 99 235 .19 126 12 61 .05 271 13 72 .06 20* .016 20* .016 20* .016 1,336 510 937* .750 808 317 590* .472 1913 January . . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . . 1914 January . . February . March . . . April May * Estimated. Note. — Records for the winter of 1914-15 show that at times the flow of Minnedosa river becomes negligible. DISCHARGE OF MINNEDOSA RIVER AT BEILBY'S BRIDGE (Drainage ar ea, 1,120 s q uar e miles) Month 1915 March . . . April May June July August . . September October . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile *2 .002 250 *95 .085 75 37 56 .050 107 36 78 .070 121 53 80 .071 64 40 48 .043 77 36 54 .048 135 69 88 .079 85 *40 .036 *8 .007 * Estimated. RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 57 Birdtail Creek This creek, which rises in the western part of the southern slope of Riding mountain, flows mainly in a southerly direction, turning east- ward a few miles above Birtle. Below Birtle it resumes its southerly course and flows into the Assiniboine in township 15, range XXVII, west of first meridian. At two or three power sites near Birtle low heads could be created by dams. One of these has been investigated by the Manitoba Public Work Department, on behalf of the town of Birtle. The report states that the site is situated one mile east of the town, where the river takes a wide sweep at the foot of a steep hill and, falling through a small rapid, divides into two streams, which re-unite a short dis- tance downstream. The north bank of the river is low for a distance of about 400 feet, beyond which it rises abruptly to a height ot nearly 20 feet. The banks are of a sandy loam containing numerous field stones. The dam can be constructed to give an effective head of 18 feet, which could be increased to 24 feet if required. The power is estimated at 250 h.p., available for nine months of the year. One of the other possible sites is situated one-half mile below the town, and a third 15 miles northeast of the town. Both of these are at abandoned grist and saw mills. Each of them had between eight and ten feet head but auxiliary steam plants were used. With regard to storage on this river, it is reported that there are two lakes in the Riding Mountain forest reserve, each of about one square mile in area. These could be raised five or six feet, but unfortunately they are rather far distant, being, approximately, 40 miles in a straight line, or 150 miles following the river, from Birtle. Qu'Appelle River The Qu'Appelle river, one of the largest tributaries of the Assini- boine, has an interesting glacial history. Its valley is quite uni- formly about one mile wide and is from 110 to 350 feet below the general level of the surrounding region; the river flows in a winding course, here and there traversing long lakes. Last Mountain lake, one of its tributaries, is about fifty miles long and from one to two miles wide; the descent from here to the mouth of the Qu'Appelle is 335 feet. There are several irrigation and many industrial water-rights in the basin of the Qu'Appelle. 58 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION A gauging station was established at Lumsden, Sask., by the Irrigation branch of the Interior Department in 1911. The following is a summary of the observations taken at this station since that year : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF QU'APPELLE RIVER, AT LUMSDEN (Drainage area, 6,160 square miles) Month 1911 May (12-31) .... June July August September October (1-28) .. November (12-30) December 1912 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1913 January February March April Ma"y June July August September October November December 1914 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 172.0 319.0 255.0 16.0 144.0 30.0 3.86 3.10 1.97 40.4 166.0 867.0 884.0 308.0 128.0 48.0 37.0 30.0 24.0 3.24 3.4 3.7 163.0 807.0 107.0 79.0 83.0 46.0 25.0 13.1 9.0 6.9 2.70 0.06 4.30 187 65 38 35 12.5 19.6 11.5 5.4 4.4 31.0 19.0 13.0 11.0 11.0 12.0 3.20 2.14 0.33 0.33 0.26 94.0 81.0 68.0 55.0 27.0 21.0 19.0 2.98 2.36 0.0 0.6 0.0 101.0 62.0 25.0 30.0 21.0 8.0 5.0 6.1 2.2 0.15 0.02 0.09 7.5 15.9 15.6 12.5 2.6 2.8 4.5 2.9 0.77 Mean 83.9 133.0 42.6 12.9 32.4 15.4 3.72 2.77 0.727 0.355 15.8 395.0 523.0 158.0 86.4 34.1 29.0 23.6 16.6 2.71 10.90 2.49 60.90 428.00 82.00 46.40 46.80 31.20 15.40 9.16 7.47 3.80 1.14 .007 1.85 86 33 24 19.8 7.5 5.4 6 4.4 2.4 Per square mile 0.013 0.022 0.007 0.002 0.005 0.002 0.001 0.0001 0.0001 0.002 0.064 0.084 0.002 0.014 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.0004 0.0020 0.0004 .0090 0.0700 0.0130 0.0070 0.0070 0.0050 0.0020 0.0010 0.0010 0.0006 0.0002 .000001 .0003 .014 .0054 .0039 .0032 .0012 .0009 .001 .0007 0.0004 RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 59 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF QU'APPELLE RIVER, AT LUMSDEN.— Continued Month 1915 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . . September October . . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1.05 .20 .77 .00012 .20 .06 .00001 .48 .08 .00001 18.70 .66 9.00 .00146 17.00 6.90 11.20 .00182 9.10 6.30 7.60 .00123 8.70 3.40 5.90 .000% 4.30 1.80 2.60 .00042 5.80 2.00 3.70 .00060 12.50 5.00 9.30 .00150 9.30 2.09 3.80 .00062 2.28 1.37 2.10 .00034 Moose Jaw Creek Moose Jaw creek rises in the north-western slope of the Missouri Coteau. Its extreme headwaters are near Moreland, Sask., in town- ship 9, range XX, west of second meridian. It flows north-westerly until it reaches the city of Moose Jaw, and thence in a north-easterly direction, finally emptying into the Qu'Appelle river near Buffalo- pound lake. From the headwaters to the city of Moose Jaw the drainage area is estimated to be about 1,830 square miles. This area is almost entirely devoid of tree growth, except that the valley is lined with brush in the vicinity of Moose Jaw. Throughout its length the creek flows in a very Description tortuous but well-defined channel. The upper por- of Stream t j on Q f t j le va l] e y i s merely a shallow depression, but gradually increases in depth, until at Drinkwater it is about 30 feet deep and at Moose Jaw about 80 feet deep. The fall in the creek is very slight, particularly between Drinkwater and Moose Jaw, where the total descent is only 67.5 feet, or an average of 2.3 feet per mile of valley. The Canadian Pacific railway has dams at Milestone, Rouleau, Drinkwater and Pasqua and two at Moose Jaw. There is also a municipal dam in section 19, township 15, range XXIV, west of second meridian, which supplies water to the neighbourhood during periods when there is no flow in the creek. The volume of water diverted in each case is small, as the Canadian Pacific only uses it for its engines. A gauging station was established at McCarthy's ranch, section 16, township 16, range XXVI, west of second meridian, by the Irriga- tion branch of the Interior Department in 1910. The following is a summary of observations since that year: 60 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF MOOSE JAW CREEK, AT MCCARTHY'S RANCH (Drainage area, 1,719 square miles) Month 1910 April (7-30) May June July 1911 March (19-31) April May June July August September October November (28 days) December 1912 January April (5-30) May June July August September October November December 1913 April May June July August September October November December 1914 March April May June July August November December 1915 April May June July Discharge in second-feet Maximum 27.45 112.80 43.60 4.35 72.0 365.0 123.0 285.0 21.0 0.8 0.4 39.0 8.5 1.5 0.14 634.0 ,329.0 111.0 54.0 6.2 1.55 2.6 2.0 0.14 313.00 13.70 2.85 32.00 3.90 0.60 .38 .60 0.33 15.00 198.00 13.60 9.30 1.39 0.04 19.00 1.00 3.74 1.12 .33 .24 Minimum 1.10 0.51 5.35 0.00 0.70 29.00 2.00 4.80 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.60 0.08 0.01 52.0 39.0 14.0 1.6 0.95 0.40 1.40 0.05 0.02 15.10 0.93 .28 .33 .09 .00 .00 .33 0.00 8.00 10.40 1.52 1.30 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 .27 .24 .01 Mean 6.80 29.21 22.77 1.18 31.90 188.00 37.80 71.00 2.80 0.21 0.08 11.50 4.15 0.55 0.095 257.2 521.2 48.5 23.8 2.87 0.94 1.93 1.32 0.049 87.10 6.37 0.98 12.09 0.64 .12 .20 .38 0.10 1.10 66.00 5.60 3.40 0.43 0.01 2.40 0.34 1.47 .41 .28 .13 Per square mile 0.0039 0.0170 0.0132 0.0007 0.018 0.109 0.022 0.041 0.0016 0.0001 0.0000 0.0067 0.0024 0.0003 0.0000 0.149 0.306 0.028 0.014 0.0017 0.0005 0.0011 0.0008 0.0000 0.051 .004 .0005 .007 .000 .000 .000 .000 0.000 0.0005 0.038 0.003 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 .00086 .00024 .00016 .00008 RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 61 Shell River Shell river, one of the largest tributaries of the Assiniboine, rises in the northerly portion of Duck mountain, and empties into the Assini- boine about three miles above the village of Shellmouth. The general direction of the river is almost due south from its source to a point within five miles of its mouth, where it bends sharply to the west and joins the Assiniboine. ., . , The drainage basin, near the mouth of the river, Nature of . & River Basin is narrow, being confined between the watersheds of and Banks ^hfi y a u e y an( j Assiniboine rivers ; but, in the upper reaches, it broadens out to approximately 35 miles in width, where it adjoins the watershed of Swan river. It is in this upper section that most of its drainage is obtained, though throughout its course it is fed by springs and short streams. The largest tributary enters the river about 70 miles from the mouth, and is known as the East branch. The length of the basin from north to south is approximately 60 miles, while the river itself, following its windings, has a length of 90 miles. Of the smaller rivers of the province, the Shell has one of the most beautiful valleys. It varies in depth from 100 feet, near the headwaters, to 350 feet, about four miles from its mouth, and has an average width of three-quarters of a mile. The banks are mostly of a gravelly nature, strewn with boulders and overgrown with scrub and small poplar, while the agricultural land on the plateaus on either side will compare very favourably with the best in the province. The bed of the river, which varies between 50 and 90 feet in width, is of a gravelly nature throughout and strewn with large boulders. Throughout its length there are no distinct falls, but numerous rapids occur where the valley narrows and the bed is contracted. v . .. Valuable timber is found in the Duck Mountain Timber forest reserve on the upper waters. Southward, the District timber has been burnt over, and scrub and light poplar cover the unbroken land, while, in the bottom of the valley, there are considerable quantities of spruce and tamarack. Some splendid groves of large elms are found on the flats of the junction of the Shell and Assiniboine. There is a variation of about four feet between high water, which usually occurs during the months of May and June, and the low water in September. The river is not subject to sudden changes nor to excessive floods, its rise and fall being normally steady and gradual. 62 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION On account of the shallowness and the numerous rapids encount- ered, the stream could only be navigated by canoe. It is crossed by trails at various points, and, for a considerable distance in its middle length, trails follow its course closely. The Canadian Northern rail- way crosses it at Shevlin. Although the southerly portion of the basin is well settled, there are only two small villages on the river itself, one at Asessippi, about four miles from the mouth, and the other at Shevlin, 25 miles upstream. Asessippi possesses an old flour and grist mill which has been operated by water power since 1884. Russell is situated 14 miles due south of Asessippi, and a splendid, well settled, farming country lies between the two towns. The precipitation records taken at Russell, ten miles south of the drainage area, cover a period of nine years and give a mean yearly rainfall of 16.4 inches. Records taken at Swan River, north of the drainage area, and covering a period of four years, show a precipita- tion of 20'8 inches, giving a mean yearly precipitation of approxi- mately 18 inches for the basin. Assuming 25 per cent of this as actual run-off, the mean yearly discharge would be 288 second-feet, or 0*33 second-feet per square mile of drainage area. Discharge Measurements. — In November, 1913, the Manitoba Hydrographic Survey established a gauging station on the river, but, as yet, sufficient data have not been collected upon which to base a definite low-water flow. A discharge measurement made by this survey, September 15, 1913, at Asessippi gave 213 5 second-feet. When this measurement was made, the flow, according to local authority, approached very nearly the ordinary low-water level for the year. E ... Respecting the power development possibilities, Water-Power no survey work has been done on the river, but casual Possibilities observations and available information indicate that, for power purposes, this stream is one of the best of the smaller rivers of the province. From the mouth of the river to the confluence of the East branch, approximately 75 miles, there is a difference in elevation of 600 feet, or 8 feet per mile. This fall is quite evenly distributed in the upper reaches, but is more marked in the lower portion of the river. This natural descent, combined with the high banks, indicates easy development at different points. The one development on the river at Asessippi has a head of 10 feet and, though using only a small portion of the flow, developed RED AND ASSINIBOINE RIVERS 63 50 horse-power; at no period of the year was trouble experienced from lack of flow. As no survey has been made to ascertain possible dam sites, the information as to actual head at any such site is not available, but the following table gives the possible horse-power per foot of head, with an assumed minimum monthly flow. This assumed flow is taken as extending over a period of six months, from May to October, and is subject to revision. Head in feet Assumed minimum flow in second-feet during the six open months Available horse-power at 80 per cent efficiency 1 10 20 200 200 200 18.2 182.0 364.0 Respecting winter flow on the river, a measurement taken on Jan. 20, 1914, recorded only 12 second-feet. CHAPTER III Western Tributaries of Lake Winnipeg* METERING STATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE MANITOBA HYDROMETRIC SURVEY Name of river Situation When established Fairford Mossy Valley Fairford Half mile below Fishing river Valley River Swan River Hudson Bay junction October, 1913 July, 1913 November, 1912 October, 1912 Red Deer July, 1913 Fairford and Dauphin Rivers The Fairford and Dauphin rivers form the connection between lake Manitoba and lake Winnipeg. Debouching near the extreme north-easterly portion of lake Manitoba, the Fairford river flows north-easterly to lake St. Martin. From the latter lake, the Dauphin river flows due north for a distance of 14 miles ; then turning sharply to the east, it continues on this course to Sturgeon bay, on the west shore of lake Winnipeg. Lake Manitoba, with an area of 1,711 square miles, Nature of acts as a collecting basin for practically all the drain- Watershed * . T . age discharged by these rivers. In general terms, this drainage includes the area to the east of the Manitoba escarp- ment and the watersheds of the Swan and Red Deer rivers. While the upper reaches of the watershed extend into the Riding, Duck and Porcupine mountains, where the country is hilly, and, to a great extent, covered by a forest growth, the greater portion of the area is a slightly undulating prairie. The soil, generally, is clay, overlying beds of gravel, with occasional rock outcrops. Considerable adjacent ter- ritory drains into lake Manitoba but the only tributary of any size, other than those already enumerated, is the Whitemud river. Between lakes Manitoba and Winnipeg, the Fairford and Dauphin do not receive any tributaries of importance. For the first three miles, the banks of Fairford Generally r j yer are we jj defined, varying from three to ten feet in height and reaching a maximum in the immediate vicinity of the Canadian Northern Railway bridge. Below this *The data for this chapter were contributed by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior. [64] Red Deer River (Man i— at Junction with Ktomami River Fairford River Above F uri WESTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 65 point the banks become gradually lower, opening out into a wide expanse of low, marshy land which merges into lake Pineimuta. Below this lake, they range from two to three feet in height, but again merge into swampy shores near lake St. Martin. The banks are composed of light grey clay, in which a few boulders are imbedded. Where the Dauphin river leaves lake St. Martin, the banks are poorly defined; low lying meadows, subject to overflow in periods of high water, merge into the timber line about one-half mile from either side of the channel. Banks composed of sandy clay, and varying in height from one-half foot to two feet, extend for the first 11 miles, beyond which the river cuts through a sandy ridge, running in an east-and-west direction and having a maximum height of about eight feet. Thence, to the rapids, 12 miles distant, the banks range from one to six feet in height, though, in many places, there are swampy indentations. From the rapids to Sturgeon bay, the height varies from 5 to 32 feet. In this lower reach, numerous limestone ridges cross the river, and rock outcrops are visible in the banks. The Fairford river varies in width from 500 to 900 feet. It is stated that it is shallow in the vicinity of lake Manitoba, where it flows over a bed of limestone. About one-half mile below this, a small rapid is caused by a bed of limestone and gneiss boulders ; there is another rapid in the lower portion of the river. The Dauphin river, which has an average width of 450 feet, is in places slightly narrower than the Fairford. For the first 11 miles, the bed is sandy and apparently free from large boulders, but, farther downstream, numerous rapids are caused by gravel bars and boulders. Outcrops of limestone are also found in this lower reach of the river. While the greater portion of the land along the p en ^. h Forest Dauphin river is covered with a dense growth of pop- lar, spruce, maple, oak and birch, large areas of swamp land and hay meadows also occur. With the exception of several fields devoted to root crops along the Fairford river, farming is not carried on to any extent in this district. High water usually comes in the latter part of April and early part of May, while February is the month of low water. The range is ordinarily about four feet, but, in 1902, an extreme range of eight feet was noted. It is stated that, for the first three miles, the Fairford river does not freeze over, but, below this stretch, an ice cover forms. It is reported that, during the spring break-up on the Fairford, the ice passes away freely, without jams or destruction of the banks, while severe jams do occur on the Dauphin river at the rapids. Evidence that jams at this point have caused a rise of from 15 to 20 feet above 5 66 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION ordinary summer stages, was noted by a field party of the Manitoba Power Survey ; boulders, logs and driftwood were found fully 20 feet above the water level of September, 1913. The Fairford is navigable by small steamers, Transportation though it is claimed that difficulty occurs near lake Manitoba, due to bars. Navigation for small steamers is possible also on the Dauphin in early summer, but the river is treacherous, due to continual changes of channel. The only point at which the river system is accessible by railway is at Fairford, where the Canadian Northern railway crosses the river. Steamers plying on lake Winnipeg navigate to the mouth of the Dauphin in Sturgeon bay. In addition to the Indian reserve, there are only two settle- ments in the district ; one is at Fairford, one-half mile from the Can- adian Northern Railway crossing of the Fairford river, and the other at Sturgeon bay. To secure data respecting the improvement of navigation on the Fairford river, surveys extending over the years 1898, 1908, 1910 and 1913 have been made by the Dominion Department of Public Works. In September and October, 1913, a reconnaissance survey of the power possibilities of the river system was made by a field party of the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey. A profile of the river was made by this party. Precipitation in this drainage basin is estimated to be 18 or 19 inches per annum. Records over very short periods have been made at a few places in the district and the above estimate has been based upon them. During the winter of 1915, a low flow of 3,400 second-feet was recorded. While this figure is being used for the computation of pos- sible power, it should be borne in mind that it is subject to revision when more complete data are obtained. In view of the immense lake area in the lower p t0r tb'?'t' reaches of the watershed, it should be possible to obtain practically a complete regulation of the flow. An estimate of the storage possibilities on lake Winnipegosis and of the resulting increase in flow during low periods, has been made with relation to the Waterhen river and Meadow portage. Lake Manitoba is said to vary ordinarily from one foot above to one foot below its mean level, giving a total range of two feet. Assum- ing that such a range could be utilized for storage purposes, the fol- lowing table gives the various rates of draught available from such a storage fully utilized during a period of either three months, six months or a year: — -|"3A^-\ V3? lAOflV 133J SNOIXVA313 WESTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 07 Storage in thousands of cubic feet Rate of draught in second-feet Depth of storage Period, 3mos. Period, 6 mos. Period, 1 year 1 foot 2 feet 47,700 95,400 6,048 12,096 3,024 6,048 1,512 3,024 Water-power Concentrations Possible power concentrations on the rivers are shown on the profile facing page 66. An estimate of the power available at these sites is given in the following table. The power has been computed at 80 per cent efficiency on an estimated low flow of 3,400 second-feet, no estimate having been made respecting the additional power available through storage : — Power site Head in feet Estimated horse-power at 80 per cent efficiency ; low flow of 3,400 second-feet No 1 8 6.5 28 16 2,500 No 2 2,000 No 3 8,700 No 4 5,000 Total horse-power 18,200 DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS OF FAIRFORD RIVER AT FAIRFORD Date Discharge Date Discharge 1913 June 28 July 31 August 29 October 11 Sec. ft. 7,849 6,897 8,341 7,083 8,886 7,345 7,527 7,475 1914 January 6 January 28 March 31 April 20 August 6 Sec. ft. 6,129 5,953 5.359 5.822 5,559 5,115 April 24 May 15 August 14 6,432 August 10 September 15 December 19 December 21 4,916 6,059 3,647 3,412 Waterhen River and Meadow Portage The Waterhen river flows out of the southerly portion of lake Winnipegosis and discharges into the north end of lake Manitoba. Issuing from Long reach of lake Winnipegosis, it flows in a northerly direction, a distance of some eight miles, to Waterhen lake, thence, 18 miles in a southerly direction to lake Manitoba. At the outlet of lake Winnipegosis, the drainage basin of the Waterhen has an area of 21,200 square miles, and comprises that portion of Manitoba lying between Winnipegosis and the highlands 68 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION of the Porcupine, Riding and Duck mountains. Westward from lake Winnipegosis to the mountains, the basin is a slightly undulating plain, with a gradual upward slope, which, for the most part, has an over- lying soil of clay, with occasional outcrops of rock. In the vicinity of the mountains, the country becomes rugged and rises very abruptly. This highland, containing the headwaters of the drainage, is largely covered with a growth of pine and spruce. The main streams tribu- tary to lake Winnipegosis, heading in this district, are the Red Deer, Swan and Valley rivers. While there are several large lakes in the lower portion of the drainage, such as Winnipegosis, Red Deer, Swan and Dauphin, the numerous lakes at the headwaters are very small. From lake Winnipegosis to Waterhen lake, there are two distinct river channels ; from the latter to lake Manitoba, the river flows in one channel only. In both the upper channels, the river flows between Low and j ow ^ ma rshy banks, which extend back some 1,200 feet to the timber line, where the banks reach an elevation of from three to four feet above the ordinary level. Much of the intervening space between river and timber line is covered with water, and growths of reeds extend far out into the stream. The soil, to a depth of one foot, is light and sandy, but underlying this is a stratum of light blue clay mixed with gravel. From Water- hen lake to within a few miles of lake Manitoba, the banks are slightly higher and drier, and, from surface indications, are composed of the same soil. In the vicinity of lake Manitoba they are low and marshy. The width of the main Waterhen river averages about 600 feet, except in the vicinity of the lakes where it increases to approx- imately a mile. The smaller channel, or Little Waterhen, has an average width of approximately 200 feet. The beds of both rivers are composed of gravel, strewn in some places with large boulders making navigation very difficult in the reach below Waterhen lake. Meadow land borders the river for almost its entire length. Timber is plentiful but consists almost entirely of poplar, with occasional spruce and birch. Precipitation. — No definite information relating to the whole drain- age basin precipitation is available. Records show a mean annual precipitation at Russell of 16.4 inches for a period of nine years, and of 17.8 inches at Minnedosa for a period of 32 years, but both local- ities are situated slightly to the south of the basin. As somewhat similar physical conditions apply to the upper drainage of the Water- hen and to these two points, it may be assumed that the precipitation is of like amount. WESTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 69 Discharge Measurements. — In the summer of 1881, a discharge measurement of the Waterhen river was made by Thomas Guerin, C.E. No further measurements appear to have been made until 1913, when one was made by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey, at a section below Waterhen lake, showing- a discharge of 8,474 second- feet. Owing to the inaccessibility of this portion of the river, no regular gauging station has been maintained. In the absence of more reliable data, an estimated low flow of 3,000 second-feet has been based on measurements made on the Fairford river by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey. While this estimate is used for computing the power possibilities it is only an estimate, and is subject to revision. Meadow Portage and Power Possibilities The power possibilities in the Waterhen river itself do not offer any very attractive features, but its waters can be diverted across the narrow neck of land separating lake Winnipegosis from lake Mani- toba. This strip of land, lying at the southwest corner of the former lake, has, in the vicinity of Meadow portage, a minimum width of some 9,400 feet. The summit elevation is approximately six feet above lake Winnipegosis, and the surface soil is composed of a light grey, calcareous clay, containing many limestone pebbles. Investigations made at the summit show hardpan at a depth of four feet, while, adjacent to the lakes, clay constitutes the underlying soil. Construction At various tim es the construction of a canal of Canal between the two lakes has been advocated for naviga- Advocated tion purposeS) an( j j were t fc s undertaking proceeded with, the development of power in conjunction with the canal would be an important factor. The Waterhen river and Meadow portage are both accessible in summer by boat, and by waggon from the town of Winnipegosis, at the southern end of lake Winnipegosis. Except Waterhen Indian reserve, which lies near the southern end of Waterhen lake, there are no important settlements in the im- mediate vicinity. The country around Meadow portage has been surveyed and is partially settled. In 1889, the Geological Survey made a geological examination of the district, including the Water- hen river. Prior to 1909, the Dominion Department of Public Works made a survey of Meadow portage, and, in 1909, made further investigations. In the summer of 1913, a reconnaissance survey of Meadow portage was made by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey, with Mr. D. B. Gow in charge of the field party. At the same time, as it would be necessary to divert the water for any complete development in the vicinity of Meadow portage, investigations of dam sites on the upper Waterhen river were made. ro COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Head Available The difference in elevation between the two lakes on August 26, 1913, as determined by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey, was 18 -6 feet. The water in both lakes at the time was stated locally to be at a high stage. As published in the Geological Survey Report of 1890-91, the difference in elevation in 1873 was found by Mr. H. B. Smith, C.E., to be 18.73 feet, and later, in 1889, a determination of 17.4 feet was made by G. A. Bayne, C.E. Owing to storms on the lakes, considerable variation in this descent is quite probable. It is stated that a severe storm from the northwest may raise the waters three feet at the southerly end of lake Winnipeg- osis. Evidences of such an effect were noted by the Manitoba Hydro- metric Survey after a severe storm. At the same time, a lowering of the northern waters of lake Manitoba occurs, but within a decidedly narrower range than in the upper lakes. As stated previously, a low flow of 3,000 second-feet has been assumed for the Waterhen river. This, together with an approximate head of 15 feet (both figures are subject to revision), would, on a basis of 80 per cent efficiency, show a power possibility of 4,080 horse-power. Lake Winnipegosis, which acts as the collecting Storage basin for the entire drainage area, offers immense Possibilities fe storage possibilities. It has an area, exclusive of islands, of approximately 2.000 square miles. While storage is possible, the effect of any raising of the waters would have to be considered with reference to adjacent low-lying areas. The follow- ing table has been computed to show the possibilities of additional flow and power from such storage under the following headings: (a) the flow in cubic feet per second for a storage utilized during a period of six months; (b) the power available from this flow based on a 15-foot head at 80 per cent efficiency; (c) the flow in cubic feet per second for a storage utilized for one year; (d) the power available based on the same conditions as in (b) : — Depth of storage in feet (a) Flow in second-feet for six mos. (b) Horse-power (c) Flow in second-feet one year (d) Horse-power 1 ? 3.536 7,072 4,814 9,628 1.768 3.536 2,407 4.814 DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT OF WATERHEN RIVER, FOUR MILES FROM LAKE MANITOBA Date Mean velocity Discharge 1913 August 26 Ft. per sec. 2.79 Sec.-ft. 8,474 "\^3T V3S 3M5SV X33J Nl SNOI-LVA.313 WESTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 71 Mossy River Mossy river is approximately 21 miles in length and discharges into the southerly end of lake Winnipegosis. Heading in the extreme northerly portion of lake Dauphin, it flows westward for two miles, then bends and flows in a northerly direction to the mouth. With the exception of the Fork and Fishing rivers, which enter the Mossy from the west, the drainage of the basin is collected by lake Dauphin. Discharging into this lake are the Valley, Turtle, Ochre, Wilson and Vermilion rivers. These streams, which head in many small lakes and muskegs in the Riding and Duck mountains, flow in a gen- eral easterly course to the lake. The upper watershed in the moun- tains comprises a hilly or rolling country, which is well timbered, while the lower and greater portion of the basin is undulating prairie, covered in many places with a growth of willows. The banks of the Mossy vary in height from 4 Banks of to 14 f eet anc j are composed of blue or yellow clay, overlying a bed of fine gravel. Approximately one and one-half miles above lake Winnipegosis an outcrop of limestone crosses the bed of the river. Here, for a distance of 100 feet along the left bank, a vertical face of rock extends some six feet above the ordinary river level. Below this outcrop the banks become low and marshy. At various points along the river, dredged material from the bed has been dumped along shore, forming an irregular bank. The Mossy varies in width from 120 to 200 feet, with an average of 160 feet. The bed of the stream is composed of sand and gravel, with numerous boulders occurring in certain localities. The channel has been improved by dredging and by the removal of boulders, practically eliminating all rapids. Owing to sand bars, very shallow water occurs at the outlet from lake Dauphin, and also at its mouth. High water usually occurs in April and early in May at the time of the spring break-up. Heavy rains on the headwaters also cause high water during later periods of the year. It is stated that, in 1902, extreme high water occurred, being six feet higher than the ordinary level. In July, 1913, the water was again high, due to prolonged heavy rains, but did not reach within four feet of the extreme of 1902. Low water usually occurs in February. It is stated locally that, for the first three miles below lake Dauphin, the river does not freeze over; farther downstream the surface freezes, in some places to a depth of two feet or more. It is also reported that, since the improvements to the channel, the ice breaks up in the spring without the formation of ice jams. 72 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Winnipegosis, the terminus of the Winnipegosis branch of the Canadian Northern railway, is situated at the mouth of the river. Southerly from this town, for a distance of 14 miles, to Fork River, the railway is never more than one and one-half miles distant from the river. The town of Dauphin, which is the central point of the district, is some 40 miles from Winnipegosis. Several bridges, acces- sible by numerous roads, cross the river at various points. The stream is navigable by small craft, but is not now used for trans- portation. To lower lake Dauphin, the Department of Public Works dredged the river in 1909-12. In 1905, D. A. Keizer, C.E., surveyed and reported on a possible power site situated one-half mile above Win- nipegosis. During the summer of 1913, a reconnaissance investiga- tion of the power possibilities of the river was made by a field party of the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey. Precipitation. — Although no adequate records of precipitation are available for the district, it is estimated that the mean annual rainfall is approximately 18 inches; the estimate is based on records in adjoin- ing drainage basins of practically the same physical features. Lake Dauphin, with an area of 196 square miles, is the collecting basin of all drainage carried by the Mossy river and preliminary investigations indicate that it would be possible to obtain three feet storage on it. At the same time, it would be necessary to consider the effect of such storage, particularly as the dredging and improvements to the river channel were carried on with the object of lowering the level of the lake and giving better drainage to the low-lying lands adjacent. The follow- ing table gives an estimate of the flow available from storage on the lake, under the following headings, — (a) The capacity of reservoir per foot depth of storage; (b) the rate of draught available for a stor- age extending over a period of six months; (c) the rate of draught available for a storage extending over one year: — Storage Possibilities Storage in millions of cubic feet Flow in cubic feet per second Depth of storage Period six months Period one year 1 foot 2 feet (a) 5,464 10,928 (&) 346 692 (c) 173 346 Power Possibilities Discharge measurements taken during 1913, 1914 and 1915 show a minimum mean monthly flow of 65 second-feet. Based on this amount, which is subject to verification or revision as future records are obtained, the following table gives the estimated available horse-power at two possible power WESTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 7:; sites, as shown on profile facing page 72. The estimates have been based on 80 per cent turbine efficiency. No estimate is made as to the additional power available through a regulation of the flow of the river, although such regulation would greatly increase the power possibil- ities : — Power site Head in feet Estimated horse-power, based on 80 per cent efficiency; minimum flow of 65 second-feet No. 1 No. 2 Total horse-power 10 10 59 59 118 DISCHARGE OF MOSSY RIVER, NEAR FISHING RIVER, MAN.t (Drainage area 3,950 square miles.) Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1913 July (14-31) August September . . October 1914 January February . . March April May June July 1915 January . . . February . . March April May June July August September October . . . November . December . 1,710 1,435 1,105 620 629 541 505 1,175 955 560 754 581 207 224 327 172 134 163 1,435 1,080 329 410 560 522 485 460 493 572 420 168 117 137 145 69 53 31 1,536* 1,214 918 693 592* 567* 513* 490 696 715 522 150* 160* 300* 259 179 177 206 126 99 109 80* 65* .39 .31 .23 .18 .150 .144 .130 .124 .176 .181 .132 .038 .041 .076 .066 .045 .045 .052 .032 .025 .028 .020 .016 * Estimated. t Measurements made at Manitoba Hydrometric Survey station. 74 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Valley River The Valley river, so called because it flows in the valley between the Riding and Duck mountains, rises in Singoosh lake, in the north- erly portion of the Duck mountains. Thence it flows in a south- westerly direction to East Angling lake, which also receives the drainage of Laurie and North Angling lakes from the north. From East Angling lake the river flows southerly a distance of approxi- mately 16 miles, and thence in an easterly direction to lake Dauphin. Near this easterly bend, Short creek, which rises in Riding Moun- tain forest reserve and drains several small lakes, enters it from the west. Below this, the main drainage to the river enters from the north, the chief tributary being Drifting river, which joins the Valley three miles west of Valley River station, on the Canadian Northern railway. The banks vary in height, from 15 to 85 feet, while the width of the bottom land ranges from 700 to 2,000 feet, widening occasionally to 3,000 feet. At ordinary summer stage the river has a width of from 100 to 200 feet ; the banks are composed of yellow clay, overly- ing a bed of gravel and boulders. Investigations carried on at several points in that portion of the river lying between Gilbert Plains and Valley River station have shown a depth of clay, varying from 6 to 30 feet, overlying the gravel strata. The bed of the river is of gravel, strewn with boulders. In the upper watershed, there is a considerable growth of valuable timber, comprising spruce, jackpine and poplar. In the lower section, the valley bottom and banks are covered with a growth of scrub oak, poplar and briar. Very little clearing has been done in the immediate vicinity of the river, but grain growing and mixed farming are car- ried on extensively in the adjacent country. High water usually occurs at the time of the spring break-up in April. The river, however, is subject to extreme fluctuations in the open water season, heavy rains in the headwaters causing floods in the lower valleys. Low water occurs in the autumn and winter months. Owing to shoals and rapids, navigation is impos- Settle^District 1 s ^ e exce Pt m rowboat and canoe. The river is acces- sible by many roads, and is also crossed by the Can- adian Northern railway at Valley River, Grandview and Strevel ; nowhere between these crossings is it more than five miles distant from the railway. The country adjacent to the Valley river is well settled and con- tains several thriving villages, such as Gilbert Plains, Grandview and Valley River. The town of Dauphin, the centre of this agricultural district, is six miles distant from the river. «■ 7 > ^_ M< 52- 13- Z.i 1 £ £{-; 0- > -0 3 9 e J P8 J S n 1 ■ \ 1 S SIIV ^c -L H3E TO \ \ \ N j 4 V5 l 4) , N ■m i 1 Q- ^ \ d V.'. "16 ° • i '1 p y J \ y \ V \ ] \ \ \ S V \ eu l g.1 M<>5 -9a 91 9a »J pg 3 IP '"* d bu U! \ t \ ) \ •; ■y :a om :imv ^ 3 A id > 3 IT 'A \ *\ A*e 1-92 91 I* 5 -J PQ •3 l\ (L } \ A € 1 92 6 JJ P j P8 3 i 00000 ooooooOoooooooo°ooooooooo W»««^j(u«JWi'iv with respect to power possibilities and, considering the nature of the adjacent country, it is doubtful if there are any power sites on the river. If any should be discovered, their development would necessarily be for operation only during the open season, as it has been found that the flow is liable to be completely * The portion of this chapter relating to the Brokenhead, Manigotagan, Bloodvein, Poplar, Big Black and Belanger rivers, has been prepared under the direction of Mr. J. B. Challies, Superintendent of the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior. The Pigeon and Berens rivers have been covered by reconnaissance undertaken by the Commission of Conservation. 6 [81] ?: SSIOX OF CONSERVATION ±-: : fee: .. : :..-.irre ir secc-i-feet ?::-:- Vis • - _ ■ r ^ . _ " "==1^" . '-r .. :•:.: :!.• : "-': v- -v - . ;"• - :: -•:■ : -: ::.= :v :'- ;.:- -- "-. .:- : . :- :- _: - 16 ■ 61 * :-: :-:: -.: : : 61 :: :•: ... \\ i 2 V. -I"; -:: *r! .■_■-_- 10* :- ■=* ..: -•- ; - :*: : ;: % '■■- --" -:* ±« 521 ..' 127 14 4 •: _ -i ,_- .21 .11 ;,--,- -,,- " - .90 -. - . . . _ ■- . \- : : ; : ; r . - - .*. Marrft A:r.: Maj .39 '-'■:• .34 c „-~- - _ .31 October -- vr : ■ u.~ - ■■->- " ■y. .162 .-,: --> • : - - =—-■,-- 251 • : - . : Oil Mi::: A;rl »: :-■-.: i •; ' 1-. .. ; ... .... . . »- r .1 . . . . .123 _*r". * - :*t T -'- -.-*-.- **: * _' r -ii:.- .:■-.- ri.i- -.;•; ':.■ i:- :::i Hyirxtr: : .- r BAST] 5 OF 1 > PEG Manigotagan River The Manigotagan river discharges into lake Winnipeg on the -hore. about 50 miles north of Fort Alexander, and almost directly opposite the centre of Big island. Frc - to its mouth the general bearing st 30 degrees north. The . lake is riid to come from the non rile the upper reaches of the watershed have not yet been ^:ed that considerable drainage comes in beyond Long lake. From Long lake to Turtle lake the basin expands and include Moose Bullfrog and many other small lakes. From Turtle lake to the river mouth, there are a number 'raining the adjoining swamps and muskegs. All of these are small ar ggisl r.eir entrance to the - General De- "" "^ mout ^ °* ^ "ver ^ e C&J banks form good agricultural land, partially cleared and occupied Bfa^BaarfBed I :" en here, h: : :- r:ck outcrops are found at several places, and. in most cases ranging i _ feet to 60 or ng broken by vcz. ich lead back to musk; g In the upper mges : :11s skirt the river on either side. For -he f.rs: 2; - - ; . - '. " : :ee: contra ting -ipids and falls: three or four miles Turtle lake the channel and from that pcir: : ■ere are many port: 1th of frc ~ I to 900 fee:. Below each rapid a large, circular pool, from 5 rliamclCT re. The bed is nd rapids, where boulders and rock form the bed. Almost entire drainage an inferior timber. which a plentiful plar and - -ether with jack pine, birch, oak and balsam. In the i.iskrat Like :■:. ' bordering the lakes — .d far ba; has be e been responsi: - - :.::::-: made. " - ■. • ■ I 84 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Surveys of the River Small steamers can navigate to the foot of Wood fall, but beyond this point, canoes are the only means of transportation. A winter road has been cut through from Manigotagan settlement to Muskrat lake. This road crosses and re-crosses the river, and, consequently, is of use only during the winter months. The only permanent settlement is at Manigotagan village, at the mouth of the river. At this point the Phoenix Brick, Tile and Lum- ber Co. has been making brick with a modern plant, and has also operated a saw mill. In 1913, the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey made a reconnaissance of the river from Wood fall to Long lake. Rainfall. — There are no rainfall records available for this drainage area, but it is estimated that a mean annual rainfall of some 21 inches might be expected. 0i _, . The run-off data on hand for 1913, taken as the Storage Possi- bilities and lowest of the three during which records were taken, Water-powers s hows that a uniform flow of 150 second- feet could have been maintained had there been a storage reservoir capable of holding 1,450 million cubic feet of water. This amount could be obtained by using Muskrat lake as a storage basin. This lake has an area of 8.3 square miles, and it would be possible to store some 7.8 feet. This would give a storage capacity of 1,800 million cubic feet, thus providing ample storage. The water-power sites on the river are shown on the profile facing page 86. The following tabulation shows possible power concen- trations, under conditions of minimum flow and under regulated flow, based on the records of 1913, and gives the power at 80 per cent efficiency : — No. Name Wood fall Poplar fall 1st rapid above Poplar fall 4th rapid above Poplar fall 3rd rapid above Cascade portage 6th rapid above Charles fall Turtle cascade 2nd rapid above Caribou fall Total horse-power Head Estimated h.p., 80 per cent efficiency Min. flow 90 22 33 82 33 49 92 76 57 74 608 Reg. flow 449 109 163 408 163 245 462 381 286 368 3,034 Manigotagan River Wood Fall Manigotagan River— Rapid hi EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 85 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF MANIGOTAGAN RIVER, ABOVE WOOD FALLt (Drainage area, 375 square miles) Month 1913 January . . February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December 1914 February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December . 1915 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . September October . . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 130* .34 130* .34 130* .34 200* .54 473 320 428 1.14 464 262 336 .89 352 143 207 .55 131 42 98 .26 80* .21 60* .16 40* .11 30* .08 40* .107 40* .107 80* .213 265 109 183 .488 529 201 345 .920 617 201 109 424 139 1.131 201 .371 109 88 96 .256 375 115 239 .637 120* .320 90* .240 50* .133 50* .133 51 50* .133 1,110 470* 1.253 1,066 692 811 2.163 626 340 510 1.360 340 153 257 .685 153 123 136 .363 145 111 124 .331 296 153 217 .579 360* .960 180* .480 t Based upon gaugings by Manitoba Hydrometric Survey. *Estimated. 86 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Bloodvein River The Bloodvein river discharges into a bay on the east shore of lake Winnipeg and near the narrows. In the upper reaches, the river flows westerly, but, in the vicinity of lake Winnipeg, bends slightly to the north. „ . ^ While little is known of the headwaters of the river, General De- scription of it is estimated that the drainage basin comprises an River and Basin area f ^qqq square miles. The greater portion of the basin is rocky and of granitic formation, with the occasional occurrence of a light covering of clay. Several small tributary streams enter the Bloodvein from the north, and, in the upper water- shed, the main river is divided into two branches. The northerly branch rises in Sasaginnigak lake, while the southerly branch is stated to extend to the height of land separating this drainage basin from that of the English river. In the vicinity of the mouth of the river, which has an average width of 150 feet, the banks are composed of clay, and are about five feet in height. Some nine miles upstream the first rapid on the river occurs. A short distance above the rapid, the Little Bloodvein falls in. Thence, to the mouth of Turtle river, a distance of from 35 to 40 miles, there are many rapids and falls, some of which are reported to have considerable fall. The banks are rocky and low, replaced occasionally by marsh and muskeg, but some portions, composed of clay or clay and gravel overlying the rock outcrop, rise from 10 to 20 feet in height. It is reported that the country along the river is very rocky, with a very shallow covering of soil, and that the district presents the same general characteristics up to the junction of the North and South branches near Kowtunigan lake. The South branch rises in a region of which little is known, while the North branch again separates into two branches, both rising in the same lake. This lake, known as the Sasaginnigak lake, and stated to have an extreme length of about four miles and a width of about two, is dotted with numerous islands. Of the territory tributary to the lake little is known. Navigation of this river is impossible except by canoe, and, even by this means, many portages are necessary. The mouth is easily reached during the summer months, as it is within a short distance of the route followed by steamers on lake Winnipeg. EF Sucl-i i!iSi!IIL 151 ;?t5i2 S !+l y sp I S« +1 y •j •? >U • S< -H 'd spjdi : WCJI «pic»i| iei»a T3A3T V3«3A0BV X33J Ml SN0U.V/V313 EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 87 The adjoining country is rocky and many rapids occur throughout the extent of the river. The total descent between Sasaginnigak lake and the mouth, a distance of 69 miles, is reported as 150 feet. A discharge of 320 second-feet was recorded during the winter of 1915. Pigeon River Pigeon river flows into lake Winnipeg in a deep channel, a hun- dred yards wide. The entrance is between sandy points, above which the channel opens into a shallow, weedy lake. It gradually narrows and becomes well defined at a little rapid, about 40 yards wide. Above this, it again expands to a width of from 60 to 100 yards, with even, clay banks from six to ten feet high, wooded with poplar. Low bosses of gray gneiss, with small groves of oak, outcrop here and there. The Indians rarely travel on the river as many portages are necessary. Pigeon river has numerous concentrated falls or rapids ; the descent in each, however, is not great. The greatest descent on the river is 29 feet at Shining fall. There are four rapids or falls with descents between 10 and 15 feet, fourteen with descents between 5 to 10 feet, and numerous others with descents of less than 5 feet. Many of the falls and rapids on this river can be combined to obtain workable heads. The discharge, metered by Mr. Leo G. Denis, at a point three-quarters of a mile below "First" rapid, was 2,629 second- feet on September 19, 1913. A record obtained by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey on March 5, 1915, gave a flow of 1,164 second- feet. The following are the principal rapids and falls in the order in which they are met in descending the river from Family lake: Shining Fall is a gradual pitch, one-quarter mile long, flowing over hard bed rock, with a total descent of 29-0 feet. The river is divided into two channels ; each of these is 100 feet wide with banks from five to ten feet high, following the general slope of the fall from head to foot. Rapid, one-eighth mile below Shining fall, has a descent of two feet in 200 yards and could possibly be combined with the latter. The river is in two channels, each of which is 100 feet wide, with banks 20 feet high on the north side, and five feet or more on the south. Balsam Rapid, nine miles below the last mentioned rapid, has a descent of 5 -0 feet in a short chute falling over bed rock, above which is a swift 100 yards long. The river is 150 feet wide; the banks are 88 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION of hard rock, from ten to twenty feet high on the south side, but only five feet in height on the north. Above the rapid, the banks on both sides are only five feet high. Rapid, one-quarter mile below Balsam rapid, can be combined with the latter. It has a descent of 5 2 feet in 70 yards. The river flows in three channels, 75, 30 and 20 feet wide, respectively, with banks varying from five feet in height at the head to 10 to 30 feet at the foot. Rapid, one-quarter mile farther downstream, could be combined with the former two at slightly increased cost, as the banks are low. The descent is three feet in one hundred yards. The river is 50 feet wide, with rocky banks, 20 feet high. Below the rapid the banks are very low. Little Goose Lake Rapid, one and a half miles below Little Goose lake, has a descent of four feet in one-quarter mile. At the head of this rapid the river is 150 feet wide, with rocky banks 15 feet in height ; at the foot it is from 300 to 400 feet wide, with banks five feet high. Rapid, one-half mile below Little Goose Lake rapid, has a descent of two feet in ten yards. Grass Rapid, one and a half miles below the last mentioned rapid, has a descent of six feet in one-eighth of a mile. It consists of low chutes and rapids while the river is divided into several narrow chan- nels with banks from 10 to 20 feet high. Below this rapid, the banks are only from four to five feet in height. Rapid, two and a half miles below Grass rapid, has a descent of 5 -9 feet in 40 yards. It occurs at a bend where the river is 50 feet wide, with rocky banks ten feet high at the head, and broadens to 100 feet, with banks 15 feet in height at the foot. Below the rapid the banks become very low. Rapid, three miles farther downstream, has a descent of one-half foot in a distance of ten yards. Peacock Rapid, three miles below the last mentioned rapid, has a descent of 7 -6 feet in 100 yards. The river is 75 feet wide, and has rocky banks 20 feet high on the north and from 5 to 10 feet in height on the south side. Lower Peacock Rapid, one-quarter mile below Peacock rapid, has a descent of 13-8 feet. The river at the head of this rapid is 150 feet wide, with rocky banks 20 feet high on the north side and gradually rising from 5 feet on the south ; at the foot, it is from 400 to 500 feet wide, with banks 20 feet in height on both sides. This rapid and the Peacock could be combined in one development, giving a head of over 21 feet. Rapid, three hundred yards below Lower Peacock rapid, has a descent of 3 -3 feet in 30 yards. The river is 125 feet wide, with rocky EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 89 banks from 10 to 15 feet high. Below this are small rapids and swifts with slight descents. Sturgeon Skin Chute, has a descent of 6 9 feet in a distance of 70 yards, while the distance over the portage is only 30 yards. The river is 100 feet wide, with rocky banks 5 feet high at the head of the rapid and from 15 to 20 feet in height at the foot. Immediately below this rapid, the banks are of soil and are very low. High Rapids, a series of rapids and swifts which begin three miles below Sturgeon Skin chute, extend for about three-quarters of a mile, with a total descent of six and one-half feet. High Chute, one-eighth mile below the foot of High rapids, is a fall over a ledge, followed by a short stretch of rapids, with a total descent of 8 6 feet. The river is 300 feet wide, with two rocky islands near the middle. The banks are of rock from five to ten feet high. High chute and High rapids can be combined, giving a total head of over 15 feet. Rapid, one-half mile below High chute, has a descent of two feet in 150 yards. Rapid, five-eighths of a mile farther downstream, has a descent of three and one-half feet in 70 yards. Long Current, one and a quarter miles below the last mentioned rapid, consists of rapids and a very swift current, occurring in a stretch of about 600 yards. The river, which is 70 feet wide, narrowing to 50 feet in places, has perpendicular rocky banks, 25 feet in height at the head and from 40 to 50 feet at the foot, giving a cafion-like appearance. This would afford a very good location for a dam, and a head of from 20 to 25 feet could be created. Below Long current is a stretch, one and a half miles long, where small rapids occur, with descents of from one-half to three-quarters of a foot. Corner Chute, two and a half miles below Long current, has a descent of 4 -3 feet in ten yards. Below this chute is a series of small rapids and swifts extending for a distance of over one mile, with descents of from one-half foot to two feet. Hawk Chute, two and a half miles below Corner chute, has a descent of five feet in a distance of 30 yards. The river is 70 feet wide, with rocky banks five feet high. Lozver Hawk Chute, two hundred yards below Hawk chute, has a descent of 1 1 8 feet in 70 yards. The river is 300 feet wide, with rocky banks, 20 feet high on the north, and from 5 to 10 feet high on the south side. The Hawk and Lower Hawk chutes could be combined to give a total head of about 17 feet. Rapid, one-half mile below Lower Hawk chute, has a descent of two and one-half feet in 100 yards. The river is 70 feet wide ; the 90 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION rocky banks, almost perpendicular, are 50 feet in height on the south and 25 feet on the north side. Rapid, three-quarters of a mile farther downstream, has a descent of 5-1 feet in 125 yards. The river is 70 feet wide, and has rocky banks, 20 feet high on the south side and 15 feet on the north. Adjoining Rapids are one and a quarter miles below the preceding rapid. They consist of a series of rapids occurring in close succes- sion and covering a distance of about one-half mile. The distance across the portage road, from head to foot, is only 250 yards. The total descent is 7 4 feet. At the head, the river flows in two chan- nels; each is 100 feet wide, with rocky banks, 10 feet high on the south side and 20 feet on the north. Just above the head of these rapids, the banks are very low, about five feet in height, and com- posed of clay. Round Lake Rapid, one mile below Adjoining rapids, has a descent of 4*5 feet in a distance of 75 yards. Below Round lake are small rapids and swifts covering a distance of one and one-half miles. White Rock Chute, three miles below Round Lake rapids, has a descent of 8 -3 feet. An island divides the river here. The rapid consists of two chutes with 100 yards of rough waters intervening. The south channel is 125 feet wide, with rocky banks, 15 feet high on the north side, and from 5 to 10 feet in height on the south. Below this there are swift waters, and a small rapid, extending over a dis- tance of two miles. Narrow Rock Rapid, four miles below White Rock chute, has a descent of 1 -8 feet in 20 yards, and is followed by three-quarters of a mile of very swift water. The river flows in two channels, 70 and 40 feet wide respectively, with rocky banks, 20 feet high. The island is only five feet in height. Caribou Rapid, one and a half miles below Narrow Rock rapid, has a descent of 4 4 feet in 125 yards. The river is 40 feet wide, with banks from 20 to 30 feet high; but, just above this rapid, the banks are of clay and only 5 feet in height on the north side. Lozver Caribou Rapid, one-quarter of a mile below Caribou rapid, has a descent of two and one-half feet in 100 yards. The river is 70 feet wide and has rocky banks ten feet high. Narrow Rock, Caribou and Lower Caribou rapids can be combined to give a total head of about 10 feet. Rapid, three and a half miles below Lower Caribou rapid, has a descent of 1 -8 feet in 75 yards. Slide Rapid, three-quarters of a mile farther downstream, has a descent of 5 "5 feet in 20 yards. The river flows in two channels at high EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 91 water; these are 100 feet and 50 feet wide, respectively. The banks are of clay and rock, five feet high. Poplar Rapid, one mile below Slide rapid, has a descent of 11*3 feet in 120 yards. The river is 150 feet wide; the banks are of rock and clay, 15 feet high on the south and eight feet high on the north side. Lynx Rapid, three miles below Poplar rapid, has a descent of 4 - 8 feet in 150 yards. At high water the river flows in two channels; 120 feet and 40 feet wide, respectively, at the head, and with rocky banks 30 feet high. The river broadens at the foot of the rapid. Sturgeon Fall, twelve miles below Lynx rapid, has a descent of 15 :4 feet in 150 yards. The river is divided into two channels by a large island; the north channel, along which the levels were taken, is 70 feet wide, with rocky banks 5 feet high at the head, and 15 feet in height near the foot of the fall. Below this fall, for a distance of more than six miles, the river has low, marshy banks. Rapid, two hundred yards below Sturgeon fall, has a descent of 2-2 feet in 15 yards and can be combined with Sturgeon fall to give a total head of nearly 18 feet. The Two Chutes, five miles farther downstream, have a descent of 6 6 feet in 50 yards. The river is 400 feet wide, with banks of clay and rock, five feet high. At one point on the north side, the bank rises to 15 feet. First Rapid, four miles below The Two chutes, has a descent of 3'1 feet within 100 yards. Berens River The mouth of Berens river is nearly halfway up lake Winnipeg, on its eastern side. The country adjoining the river as far as the first rapid, 11 miles upstream, consists of many low, hummocky, gneiss hills, which, seldom rising 20 feet above the water, are partly covered with a heavy, clay soil ; along the river banks the soil is deeper. As far as the first portage, the river flows between rocky banks from 10 to 20 feet high, alternating with low, swampy ground. The current is sluggish, while the water is deep and of a dark brown colour, although comparatively free from floating matter. The Berens river has numerous concentrated falls or rapids, but the descent in each is not very great. The greatest is at Nightowl rapid, which has a descent of 39 feet. Little Grand rapid has a descent of 21 -2 feet. There are six rapids with descents of between 10 and 15 feet, ten with descents of between 5 and 10 feet and numerous others with descents of less than 5 feet. Many of these could be combined to obtain a head of water which it would be pro- 92 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION fitable to develop. Between the chutes there is little or no current. The discharge of the Berens, metered by Mr. Leo G. Denis at a point two miles above "First" rapid, was 1,744 second-feet on September 10, 1913. The discharge of the Etomami, a small river paralleling the Berens and emptying into it, was 234 second-feet at a point just above its mouth, on September 9, 1913. A record obtained by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey on March 2, 1915, gave a discharge of 634 second-feet for Berens river. Family lake, which is an expansion of the Berens river, also forms the headwaters of the Pigeon river described above ; the two streams, after following irregularly parallel courses, enter lake Winnipeg only six miles apart. The following are the principal falls and rapids on the Berens river, mentioned in the order in which they are met in ascending the river from its mouth : First Rapid, eleven miles above the mouth, has a descent of 11 4 feet in 100 yards. The river flows in two narrow channels, from 25 to 40 feet wide, with rocky banks. Chute, four hundred yards above First rapid, has a descent of 3 7 feet in 20 yards. This can be combined with First rapid, giving a total head of over 15 feet. Grass Rapid, four and one-half miles above the preceding chute, has a descent of 4*1 feet in 50 yards. The river is 200 feet wide, and contains numerous small, rocky islands. The banks at the head of the rapid are from 10 to 15 feet in height. Wolverine Rapid, one-half mile above Grass rapid, has a descent of two feet. Flatrock Rapid, one-half mile above Wolverine rapid, has a descent of 3 -5 feet. It occurs at a bend in the river and the distance across the portage road is 80 yards. Rapid, one-half mile above Flatrock rapid, has a descent of two feet. Island Rapid, two hundred yards farther upstream, has a descent of 10 feet within 60 yards. The descents between Wolverine and Island rapids, inclusive, can be combined, as the banks along these rapids remain quite high. The total head, thus rendered available, would be over 17 feet. Kettle Rapid, three-quarters of a mile above Island rapid, has a descent of two feet in 50 yards. Netmending Rapid, three miles above Kettle rapid, has a descent of 2 -9 feet in 30 yards. Roundtent Chute, one and a half miles above Netmending rapid, has a descent of 5 1 feet and consists of a perpendicular chute falling EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 93 over a ledge of rock. The river is 50 yards wide and has rocky banks from 10 to 15 feet high. Upper Roundtent Rapid, one-half mile above Roundtent chute, has a descent of 8*9 feet in 100 yards. The river, which is here 50 feet wide, has rocky banks from seven to 15 feet in height. The banks between the two Roundtent rapids are low in only a few places and the descents in these two rapids could possibly be combined, giving a total head of 14 feet. Moose Portage Chute, six miles above Upper Roundtent rapid, con- sists of a series of chutes over rock in a narrow channel of the river. At the foot, the river is only 50 feet wide and flows between per- pendicular, rocky banks from 15 to 25 feet high, thus affording a very good site for a dam. The descent is 12 5 feet within a distance of 300 yards, as measured along the portage road. Rapid, three miles above Moose Portage chute, has a descent of two feet in 50 yards. Lower Oldhouse Rapid, one and three-quarter miles farther up- stream, has a descent of 6*3 feet within 100 yards. Flag Rapid, one-half mile above Lower Oldhouse rapid, has a descent of 6*3 feet in a distance of 25 yards. The river is 30 feet wide and the rocky banks are from five to ten feet high. Upper Oldhouse Rapid, three-eighths of a mile above Flag rapid, has a descent of 6 4 feet; it consists of a chute with a rapid below, which is 50 yards in length. The river is 150 feet wide, with a large, rocky island in the centre, and the rocky banks are from 10 to 20 feet high. The last three rapids can be combined to give a total head of nearly 20 feet. Stick Chute, two miles above Upper Oldhouse rapid, consists of a perpendicular chute falling over a ledge of rock, with a descent of 4 7 feet. The river is 250 feet wide, with rocky banks from 10 to 20 feet high. Water Rapid, three-quarters of a mile above Stick chute, has a descent of two feet in a chute over a ledge. Road Portage Rapid, three-quarters of a mile above Water rapid, has a descent of 2T feet and comprises a series of low chutes over ledges, extending over a distance of 200 yards along the river. Sharpstone Chute, one-half mile above Road Portage rapid, has a descent of 5 9 feet in a distance of 25 yards. The river, which is 125 feet wide, is narrowed by a projection jutting out from the south shore ; at high water, this becomes an island with a very narrow chan- nel on the south side. The banks of rock are 15 feet or more in height. The different descents, between Stick chute and Sharpstone chute, inclusive, could be combined, as the rocky banks along the river 94 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION between these two points maintain a height of from 15 to 20 feet. The total head thus obtained would be over 16 feet. Island Rapid, three-quarters of a mile above Sharpstone chute, has a descent of 2 2 feet in a distance of ten yards. The river has two narrow channels with high, rocky banks. Whitebeaver Rapid, one-half mile above Island rapid, has a descent of 10*5 feet within 150 yards. The river flows in several narrow channels separated by large, rocky islands. The broadest channel is only 30 feet wide at the head and 50 feet at the foot of the rapid. The rocky banks are ten feet or more in height. Smoothrock Rapid, four miles above Whitebeaver rapid, has a descent of 4 7 feet in a distance of 30 yards. Rapid, one-quarter mile above Smoothrock rapid, has a descent of 2-8 feet within ten yards. It could be combined with Smoothrock rapid, thus giving a total head of 7 - 5 feet. Sandisland Chute, one and one-quarter miles farther upstream, has a descent of 9 feet in a distance of 70 yards. Rapid, one-quarter mile above Sandisland chute, has a descent of 2 feet in a distance of 15 yards. Liver Rapid, one-quarter mile above the last mentioned rapid, has a descent of 4 - 7 feet in a distance of 30 yards. The descent from Sandisland chute to Liver rapid, inclusive, could be combined to give a total head of more than 15 feet. Shortcut Chute, one-half mile above Liver rapid, has a descent of 4 feet within 60 yards. The river has two channels, 70 feet and 125 feet wide, respectively, with low banks consisting of soil over rock. Shoreroad rapid, three-quarters of a mile above Shortcut chute, has a descent of 3 7 feet in 300 yards. The river, at this point, is narrow and has rocky banks 20 feet in height. Child Portage Rapid, two and a half miles above Shoreroad rapid, has a descent of 7 9 feet. The river here is divided into several chan- nels and has rocky banks 20 feet high. The distance, as measured along the portage road, is only 150 yards, but is much longer follow- ing any of the river channels. Rapid, one and a half miles above Child Portage rapid, has a descent of 1 '7 feet in a distance of 50 yards. Crooked Rapid, one-eighth of a mile farther upstream, has a descent of 11 2 feet in 100 yards. The river flows in several narrow channels, and the rocky banks are 15 feet or more in height. Wolf Chute, one-half mile above Crooked rapid, has a descent of 3 1 feet in ten yards. The river is 50 yards wide, with rocky banks which are from 10 to 15 feet high. Etomami Chute, one mile above Wolf chute, has a descent of 1 -8 EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 95 feet in 25 yards. The river is 70 feet wide, having rocky banks, five feet or more in height. The descents between Child Portage rapid and Etomami chute, inclusive, could be combined, giving a total head of more than 26 feet. Long Lake Chute, two miles above Etomami chute, has a descent of 3 feet. The river is divided into several channels by large, rocky islands, with a short chute in each channel. The banks are 10 feet or more in height. Rapid, near the head of Long lake, five miles above the last-men- tioned chute, has a descent of 2 "3 feet in a distance of ten yards. Painted Moose Chute, one-half mile farther upstream, has a descent of 10*8 feet within 100 yards. The river flows in two chan- nels; each of these is 20 feet wide, with rocky banks 25 feet high. The rapid near the head of Long lake could be combined with this, giving a total head of more than 13 feet. One mile above Painted Moose chute, the river divides into two channels, one of which is much smaller than the other. The smaller channel could be used as a headrace, as there are two sharp descents, cne-half mile apart, before it joins the main stream. The total head at this point would be 8 4 feet. Manitou Rapid, five miles above the foot of the small channel above described, has a descent of 2 feet in 20 yards. Crane Rapid, eight miles above Manitou rapid, has a descent of 7 6 feet in 100 yards. The river is divided into two channels, 50 feet and 20 feet wide, respectively. The banks are from 5 to 10 feet high at the head, and 20 feet in height at the foot of the rapid. Whiteman Rapid, one and a half miles above Crane rapid, has a descent of 2 -4 feet in ten yards. The river flows in two or three chan- nels, according to the stage of the water, with banks 5 to 10 feet high. Nightowl Rapid, three miles above Whiteman rapid, has a descent of 39 feet ; the distance over the portage road is 420 yards. The river is divided into several channels by rocky islands ; the total width at the foot is, approximately, 1,000 feet, of which only about half is water. The banks are from 10 to 15 feet high, following the general slope of the rapid. Rapid, one-quarter of a mile above Nightowl rapid, has a descent of 1 *4 feet in a distance of 50 yards. This rapid could be combined with Nightowl rapid, giving a total head of more than 40 feet. Little Grand Rapid, three-quarters of a mile above Family lake, has a descent of 21 -2 feet in 400 yards. The river is divided into three channels, approximately 300, 200 and 50 feet in width, respec- tively. The rocky banks are ten feet high and follow the general slope of the rapid. Below the main rapid is a stretch of rough water which would add one or two feet to the head. 96 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS OF BERENS RIVER Below First Fall. Above Little Grand Rapid. Date Discharge Sec.-ft. Date Discharge Sec-ft. 1914 530 1,126 2,190 1,160 1914 July 1 July 9 7,001 7,262 July 27 August 28 3,168 September 8 Poplar River The Poplar river flows into an inlet on the east shore of lake Win- nipeg", about midway between the north and south extremities of the upper main body of the lake. The general direction of the river from its source to lake Winnipeg is north-westerly. It drains 1,950 square miles, approximately. The lower portion of the basin is confined between the Big Black river and the Leaf river systems, but above this the drainage widens out. Large areas of this upper watershed are stated to be low and swampy, with rocky ridges at various points. Practically all drainage from the headwaters passes through Thunder lake, situated some 25 miles above the mouth of the river. The Poplar is only navigable by canoe, and, as no railway traverses this territory, the only means of access is by lake Winnipeg steamers. An Indian reserve, situated at the mouth of the river, is the only settlement in the immediate vicinity. The power possibilities of this river have not Numerous been fully investigated, but it is stated that several rapids occur, the more important being in the reach of the river below Thunder lake.* An estimate of the mean annual dis- charge of the river, based on a run-off of 0.3 second-feet per square mile, would give a discharge of 585 second-feet. *Note by L. G. D.— The following rapids are reported between the con- fluence of the North branch and the mouth: Rapid, four miles above Thunder lake, has a descent of 20 feet in 100 yards. Rapid, two miles farther down stream, has a descent of 16 feet in 630 yards. Rapid, four and a half miles below Thunder lake, has a descent of nine feet in 25 yards. Rapid, one mile below the preceding rapid, has a descent of four feet in ten yards. Rapid, two and a quarter miles farther down, has a descent of nine feet in 100 yards. Rapid, one-half mile below, has a descent of four feet in 120 yards. Whitemud rapid, eight and a half miles farther down stream, or 16^4 miles below Thunder lake, has a descent of nine feet in 200 yards. Balsam rapid, six and a half miles below Whitemud rapid, has a descent of 12 feet in 150 yards. "First" rapid, five miles below Balsam rapid, has a descent of 10 feet in 200 yards. Pigeon Rivkk — Peacock Rai Berens River Sandisland Cm ti EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 97 Big Black River The Big Black river discharges into an inlet on the east shore of lake Winnipeg, about 40 miles from the northerly extremity of the lake. Situated, as Big Black river is, in a portion of Manitoba which is unsurveyed and difficult of access, little is known as to the extent of the descent occurring on this river, but it is known that there are rapids at several points.* The general direction of the river from its source is about west- northwest. The drainage area is estimated to comprise 1,350 square miles, but little is known concerning the upper portion of the basin. About 40 miles above the mouth, the Pelican river is tributary to the Big Black, and between this point and lake Winnipeg the over- *Note by L. G. D.— It is reported that the course of this river is broken by some thirty-three rapids; the more important are the following: Rapid, five miles above the mouth, has a descent of 13 feet in 75 yards. Cathead rapid, 13 miles above the mouth, has a descent of 7 feet in 130 yards. High rapid, 17 miles from the mouth, has a descent of 25 feet in 100 yards. Island rapid, two and one-half miles above High rapid, has a descent of 15 feet in 150 yards. Mink rapid, 22,y 2 miles above the mouth of the river, has a descent of 5 feet in 300 yards. Rapid, two and a quarter miles above Mink rapid, has a descent of 7 feet in 220 yards. Long rapid, two and one-half miles farther up, has a descent of 57 feet in one and one-half miles. Rapid, three and one-half miles above Long rapid, has a descent of 8 feet in ten yards. Pelican rapid, five miles above Long rapid, or 36^4 miles from the mouth, has a descent of 6 feet in 50 yards. Rapid, one and one-half miles above Pelican rapid, has a descent of 4 feet in 20 yards. Rapid, two and three-quarter miles above Pelican rapid, has a descent of 9 feet in 100 yards. . Skunkfeet rapid, eight miles farther up, has a descent of 12 feet in 200 yards. Rapid, one mile above Skunkfeet rapid, has a descent of 5 feet in 40 yards. Rapid, one and one-half miles farther up, has a descent of 7 feet in 90 Rapid, six miles above Skunkfeet rapid, has a descent of 5 feet in 75 vards. Rapid, one and one-half miles above the latter, has a descent of 5 feet in 50 yards. . Adjoining rapid, one mile farther up the river, and 56 miles from the mouth, has a descent of 20 feet in one mile. Rapid, three miles above Adjoining rapid, has a descent of 10 feet in 100 yards. Rapid, thirteen miles farther upstream, has a descent of 6 feet in 40 vards. Rapid, one mile above the latter, has a descent of 5 feet in 10 yards. Rapid, two miles farther up and 19 miles above Adjoining rapid, has a descent of 13 feet in 45 yards. 7 98 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION lying- soil is clay, with rock outcrops. In the upper reaches, the land is reported to be low and swampy, and the banks marshy, with fringes of reeds and rushes extending into the river. In the lower reaches, comprising the clay belt, a mixed growth of pine, spruce, balsam and poplar is reported, but the growth in the upper watershed is principally of willows. The river is navigable only by canoe, and the means of access is by boat from Selkirk during the period of navigation. There are no settlements in the vicinity of the river, but it is stated that trappers frequent the region in winter. Assuming a drainage of 1,350 square miles, and mean annual run-off of 0.3 second-feet per square mile, the mean annual discharge at the mouth is estimated at 400 cubic feet per second. Belanger River The Belanger river discharges into lake Winnipeg, on its eastern shore, about 20 miles from the north end of the lake. It rises in the vicinity of Gunisao lake and flows in a westerly direction to lake Winnipeg. Its basin is narrow, varying from 10 to 15 miles in width, and lies between the Gunisao river to the north and the Big Black river to the south. The country for the greater part is level, with the exception of a few rocky hills. „ , For the first nine miles above the mouth the banks General Description are stated to be from 6 to 15 feet in height, and of River are com p 0se d G f clay, with very few rock outcrops. Outcrops do occur, however, at all rapids throughout the extent of the river. The banks above the first rapids gradually increase in height to some 18 feet, being still composed of clay. In the upper reach of the river, rock outcrops and overlying soil of clay are encountered, both at rapids and along the quieter stretch of the river. The first nine miles of river varies in width from 200 to 300 feet; above this the stream narrows, and, in the upper waters, the bed is strewn with boulders. It is reported that much of the tributary territory has been burnt over, with the destruction of considerable timber, but there is still a growth of poplar and black spruce near the river. Owing to several rapids on the river, navigation is only possible by either rowboat or canoe. During the navigation season, the mouth of the river is accessible by steamer from Selkirk. Though the upper portions of the watershed have not been explored, it is estimated that the Belanger river has a drainage area EASTERN TRIBUTARIES OF LAKE WINNIPEG 99 of 730 square miles. Assuming that the mean annual run-off is 0.3 cubic feet per second per square mile, the mean annual discharge would be 225 cubic feet per second at the outlet. In the absence of discharge measurements, no estimate is made respecting the maximum or minimum flow, and even the mean stated above is subject to revi- sion when such data are obtained. . Investigations of the power possibilities of this bilities not as river have not been made, but it is known that con- jet known siderable descent occurs, and that it is concentrated at several points, indicating power possibilities. At the first rapids above the mouth, a fall of about eight feet is reported, while above this there are many rapids which are impossible to navigate and necessitate portages.* Additional Rivers in Lake Winnipeg Basin In the lake Winnipeg basin there are also the following rivers : — ETOMAMI RIVER practically parallels Berens river, flowing into the latter a few miles above lake Winnipeg. The total estimated fall in the river is 180 feet; two of the rapids have descents of 8 feet and 15 feet respectively. For the discharge of this river see under Berens river p. 91. GUNISAO RIVER has two important rapids below its forks; the North branch has 10 portages, while there are 22 on the South branch. FISHER RIVER flows into lake Winnipeg from the west; the total fall from the forks to the mouth is 20 feet. The river is broken by three rapids in this stretch. * Note by L.G.D. — There are reported to be 21 portages on this river. CHAPTER V Nelson River and Tributaries and Hayes River* The Nelson river flows through the central portion of northern Manitoba. Rising in the northerly end of lake Winnipeg, it flows in a general north-easterly direction, discharging into the southwest corner of Hudson bay. The Nelson river, as the outlet of lake Winnipeg, discharges the waters collected from an immense drainage area. It is one of the main drainage systems of the northern continent, having a tributary area of approximately 450,000 square miles. This vast area extends from the height-of-land, a short distance west of lake Superior, to the Rocky mountains. To the north, the basin is bounded by the Athabaska and Churchill watersheds, while the southern drainage extends down into the Northern States. Rivers tributary to lake Winnipeg, and having immense areas of tributary drainage them- selves, comprise such systems as those of the Winnipeg, Red, Dauphin and Saskatchewan rivers. Numerous smaller rivers, including the Berens, Pigeon, Manigotagan and Brokenhead, also contribute to the flow from lake Winnipeg. ^ . , Practically a complete range of physical character- Exceptional y ,. . . , f i i i ^ • Physical istics or conditions is found throughout the basin, Characteristics comprising, as it does, the drainage from the eastern slopes of the Rocky mountains, extending thence to the prairie section of Western Canada, and again farther eastward to the rocky and hummocky country of the Laurentian plateau. Similarly, there is a wide diversity of vegetation and forest growth within the basin. The drainage directly tributary to the Nelson is small in extent as compared to that tributary to lake Winnipeg, but it includes the following rivers: Burntwood, Limestone, Kettle and several smaller streams. From the tremendous expanse of lake Winnipeg and its tri- butary systems of great lakes, comprising lakes Manitoba and Winni- * In this chapter, a portion of the description of the Nelson river was con- tributed by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior. [100] CHAPTER V Nelson River and Tributaries and Hayes River The Nelson river flows through the central portion of northern Manitoba. Rising in the northerly end of lake Winnipeg, it flows in a general north-easterly direction, discharging into the southwest corner of Hudson bay. The Nelson river, as the outlet of lake Winnipeg, discharges the waters collected from an immense drainage area. It is one of the main drainage systems of the northern continent, having a tributary area of approximately 450,000 square miles. This vast area extends from the height-of-land, a short distance west of lake Superior, to the Rocky mountains. To the north, the basin is bounded by the Athabaska and Churchill watersheds, while the southern drainage extends down into the Northern States. Rivers tributary to lake Winnipeg, and having immense areas of tributary drainage them- selves, comprise such systems as those of the Winnipeg, Red, Dauphin and Saskatchewan rivers. Numerous smaller rivers, including the Berens, Pigeon, Manigotagan and Brokenhead, also contribute to the flow from lake Winnipeg. Practically a complete range of physical character- Physical istics or conditions is found throughout the basin, Characteristics comprising, as it does, the drainage from the eastern slopes of the Rocky mountains, extending thence to the prairie section of Western Canada, and again farther eastward to the rocky and hummocky country of the Laurentian plateau. Similarly, there is a wide diversity of vegetation and forest growth within the basin. The drainage directly tributary to the Nelson is small in extent as compared to that tributary to lake Winnipeg, but it includes the following rivers: Burntwood, Limestone, Kettle and several smaller streams. From the tremendous expanse of lake Winnipeg and its tri- butary systems of great lakes, comprising lakes Manitoba and Winni- * In this chapter, a portion of the description of the Nelson river was con- tributed by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior. [WO] COMMI SSION OF C0N5ERVAT Kt Snipes I » ■3= is i | i • PROFILE OF NELSON RIVER Salt, Horizontal, 25 miles - I inch Vertical , ISO fed - 1 Inch 3.2 | L_ « J g. iytesk Uke | | 6 Split Lake 1 » IV i * i ¥ I i ~x$ 1 V i i 1 1 S S "^ 5 \—\5 V \ x — ooMile 3 10 3 30 z 200 150 100 i "^\! NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 101 pegosis, a natural regulation of the flow of the Nelson river results, and the range between flood and minimum discharge is not high. In this respect, it is similar to the St. Lawrence, which is regulated by the Great lakes. The length of the river from lake Winnipeg to Hud- Description son bay, as determined by a survey made by Dr. Otto of River j Klotz, is 430 miles. In this distance a descent of 713 feet occurs. The upper reaches of the river are more properly described as a chain of lakes connected by falls or by reaches of river and rapids. In this upper portion of the river, extending approximately to Split lake, some 250 miles from lake Winnipeg, the banks are in general higher than in the lower portion. Although the river, as stated, expands in this upper section into many lakes of slow-running water, yet the falls are more sharply defined and are usually of steeper descent than those in the lower reaches, and also are often separated by islands into numerous narrow channels. Not only are the banks lower as lake Winnipeg is approached, but the distance between them increases. The descent in the lower portion is less abrupt, being more often a series of rapids or swift-running water. These latter characteristics gradually become more accentuated as Hudson bay is approached. Expanding into Playgreen lake, a short distance Broken by below lake Winnipeg, the river flows from the former many Rapi s lake t h r0U gh two ma j n branches, separated by Ross island, and known as the East and West rivers. The East river, on which occurs Sea River fall, is narrowed at many points by islands, although, later, it expands into Pipestone lake. The West river is wider, and is navigable by steamboat to Whisky Jack portage, which is near the junction of the two branches at Cross lake. From this lake to Sipiwesk lake, the river at first flows between islands, and descends through the Ebb-and-flow rapids, followed by the White- mud fall. The Bladder rapid follows, in which the river flows in one narrow channel. Below this rapid, it again divides into two main channels before Sipiwesk lake is reached. On the eastern channel three rapids occur, Over-the-hill, Red Rock and Chain-of-rocks rapids. Below Sipiwesk lake, to the Manitou or Devil rapid, the river is more contracted and retains this feature until it reaches Split lake. In the reaches above Split lake is Grand rapid, followed very closely by the Chain-of-islands rapid. Birthday, or Overfall, rapid follows in the stretch of river to Gull lake. Below this latter lake, the river expands, and is divided by islands, with the formation of Gull, Kettle and 102 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Long-spruce rapids. From Long-spruce rapid to Hudson bay, in which stretch the Limestone rapid occurs, the river is generally wider and freer of islands. Throughout its course, rock outcrops occur at prac- Nature of tically all rapids. The soil overlying the rock is prin- River Banks cipally clay, with some deposits of gravel and boulders. The banks, where rapids are situated, range in height from 10 to 70 feet in the upper portion of the river. A scattered growth of timber, including spruce, birch and poplar, occurs along the river. The clay soil overlying the rock formation is stated to be very fertile, and root crops are grown at Norway House, Cross Lake and Split Lake. Wheat is also said to have been grown at the two former places. High water takes place during midsummer, while the period of low water is usually the late winter months. It is also stated that the extreme range between these two periods is never more than six feet. Steamboats navigate the Nelson from lake Winnipeg to Whisky Jack portage, but, below this point, navigation is only possible in certain portions of the river. It will be crossed at two points by the Hudson Bay railway. In 1878 Dr. Robert Bell made a geological exam- Surveys of ination of the river from lake Winnipeg to the mouth. A similar survey was made in 1902 by Mr. J. B. Tyr- rell, also of the Geological Survey. A reconnaissance survey in the interests of navigation, was made by the Department of Public Works of Canada in the autumn of 1909. Surveys carried on by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior include a reconnais- sance of the power possibilities of the upper portion of the river, by the late William Ogilvie, in 1910, and also discharge measurements of the East and West rivers during the season of 1913. Precipitation. — As no precipitation records are Run-off Records available for the greater portion of the drainage area, it is impossible to estimate the mean for the whole area. The following table gives the mean annual precipitation for certain stations lying within the basin. It will be noted that there is a wide range in the precipitation : — Nelson River— Grand Rapid (at Head) Nelson River— Whitemud Fall (West Channel) NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 103 Station Period of record From To Winnipeg, Man Kenora, Ont Channel island (lake Winnipeg) Norway House, Man Moorhead, Minn Prince Albert, Sask | Edmonton, Alberta Calgary, Alberta Macleod, Alberta Banff, Alberta I 1873 | 1912 1886 \ 1912 1890 1896 1881 1903 1883 1886 1896 1891 1903 1904 1908 1912 1912 1909 1912 1912 Term, in years A0 9 13 8 28 9 2t 23 15 19 Precipita- tion, in inches 21.6 22.4 17.1 18.9 24.9 17.1 16.4 18.6 13.6 20.3 Discharge Measurements. — Several discharge measurements have been made on the Nelson river, though none of them, apparently, de- termine its low-water flow. Discharge measurements made by Mr. William Ogilvie in the latter part of August, 1910, in the vicinity of Whitemud fall, indicate a discharge of 109,364 second-feet. Mr. Miles, of the Department of Public Works, obtained a discharge measure- ment at the outlet of Sipiwesk lake on October 6, 1909, at what was stated to be a very low stage of the river; this recorded a flow of 118,369 second-feet. In September, 1913, measurements of the flow of the East and West rivers were made by Alexander Pirie, of the Mani- toba Hydrometric Survey. On September 16, 1913, the total flow of the East river, below Sea River fall, was 19,762 second-feet. On September 25, 1913, the flow on the West river, in the vicinity of Whisky Jack portage, was 46,549 second-feet. At the time of meter- ing the West river, a storm from the northwest lowered the level of lake Winnipeg at its outlet, which undoubtedly greatly decreased the flow. A regular metering station was established by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey at the Manitou rapid on July 18, 1914, and continuous readings secured till September 24 of the same year; the discharge during this period ranged from 87,000 to 103,000 second-feet. Records were also secured at this station during the winter of 1914-15, a low flow of approximately 45,000 second-feet being recorded. Storage Possibilities As stated previously, any extreme variation in the flow of the Nelson river is hardly possible, due to the immense expanse of lake Winnipeg, which offers un- excelled facilities for storage regulating the flow. The lake com- prises an area of 9,414 square miles, and, in extent, ranks fifth in superficial area of the lakes of North America ; it is over 2,000 square miles larger than lake Ontario and slightly smaller than lake Erie. 104 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The following table gives an estimate of the flow which a storage of only two feet would render available for periods of either three months, six months or a year : Depth of storage Storage in billions of cubic feet Rate of draught in second-feet Period, 3 mos. [ Period, 6 mos. : Period, 1 year 262.30 524.60 33,260 16,630 1 8,315 2 feet 66,520 33,260 I 16,630 Power Possibilities In considering the character of its rapids and falls, the Nelson may be divided into three sections: (1) from the mouth to Kettle rapids; (2) from Kettle rapids to Split lake; (3) above Split lake. In the lower portion, namely, below Kettle rapids, it is generally very wide and free from islands where rapids occur. The rapids have a very gradual descent, are quite long, and, on account of the great width of the river, the prospects for power development are not very attractive. In the portion between Split lake and the foot of Kettle rapid, there are many islands where the rapids occur. The rapids are steeper and, although, in some cases, the banks are rather low, this portion offers greater possibilities than the lower. In the two sections just described, which include all the river below Split lake, there is a practically continuous series of rapids and swifts. Even between rapids there are no still-waters ; these stretches are either swift or rough. Above Split lake, the rapids and falls are well-defined, and their descents are generally steep as compared with those in the lower portion of the river. In this section, except above Pipestone lake, the stretches between the chutes or rapids have very sluggish cur- rents; the total descent in the river really occurs only at the chutes and rapids which, especially above Sipiwesk lake, occur in numerous narrow channels separated by islands. Where these islands are situ- ated, the river is quite wide, but the individual channels between islands are narrow. Power development in this part of the river should be accomplished easily; respecting the higher falls, i.e., those over eight or ten feet in height, there is no doubt that the total head can be utilized, while the chutes and rapids with less descent might be combined or used to increase the natural heads of the higher falls. In ascending the Nelson river from its mouth, Seal General island is the first landmark passed ; from this island upward, the current is quite swift. The river is about three-quarters of a mile wide, with clay banks from 50 to 100 NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 105 feet high. At a large island, 15 miles farther upstream, the river narrows somewhat and its depth increases as the current slackens slightly. The banks here are lower and less steep and, at a point 32 miles above Seal island, opposite a group of three islands, they become very low on the west side. Commencing eight miles above the last mentioned group, the river widens again, the current becomes much more sluggish and the banks are alternately low and high, varying from eight to fifty feet. Limestone begins to appear at low points in the river seven miles farther up and rough water may also be noticed near the shores; high clay banks are still a feature. Rapids below Last Limestone Rapids. — These are, in reality, merely rough water and swifts which extend over a distance of four miles, with a descent of from five to ten feet per mile. The width of the river is one-half mile. The banks, which are of clay, over limestone, vary from 20 feet to 100 feet in height; at one place, on the west side, they are only two or three feet above water but gradually rise to 30 feet. As heads would have to be created by dams power devel- opment here, while not impossible, would be almost prohibitive on account of the cost under present conditions. Above the rapids, three or four miles of smoother, but still moderately swift, water are en- countered before reaching Last Limestone rapids. Last Lime- These rapids may be divided into four different stone Rapids pitches, as follows : First Pitch, three-quarters of a mile long, with a descent of six feet. The river is three-quarters of a mile wide ; the banks, on the west side, are 80 feet in height and consist of clay over limestone ; on the east side they are composed of limestone but rise to a height of only 20 or 30 feet. Second Pitch, one mile long, with a descent of 15 feet, ten feet of which occurs within three-eighths of a mile. The river is one-half mile wide, with banks similar to those in the first pitch. Third Pitch, three-quarters of a mile long, with a descent of ten feet. The width of the river is five-eighths of a mile and the banks here also are similar to those in the first pitch. Fourth Pitch, one and one-half miles long, has a descent of ten feet. The river is three-quarters of a mile wide, and the banks are similar in composition to those in the first pitch but rise to a height of 40 feet on the east side. Again, in the case of these four pitches, the whole head would have to be created by a dam or dams, and the cost of development would be very high. Between Last Limestone and Limestone rapids, there are five miles of fairly smooth water. The foot of the latter rapids is immediately below the mouth of Limestone river. 106 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Limestone These rapids may be divided into two portions, of Rapids which the upper is much the more important. Lower Pitch is one-eighth mile long, with a descent of eight feet. The river is one mile wide; the banks are of clay, over limestone, and are from 50 to 75 feet in height. This part of the rapid is immediately below the bend where Limestone river enters; on the west side it makes a sheer drop of four feet, while on the east side the descent is more gradual. Upper Pitch is the first attractive site on the river from a power- development standpoint. The portage is three-quarters of a mile long ; the distance is nearly as great along the river and the descent is 25 feet. The stream is three-quarters of a mile wide, with banks of clay and limestone, from 50 to 75 feet high. The rapid on the west side is very rough and quite steep. Possibly a wing and longitudinal dam development would utilize a great portion of the flow. Above the Limestone rapid is a stretch of water two miles long, having a uniform descent of from five to eight feet per mile. Above this are eight or nine miles of fairly smooth water before the foot of the Lower Long-spruce rapid is reached. Lower Lojig-spruce Rapid. — This rapid is four Long-spruce miles in length, and has a descent of 52 feet. It pi s consists of a series of low cascades over granite ledges, with the rock visible in most parts of the river. The river is very wide in this portion but narrows to one-half mile at the foot of the rapid. The banks are of clay rising to a height of 70 feet ; at a few points, they are as low as ten feet near the river, but gradually slope upward from the shore. Upper Long-spruce Rapid. — This rapid is two miles long and has a descent of 40 feet. It comprises a series of cascades and rapids passing over granite, which shows throughout the breadth of the river. In the lower portion, the pitches are quite appreciable and continuous; the high clay banks, however, have disappeared and the river is less than one-half mile wide. One of the stretches which is portaged showed a descent of 25 feet in less than three-quarters of a mile. Then follow four miles of smooth water before the foot of Kettle rapid is reached. This rapid may be divided into three pitches, as KrfUe Rapid ^^ First Pitch is three miles long, and has a descent of approximately forty feet. The river is from five-eighths to three-quarters of a mile wide, with banks of clay or red granite, from 20 feet to 50 feet high ; these become lower farther up the river and, in the upper portion, are only 15 feet high. In the lower portion of this pitch, rocks show NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 107 throughout the width of the river; these give place to islands as the higher section is reached. The descent in this portion of Kettle rapid could possibly be utilized by creating heads at two different points. Second Pitch affords great facility for power development on account of the narrowness of the river near the foot of the rapid. At this point the river, which is only about 200 yards wide, is to be crossed by the Hudson Bay railway. This narrow width prevails only for a distance of 300 yards near the foot of this pitch, above which the stream broadens again to a width of nearly three-eighths of a mile. The descent is 21.5 feet in slightly more than one-half mile. The banks, from 20 to 30 feet high, are of clay over granite and afford splendid conditions for power development. Between the second and third pitches is a stretch of smooth water two miles in length. Third Pitch is passed by means of a portage 100 yards long ; the distance is the same by water. The descent is 17 feet. The river, which is five-eighths of a mile wide, is divided by an island; the banks are quite low near the water but rise beyond. The section between the head of Kettle rapid and the foot of Gull rapid is also characterized by many swifts and rough waters. In the first mile, there is a fall of from five to eight feet ; the stream is three- quarters of a mile wide and contains many islands; the banks in this part are very low. For the next three and one-half miles there is fairly smooth water leading to a portage two miles long, on the west side of the river. The descent from the head to the foot of the portage is approximately ten feet. Above the head of this portage occurs a series of small rapids and swifts for a distance of five miles, none of which need be considered in respect to power development. For the next four miles, the river is fairly smooth and contains many islands; the tanks are from five to 15 feet in height but, in certain places, as low as two feet. A point in the river known as Moosenose is then reached, above which is a succession of swifts and rapids for a distance of three miles. The steepest section of these has a descent of nearly eight feet in three-quarters of a mile ; owing to the width and the low banks of the river this, however, is not very suitable for power development. The succeeding seven miles of quiet water end at the foot of Gull rapid. Gull rapid passes over granite, the rock appearing Gull Rapid all along the banks. The four pitches, into which the rapid may be divided, are separated by swift and rough water which may be utilized to increase the natural heads. Unfortun- ately, the banks are very low in many places, rendering it impossible to 108 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION secure the full advantage for purposes of power development. From the head of the first pitch to the foot of Gull lake the river contains many islands. First Pitch, which is passed by a portage on the north side of the river, shows a descent of 20 feet in a distance of 550 yards. Where two points project into the river it is only 1,000 feet wide; but above and below this narrow part, the river widens to 2,000 feet. The banks are 30 feet high, of granite and clay, and the head could be easily raised to 30 feet by drowning the swift and part of the rapids which extend above for a distance of three-eighths of a mile. Second Pitch is also passed by a portage on the north side of the river, and shows a similar descent of 20 feet within a distance of 500 yards. On the north side, the river is divided into many channels by islands, but the main channel is 1,500 feet wide, with banks from 10 to 20 feet high. The possibility of the economic development of this pitch is questionable. In one of the north channels above the second pitch there is a succession of low cascades for three-eighths of a mile, at the end of which the foot of the third portage is reached. Third Pitch, in the north channel, has a descent of 21 feet in a distance of 350 yards. The banks are very low, being almost on a level with the water at the head of the portage. In the boat chan- nel, above the third pitch, there is a succession of low cascades three- eighths of a mile long; the banks are low as far as the foot of the fourth series of rapids. Fourth Pitch shows a descent of 17 feet in three-eighths of a mile. In this stretch of the river there are many islands, and here also the banks are very low. Gull lake is about one-half mile above the head of Gull rapid. It has very low banks which, in some places, are not more than three or four feet in height. It contains numerous islands, which, in some cases, restrict the channel to such an extent as to make the current quite strong. For seven miles above Gull lake, there is a series of alternate swifts, smooth waters and rough waters, with a total descent of approximately 40 feet. The river has an average width of one-half mile, and the banks are of clay and granite, from 15 to 20 feet in height. _ f .. Overfall rapid, which ends immediately above the Birthday section just described, is one-half mile long and has a Ra P id - descent of about 25 feet. The banks are 20 feet high, consisting of clay on rock. At the foot of the rapid, the river is divided by an island and the broader channel is 550 yards wide; at 4j$ Nelson River— Kettle Rapid Nelson River— Bladder Rapid NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 109 the head of the rapid it flows in one channel, only 350 yards wide. Power development at this rapid seems quite feasible. Above Overfall rapid is a stretch of smooth water, three miles in length; in the interval between this and Split lake— five or six miles upstream — is a series of rough waters and rapids with a total descent of about 30 feet. The steepest portion has a descent of 15 feet in a distance of one mile, but none of it seems suitable for economic development. Above Split lake, as already stated, the character of the river changes considerably. The rapids are much better defined and have steeper descents; they are generally separated by long stretches of smooth water. Ascending the river from Split lake, the first chute encountered is Chain-of-islands chute. Chain-of -islands Chute.— This chute occurs in the western chan- nel, flowing around a large island at the head of Split lake. The descent is 4.5 feet in a distance of 300 yards. The channel is 200 feet wide, with rocky banks from 5 to 20 feet high. The head here may possibly be increased, but, unfortunately, the height of the banks above would not permit more than three or four feet additional. Above this chute is smooth water for a distance of six miles, and, before the foot of Grand rapid is reached, the river is divided by several islands separated by very swift currents. Grand Rapid has a descent of 20.1 feet, while the distance across the portage road is 160 yards. The river bends around the long nar- row point across which the portage is made. Two sharp pitches or chutes, 600 feet apart, are succeeded by rapids below the second pitch. The total distance, following the river's course, is 1,300 feet. The river is 400 feet wide and the banks, which are of granite, 20 feet high, would render possible an increase of the head by an additional five or six feet. A small rapid occurs two miles above Grand rapid, but the descent is only one foot in a distance of 20 feet. Both above and below this rapid the current is quite strong. Manitou Rapid occurs in a very narrow section of the river. Al- though the descent in the rapid proper is comparatively small — about seven or eight feet in one-half mile— the fact that the river is only 400 feet wide favors power development. The granite banks are from 40 to 50 feet high. Above the rapid the current is quite swift and, except at short intervals, the banks remain fairly high, so that a head of at least 25 feet could be created without flooding much land. Small Devil Rapid, three miles above the Manitou rapid, has a descent of three feet in 150 yards, and would probably be drowned out by creating a head at the latter rapid. At the head of Sipiwesk HO COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION lake, the river is divided by a large island and the next three rapids, namely, Chain-of-rocks, Red Rock and Over-the-hill, are situated in the eastern channel. Chain of Rocks Rapid has a descent of 1.5 feet in a distance of 20 feet. The channel is 1,200 feet wide, with a chain of large rocks extending across it. The banks are from 10 to 20 feet high at the chute but very low above it, thus rendering it impossible to raise the head to the height necessary for the development of power. Red Rock Rapid may be divided into four sections, — (1) the rapids below the lower canoe portage, (2) the chute at the lower portage, (3) the swift between the two portages, (4) the chute at the upper portage. The descent in the first section is about three feet in one-quarter of a mile while, in the other three sections above, it is 8.8 feet in a distance of 1,400 feet, giving a total descent of 11.8 feet. At the lower portage, the channel narrows to approximately 700 feet while, above and below, it is 2,000 feet wide. The banks are of granite and clay and from 20 to 50 feet high. A half-mile above Red Rock rapid is another small rapid with a descent of 1.3 feet in 200 yards. As the banks at this small rapid are fairly high it could be utilized to increase the head of Red Rock. Over the Hill Rapid flows around a point and has a total descent of 9.5 feet; it consists of a chute, succeeded by a very rough rapid. Along the channel it measures nearly 900 feet, but the distance across the point, at the canoe portage, is only 260 feet. The banks, composed of clay over rock, are from 10 to 20 feet in height. The channel, at the chute, is only 800 feet wide and is divided by a fair-sized island situated in midstream. Although the distance between Red Rock and Over-the-hill rapids is comparatively short, it is doubtful if they could be combined, as the banks between the two rapids are very low in several places. However, above Over-the-hill rapid, the current is strong and the descent, which averages from four to five feet per mile, could be utilized to increase the head at the latter rapid by several feet; but here, also, the banks are very low and this increase could not be more than three or four feet. Bladder Rapid consists of a chute at the island where the York boats are portaged succeeded by heavy rapids extending over a distance of 400 yards. The total descent in these two sections is 8.3 feet; below this rapid is another stretch of swift water and rapids, 500 yards long, with an additional descent of possibly three feet. The width of the river at the canoe portage is 400 yards, but the stream is divided into two channels by a large island. The banks, consisting of clay over granite, are from five to fifteen feet high. Nelson River— Khb-axd-Fi.ow Rai Xii.son River— Sea i'ai.i. (East Channel) NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 111 Whitemud Fall This fal1 occurs where the river is divided into offers Favour- many channels by islands. It comprises two parallel able Prospects chutes, flowing- in distinct channels, whose waters unite to form the lower pitch and rapids below. There are two parallel portage roads at this fall and the difference of levels between the head and foot of the shorter one, which covers practically the total descent, shows a fall of 29.8 feet. The distance across the short portage is 500 yards but, following the channel, the distance between the first and last pitches is 700 yards. Below this chute is a stretch of very rough water. The channel in the lower part is 200 yards wide, with rocky banks from 40 to 50 feet in height, very steep on the west and perpendicular on the east side. Ebb-and-floiv Rapid is four miles above Whitemud fall, where the river is still divided into numerous channels by islands. The descent is 9.6 feet in a distance of 2,000 feet. The channel expands at the middle of the rapid but narrows to 500 feet at both the head and foot. The rocky banks are from 10 to 15 feet high. Pipestone Fall is situated three miles above the head of Pipestone lake, in one of the channels formed by islands. It comprises chutes and rough waters, covering a distance of 50 yards and having a descent of 8.7 feet. The channel is 200 feet wide, with rocky banks from five to ten feet high at the head of the rapid, and from 15 to 20 feet in height at the foot. At two miles, five miles and five and a quarter miles, respectively, above Pipestone fall, are small swifts and cascades, having descents varying from three-quarters of a foot to one and one-half feet. Jackpine Rapid occurs in tk * east channel, six miles above Pipe- stone rapid. The descent is 4.6 feet in 125 yards. The rapid is divided into small channels by rocks and, at the head, the total width is 100 feet. The banks are of granite, from 10 to 20 feet high. There are several swifts, with descents of three-quarters of a foot or less between Jackpine rapid and The Four chutes. The Four Chutes are situated seven miles above Jackpine rapid, in the east channel, and have a descent of 4.4 feet in 140 yards. The banks are of granite, five feet in height. Sea Fall, eighteen miles below Norway House, is in the east chan- nel, and has a descent of 5.1 feet in a distance of 50 yards. The gran- ite banks are only three or four feet in height. The total descent between Playgreen and Cross lakes could be utilized by a power-development at the Whisky Jack portage, where the whole flow of the river might be used. The head at this point 112 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION would include all the descents between the head of Sea fall and the foot of Pipestone rapid. The sum of the descents in Pipestone fall, Jackpine rapid, The Four chutes and Sea fall is 22.8 feet ; the descents in the intervening short swifts and cascades give an additional 7 feet, while the swift current throughout this channel would add another 5 feet, making a total descent of at least 35 feet from the head to the foot of Whisky Jack portage. DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS OF NELSON RIVER, AT MANITOU RAPIDS Date Discharge Sec.-ft. Date Discharge Sec-ft. 1914 July 18 " 25 August 3 4 4 7 8 103,736 87,088 94,084 92,083 94.508 96.179 96,228 95,043 94.206 1914 August 15 17 21 24 24 September 5 7 7 24 91,928 92,775 94,861 88.931 91,985 87,542 89,956 91,806 90,857 " 10 " 11 Burntwood River Burntwood river has its source in Burntwood lake. Carrot port- age, about 18 miles below the outlet, is at an eight-foot fall. It is on the south side and not far below this the stream enters a rocky gorge, in which, at Eagle rapid, is another fall of eight feet. The timber near the river is chiefly poplar, but, a short distance back, it is Banksian pine and spruce, all of which is very small. Flat- hill portage, three miles below Eagle rapid, is situated near a fall of ten feet. The granite ledge, which crosses the river here, is seen on each side rising in a high ridge 50 feet above the clay terrace. For a short distance below Moose portage the valley is not deep, but at Clay portage, three miles below Flathill portage, the stream falls 25 feet into a much deeper channel, which, for six miles, has scarped banks. The banks are nearly 40 feet in height and are composed of sand and gravel, with a bed of clay on the surface. At Driftwood rapid, 17 miles below Clay portage, Series of Rapids are two falls of four and five feet, respectively, flow- and Falls . , ..,,,,.-, ing over red granite gneiss. A mile below this rapid. at Grindstone portage, the river again falls over red gneiss. Four miles below Grindstone it turns to the east and four falls occur at inter- vals of less than a mile, making a total descent of approximately 40 :OMMISSION OF CONSERVATION NELSON RIVER IN VICINITY OF WHITE MUD FALL Scale of Feet O 300 BOO 1200 At A.good site for dam, river GOO ft wide, banks of rock. 40 ft. to 50 ft. hi ah and almost perpendicular on each side. NELSON RIVER N VICINITY OF GRAND RAPID Scale of Feet O 500 NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 113 feet. The first is a fall of seven feet, the second of eight feet; the third, Leaf rapid, is a descent of eight feet, and the last, Gate rapid, of 17 feet. Below Gate rapid, the river enters a deeper valley. The banks are composed of sand and clay, and, before Threepoint lake is reached, they attain a height of nearly 30 feet. In this intervening stretch there are several small rapids. The last rapid, before reach- ing the lake, is called Moose-nose rapid, where the channel is con- stricted by an outcrop of gneiss. Below this section the channel broad- ens and the current is sluggish, except at a few points. Farther downstream, the river flows in a valley from 60 to 80 feet deep, and, before entering Waskwatin lake, becomes sluggish, having low banks covered with poplar and willow. At the outlet of this lake Waskwatin fall descends 20 feet over gneiss. The portage, on the north side, is 220 yards long, crossing a hill covered with soft clay. Three-quarters of a mile below Waskwatin fall Some Heavy is Taskimg-up portage, 320 yards long, passing a Descents heavy rapid, where the water descends 50 feet over a ridge of gneiss. Thence to Opegano lake, the river banks usually ascend in easy slopes, although, here and there rugged, rocky cliffs overlook the water and ridges of gneiss cross the channel, forming rapids. For a distance of two miles below Opegano lake, the river flows between steep, clay banks, 30 feet or more in height, to Waskatigow portage, which is four hundred yards long and passes a rapid with a descent of 30 feet. Below this rapid the river has steep, clay-covered banks, 60 feet high. One mile below Waskatigow rapid, is Kepuche rapid ; it has a descent of three feet and flows in a narrow channel over a ridge. One and one-half miles farther downstream is Wapishtigau fall, with a descent of 15 feet, where the stream is crossed by a ridge of gneiss. Two miles below this fall, the river expands into Birch lake ; this is merely a long, wide and sluggish part of the river. Two miles below Birch lake, immediately above the mouth of Manasan river, is Manasan fall, where a picturesque cataract descends about 20 feet over a ridge of gneiss. 114 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Grass River Cranberry and Elbow lakes form the headwaters of the Grass river. Four miles below Elbow lake is a rapid with a descent of 15 feet ; past this, on the west bank, is a portage 160 yards in length. Three-quarters of a mile farther downstream is another rapid, with a descent of 6 feet. Five miles farther there is a short rapid between steep banks of diorite. A mile below this rapid, the river expands into a small lake, and, for the next eight miles, flows eastward until it empties into the west end of Reed lake. A mile below Reed lake is a rapid with a descent of 3 feet, flowing over a ridge of massive, reddish granite. Situated at the head of Wekusko lake, Wekusko Wekusko Fall fall has a total descent of 45 feet, falling over gabbro. Wekusko lake, which extends eastward from the foot of the fall, is a beautiful expanse of moderately clear water, with rugged, rocky shores. Two miles below the mouth of Wuskatasko (or Carrot) creek, there are three heavy rapids, past the upper two of which are port- ages, 90 and 70 yards in length, respectively. About 14 miles farther down there are three rapids with falls of twelve, fifteen and eight feet, respectively, over gray or reddish gneiss. The second and third of these rapids are known to the Indians as Kanistota (or the "Two") rapids. For ten miles below Kanistota rapids, the river has a sluggish cur- rent flowing between sloping banks of light-gray clay, wooded with white and black spruce and Banksian pine. Then come Wapikwachew (or White Forest) rapid and, three miles and a half down the stream, Stikago (Skunk) rapid. A mile and a half beyond, is Wapishtigau (Whitewood) fall, one of the highest on the river, where the water falls 40 feet over a ridge of gneiss. For three miles farther, to the mouth of Metishto, the river con- tinues to flow with decreasing current, and is interrupted by two slight rapids. Thence, to Setting lake, the stream is wide and the current is more sluggish. At the outlet of Setting lake, Grass river is broken by Golden Eagle rapid, which has a descent of 12 feet. Below this rapid, the river opens into another small lake, four miles in length. At the foot of this lake is Lynx fall, with a descent of 43 feet, passing, first, over an abrupt fall, below which is a steep, broken rapid flowing in a narrow, rocky channel. NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 115 Below Lynx fall, the river flows north-north-eastward for 23 miles to the south end of Paint lake ; for the greater part of the distance it is without appreciable current. Its banks usually rise in easy slopes to a height of about 100 feet, and consist of rocky ridges of gneiss covered with a shallow deposit of soft, brownish clay without pebbles or boulders. The summits and sides of these hills are, as a rule, wooded with small poplars, but, close to the banks of the stream, there are scattered groves of large white spruce. Hayes River From a water-power standpoint this river can conveniently be divided into three sections: (1) From its mouth to Fox river; (2) from the mouth of Fox river to "The Rock," and (3) above "The Rock." In the first-mentioned section, which extends for a distance of 90 miles above its mouth, the Hayes is quite wide ; the current, which is much slacker than in the section above, shows a very gradual descent. Low banks are common and power development is practically impos- sible. (2) From the mouth of the Fox to "The Rock," a distance of about 35 miles, is, possibly, the best part of the river for power devel- opment, although, in each case, heads would have to be created by dams. The total descent observed by aneroid is 285 feet, or an aver- age of more than eight feet per mile. The banks, with few interrup- tions, are high, and heads of from 30 to 40 feet could easily be created. This part of the river has a fairly uniform width of approximately 250 feet, and, as already stated, the entire head for power development would have to be created by dams. However, these could undoubt- edly be constructed at several sites, selected after careful surveys. At 4, 7, 20 and 23 miles below "The Rock," there are stretches of rough water or small rapids ; each is from one-quarter to one-half mile long, with a descent of from three to four feet. Good sites for dams might be found at these rapids. The third section, above "The Rock," is lengthy, but over 75 per cent of it consists of lakes. The stretches of river between the differ- ent lakes are short and the descent comparatively steep. Un- fortunately, most of the different concentrated descents are of less than 10 feet and to combine them is not feasible, owing to the low banks. The discharge of the Hayes river, metered on August 5. 1913, at a point four miles below "The Rock," was 3,265 cubic feet per 116 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION second. The width at this point was 252 feet, the maximum depth seven feet, and the greatest mean velocity in any one section 3 45 feet per second. "The Rock" is the lowest portage on the river, and between it and Swampy lake, 35 miles upstream, the descent occurs in short rapids ; these are not very steep but the current between them is strong. The highest rapids and falls are situated at the following points: "The Rock" Fall has a descent of 5 -1 feet in 80 yards, flowing over solid granite. An island divides the river at this point; each of the two channels is 100 feet wide, and the sandy banks are 50 feet in height. Rapid, one mile above "The Rock,'" has a descent of three feet in a distance of 200 yards. Whitemud Fall, situated three miles above "The Rock," consists of a chute, 50 yards long, with a descent of 4 -3 feet, and a shorter chute 50 yards above, with a descent of *8 foot ; the total descent is 5-1 feet in a distance of 100 yards. The river is 300 feet wide and contains a small, rocky island situated in midstream, at the lower fall. The rocky banks are from four to five feet high on the west side and ten feet or more on the east. Rapid, five miles above "The Rock," has a descent of 3 feet in 100 yards. The river is 200 feet wide and the banks four feet high, gradually rising in the distance. Chute, seventeen and one-half miles above "The Rock," has a descent of 3 feet ; below it is a stretch of rapids 300 yards long, with an additional drop of 3 feet, giving a total descent of 6 feet. Rapid, eighteen miles above "The Rock," extends over a distance of 175 yards and has a descent of 3 feet. Rapid, eighteen and one-quarter miles above "The Rock," has a descent of 5 feet in 100 yards. At the foot of this rapid, which falls over rock, is a small island. The river is 150 feet wide, with low banks, gradually rising to a height of eight or ten feet. Rapid, nineteen miles above "The Rock," has a descent of 4 feet in 100 yards. The river is 150 feet wide; the banks on the west side are four feet high but on the east much lower. Rapid, nineteen and one-half miles above "The Rock," has a descent of 5 feet in 400 yards. Rapid, nineteen and three-quarter miles above "The Rock," has a descent of 3 feet in 100 yards. Chutes and Rapid, twenty and one-half miles above "The Rock," are passed by two short portages. The lower is at a chute, which NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 117 has a sheer fall of 5 feet over a ledge of rock, where the river is divided into two channels by a small island. Each channel is 100 feet wide with banks from two to three feet high. Immediately above this is a stretch of 100 yards of smooth water, beyond which rapids, having a descent of one foot, extend for 100 yards to the foot of the upper portage. The river, in this portion, is 200 feet wide, with banks three feet high. The upper chute has a descent of 5 feet, giving a total fall of 11 feet within 200 yards. Twenty-one and a half miles above "The Rock" is a small chute with a fall of 2 feet. Rapid, twenty-two miles above "The Rock," has a descent of 6 feet in 300 yards ; above it is a sharper descent of 4 feet within a dis- tance of 80 yards, over a ledge of rock. The total descent of 10 feet occurs within a distance of approximately 450 yards, in a part of the river where the banks are low. Muskeg Rapid, twenty-three and a half miles above "The Rock," occurs where the river is divided into several channels by islands ; it has a descent of 8 feet in 300 yards. The rapid flows over a bed of rock, with low banks on each side. Chute, two and one-half miles above Muskeg rapid, descends 6*8 feet in 100 yards, and is succeeded by a rapid having a descent of 3 feet in 150 yards. At the chute the river is divided into several chan- nels by islands ; the banks are low, rocky and, in many places, swampy. Chute, four and one-half miles above Muskeg rapid, has a descent of 3 feet in 50 yards. Chute, five miles above Muskeg rapid, occurs where the river is divided into at least nine channels. The descent is 4 feet in 70 yards. The banks are three feet high, rocky and swampy. Rapid, five and one-half miles above Muskeg rapid, has a descent of 5 feet in 110 yards. At this point also the river is divided into several channels. The width of that where the portage is made is 200 feet ; the banks are very low, rocky and swampy. Chute, five and three-quarter miles above Muskeg rapid, has a descent of 2 feet over a ledge of rock. One hundred yards below the chute a short rapid descends one foot in 25 yards. Rapid, six and three-quarter miles above Muskeg rapid, is really a succession of small rapids over boulders, extending for a distance of one mile. It has a total descent of 8 feet, but the banks are very low and marshy. Rapid, eight and one-quarter miles above Muskeg rapid, flows over boulders and rock. It has a descent of 2 feet in 100 yards. 118 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Rapid, eight and one-half miles above Muskeg rapid, has a descent of 2 feet in 50 yards. Swampy lake is about four miles above the last rapid. Several swifts flow over boulders between the islands in the wide, lake-like channel situated immediately below the foot of the lake. None of these has an appreciable descent, and the banks are very low, averaging about one foot in height. Between Swampy lake and Knee lake, there are four rapids of importance. Yellowmud Rapid, four miles above the head of Swampy lake, has a descent of 5 feet in 200 yards. The river is 500 feet wide at the. head of the rapid, narrowing to 200 feet at the foot, with rocky banks, five feet in height. Lower Drum Rapid, three-quarters of a mile above the Yellowmud, has a descent of 10 feet in 500 yards. It is succeeded, at 100 and 200 yards below, respectively, by two small rapids, each of which has a descent of one foot in 50 yards. The rapid flows over boulders, and the river is 250 feet wide; the banks, consisting of boulders and soil, are from four to five feet in height. Middle Drum Rapid, one and one-quarter miles above the Lower Drum, has a descent of 7 feet in 200 yards, but the distance over the portage is only 180 yards. The rapid flows over boulders and broken rock and is succeeded, at one-half mile and three-quarters of a mile, by two small rapids with descents of one and a half feet and one foot, respectively. At the larger rapid, the river is 150 feet wide, with banks of boulders and soil four to five feet high. Upper Drum Rapid, three-quarters of a mile above the Middle Drum rapid, may be divided into two parts. The upper has a descent of 9 feet in a distance of 170 yards, and consists of two chutes, separated by sluggish water. The lower part is a continuous rapid, 150 yards long, with an additional descent of 3 feet. The river is 200 feet wide, with rocky banks five feet high. Between Knee lake and Oxford lake, five rapids or falls occur: Trout Fall, three miles above Knee lake, has a descent of 10-8 feet in 750 feet, but most of the descent is concentrated in a sheer fall. The river is divided by two islands ; the widest channel is only 75 feet wide. The banks are very low, both above and below the fall. Rapid, one mile above Trout fall, has a descent of 8 feet in 300 yards. This section of the river contains many islands and the banks are very low. Rapid, four and three-quarter miles above Trout fall, has a descent of 2 feet in 100 yards. The banks, at this point, are only two to three feet above water. Hayes River— Knife Rapii Hayes River— Trout Fall NELSON AND HAYES RIVERS 119 Knife Rapid, five miles above Trout fall, has a descent of 3 feet within 50 yards. One hundred yards above it is another small rapid with a descent of 2 feet in 30 yards, giving a total descent of 5 feet in 180 yards. The banks are very low and swampy. Numerous islands divide the river into several channels, the widest of which is 150 feet. Rapid, seven miles above Trout fall, has a descent of 2 feet in 100 yards. The banks here also are very low, and the river is divided into many channels. Between Oxford lake and Windy lake, there are four small rapids : Rapid and Chute, two and one-half miles above Oxford lake, have a descent of 6-5 feet in 100 yards. The river is divided by an island and each of the two channels is 50 feet wide. The banks above the rapid are very low. Rapid, three and one-half miles above Oxford lake, has a descent of 2 75 feet in 20 yards. The rapid flows over a ledge of rock and the stream is 150 feet wide, with low banks. Rapid, four miles above Oxford lake, with a descent of 2 feet in 70 yards, is similar in other respects to the preceding rapid. Rapid, four and one-quarter miles above Oxford lake, with a descent of one and a half feet in 70 yards, is otherwise similar to the preceding two rapids. There are no concentrated descents between Windy and Pine lakes but, above Pine lake, four of these may be noted: Rapid, three miles above Pine lake, has a descent of 7 feet in 200 yards. The river is 100 feet wide, containing a rocky island near the foot of the rapid. The rocky banks are 75 feet high at the rapid, but are too low, on the west side above the rapid, to raise the head materially. Rapid, seven miles above Pine lake, has a descent of 3 feet. The river is 50 feet wide, with rocky banks from 40 to 50 feet high. Rapid, eight miles above Pine lake, has a descent of 5 feet in 150 yards. The river is 150 feet wide; the banks are high and rocky on the west side, but only three feet high on the east. While the banks above this rapid are very low, an increased head might be obtained by building a dam at a point one-quarter mile below, in a canon-like part of the river, where the current is very swift and the banks high. rocky and perpendicular. Robinson Fall, seventeen miles above Pine lake, is the most im- portant power site on the upper section. Although its position on the upper part of the river gives it a smaller flow of water than is available at the sites in the lower portion, yet the high head obtain- 120 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION able at this point counterbalances this disadvantage to a great extent. The total descent here is 56 feet, and occurs at a bend in the river. The portage road, which cuts across this bend, is three-quarters of a mile long but the distance between the head and foot of the fall could be shortened. At the head of the fall, the river is 100 feet wide, and the natural head of 56 feet could be raised easily by several feet. For two or three miles above Robinson fall, the width of the river is about 200 feet ; the stream then expands, at its extreme head, into three narrow lakes, practically continuous. CHAPTER VI Saskatchewan River The North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan rivers, uniting at the forks, form the Saskatchewan river, which, after traversing part of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, empties into the north-western part of lake Winnipeg. The river between Cedar lake and lake Winnipeg may be described in detail as follows: Grand rapid occurs in a large bend where the river is about 1,300 feet wide. It affords good conditions for a development with a head of 80 feet. Between Red Rock and Grand rapid, the river is from 600 to 900 feet wide. The banks steadily decrease in height as one ascends the river. At Red Rock rapid, the total fall is from 7 to 8 feet. The shores vary from ten to fifteen feet in height, and rock is visible everywhere. A half mile below Cross lake, a barrier ridge of limestone crosses the bed, forming a shallow rapid one-half mile in length ; this has a fall of 7 feet. The stream is divided into three channels by two islands. Only the south channel is of any considerable width, and all three are very shallow, averaging less than four feet, and only two feet in depth on the ledges. Both islands rise to less than five feet above the water. They are covered with scrub and hay land and all bear evi- dences of being submerged at high water. The main banks are about seven or eight feet high, gradually rising from the river to probably 15 feet in 1,000 feet or more. At the inlet of Cross lake it falls over a rocky ridge. The fall in this rapid (the Demie-charge) is approximately 7 feet, evenly dis- tributed; the width of the stream is 900 feet. The land in the immediate vicinity of the rapid is only from two to seven feet above the water, and is covered with dense woods, principally spruce, jack- pine and poplar. At Anchor point, three miles below Flying Post rapid, the rock rises vertically to a height of almost 20 feet from the water, and is 35 *The data for the second half of this chapter were contributed by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior. [1211 122 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION feet high a short distance back. On the left a similar rocky ridge is observed, extending to the northward. One half mile below the Narrows, Flying Post rapid falls 4 feet, approximately, in three-quarters of a mile, flowing very swiftly over a shallow, rocky bed. Cedar lake is nearly 42 miles in length, measured from east to west; the main portion is from 15 to 20 miles wide. The shores and basin are entirely of rock, with the exception of the deposit from the Saskatchewan at the upper end. Between the forks and The Pas, the river may be described as follows : A long series of shallow rapids begins not far below the forks, the last one of which is the Squaw rapid, 125 miles down.* Along this portion of its course the river is very winding, and, in places, forms great bends. For the first 90 miles it averages about 1,000 feet in width, flowing through a valley from 150 to 200 feet deep and about a mile wide. In general, a high cut bank of sandy clay loam faces a low flat sloping up gradually to a bench. Occa- sionally the valley narrows to a width of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet. In this stretch, the current is swift, with many rapids, the descent per mile for the 90 miles averaging about three feet. The river bed and the shores are composed of gravel and large boulders but no bed rock is exposed. In the next 30 miles, the river expands to from 1,300 feet to a mile and a half, with many large islands in the channel. The banks are very low and flat and no bench is noticeable from the river. The current is slower, with few rapids, and the descent per mile is about 1 -2 feet. The bed and banks of the river are composed of light, sandy clay loam, which is easily eroded and transported by the cur- rent, thus forming sand bars. About five miles above Squaw rapid, the banks begin to close in again, and a valley similar to that in the first 90 miles below the forks appears. Rapids become more numerous while the boulder and gravel formation is again seen. In this five miles, the fall averages about four feet per mile. For the first 90 miles below the forks, the timber is mainly poplar and balm of Gilead fir, with some spruce, while below this, and espe- cially on the large flats, spruce of good size predominates. Immediately below Pasquatina point, 135 miles from the forks, is the vSipanok, or the Underground river, as the name implies. This channel permits the waters of the Saskatchewan to pass over into the Carrot river, and thence back to the main stream at a point situated See Appendix I for descents and power sites. COMMISSION C PROFILE OF SASKATCHEWAN RIVER -j Horizontal, 50 miles - / inch C Vertical, 300 feet - / inch aK, I -6 he iff a. OS -o e L 50 \ ft \p Lake Winnipeg PROFILE OF SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER Scales Horizontal. 50 miles - 1 inch Vertical, 300 feet - I inch 122 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION feet high a short distance back. On the left a similar rocky ridge is observed, extending to the northward. One half mile below the Narrows, Flying Post rapid falls 4 feet, approximately, in three-quarters of a mile, flowing very swiftly over a shallow, rocky bed. Cedar lake is nearly 42 miles in length, measured from east to west; the main portion is from 15 to 20 miles wide. The shores and basin are entirely of rock, with the exception of the deposit from the Saskatchewan at the upper end. Between the forks and The Pas, the river may be described as follows : A long series of shallow rapids begins not far below the forks, the last one of which is the Squaw rapid, 125 miles down.* Along this portion of its course the river is very winding, and, in places, forms great bends. For the first 90 miles it averages about 1,000 feet in width, flowing through a valley from 150 to 200 feet deep and about a mile wide. In general, a high cut bank of sandy clay loam faces a low flat sloping up gradually to a bench. Occa- sionally the valley narrows to a width of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet. In this stretch, the current is swift, with many rapids, the descent per mile for the 90 miles averaging about three feet. The river bed and the shores are composed of gravel and large boulders but no bed rock is exposed. In the next 30 miles, the river expands to from 1,300 feet to a mile and a half, with many large islands in the channel. The banks are very low and flat and no bench is noticeable from the river. The current is slower, with few rapids, and the descent per mile is about 1 -2 feet. The bed and banks of the river are composed of light, sandy clay loam, which is easily eroded and transported by the cur- rent, thus forming sand bars. About five miles above Squaw rapid, the banks begin to close in again, and a valley similar to that in the first 90 miles below the forks appears. Rapids become more numerous while the boulder and gravel formation is again seen. In this five miles, the fall averages about four feet per mile. For the first 90 miles below the forks, the timber is mainly poplar and balm of Gilead fir, with some spruce, while below this, and espe- cially on the large flats, spruce of good size predominates. Immediately below Pasquatina point, 135 miles from the forks, is the Sipanok, or the Underground river, as the name implies. This channel permits the waters of the Saskatchewan to pass over into the Carrot river, and thence back to the main stream at a point situated See Appendix I for descents and power sites. COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION s£ . || IlL PROFILE OF SASKATCHEWAN RIVER Scales i: S. }I u -t r i In I '" " Cedar Lak, !? §r 1" L< ,n •1 ■: 3 300 250 200 , 100 50 % PROFILE OF SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER SASKATCHEWAN RIVER 123 a few miles above The Pas. This new watercourse has opened up more each year, cutting out the soft banks, until quite a volume of the Saskatchewan water passes through it. During high water a fair- sized tug, drawing four feet, has made the trip by this route. Four miles below the Sipanok, or 139 miles below the forks, the Saskatchewan has overflowed its north bank and formed a junction with the Sturgeon- weir river, thence to Cumberland lake. This leaves the original river bed practically dry for a distance of more than 50 miles, to the mouth of the Bigstone river, the first outlet of Cumber- land lake. From Squaw rapid, the river traverses the entire Heavily distance to Cedar lake (225 miles) through an extensive Wooded Banks fl&t ^^ of lake and marsh Nowhere do the banks rise to any considerable height above the water. In most places, lakes or marshes are to be found within 100 yards of the river. The banks are, for the greater part, heavily wooded. The flood waters overflow into a great tract, becoming lost probably 40 or 50 miles from the river. During early summer these basins fill up, while, later in the year, the flow is reversed, the water finding its way back into the main stream. The two-fold function of this area is to act (1) as a vast storage basin, regulating the flow of the lower river, and (2) as a settling basin. Much of the sediment is deposited here. Lakes, which 15 years ago had six feet or more of water in autumn, have now less than two feet. The flat, mud shores, exposed to view, are strewn with driftwood brought down by the river. Valuable timber is found a short distance above The Pas, but thence to Cedar lake the growth is stunted ; while a dense growth occurs around both Cedar and Cross lakes, the timber found below this is chiefly second growth. The chief characteristic of the rivers that rise in Great Variation the Rockies, is the extreme variation between maxi- ln F ow mum and minimum discharge — sometimes as great as 200 to 1 — and the sudden rises that occur in these streams. The North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan receive the greater portion of their flow from the mountains and are affected by extremes of tem- perature in the high altitudes. In these rivers and in the main Sas- katchewan the discharge varies greatly during the year; high water and floods, due to warm rains and hot weather in the mountains, usually occur during July and August, while the low flow occurs during February and March. This also applies to their mountain tributaries and consideration of this is a factor of vital importance 124 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION in designing hydro-electric developments on these streams. At The Pas the range between these two periods is ordinarily some 15 feet, which, at Grand rapid, is gradually lessened, to from four to five feet, with an extreme of some six feet. During the spring break-up, the field ice of lake Winnipeg occasionally becomes jammed at the mouth of the river, damming the outlet and causing rise at the lake of from 12 to 15 feet. The Saskatchewan is navigable above Grand rapid, the Hudson's Bay Company having at one period operated steamers as far as Ed- monton. At present it is navigated by gasolene launches from The Pas to Cedar lake, also by steamer from The Pass to Cumberland lake. It is accessible by railway at The Pas and also by steamer at the mouth. With the exception of The Pas, no important settlements are found in the lower reaches of the river. A Hudson Bay post is situated at Cedar lake, and a small settlement at Grand rapid. Surveys of the River In 1884 Dr. Otto Klotz made a traverse of the river. In 1909 a reconnaissance survey of the river was made from The Pas to lake Winnipeg by E. A. Forward, of the Public Works Department. The investigations made by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior comprise a recon- naissance power survey by the late William Ogilvie in 1911, a detailed survey by E. B. Patterson of Grand rapid and vicin- ity from lake Winnipeg to Cross lake in 1912, and reconnaissance survey from Prince Albert to Sipanok channel by C. H. Attwood, in 1914. Precipitation. — No complete records of the precipita- tion in either the extreme western or eastern portion of the basin are available. The following table gives the precipitation at various points throughout the central portion, and in the Rocky mountains : — Run-off and Discharge Station Length of record Depth in Period From To inches 9 years 1903 1912 17.13 9 " 1904 1912 14.45 28 " 1883 1912 16.43 4 " 1905 1909 11.5 22 " 1884 1912 12.58 27 " 1885 1912 15.17 19 " 1891 1912 20.3 Prince Albert Saskatoon . . . Edmonton Dunvegan . . , Macleod Calgary Banff SASKATCHEWAN RIVER 125 Discharge Measurements. — Float discharge measurements were made in 1909 by E. A. Forward at The Pas, and also at Grand rapid. These were followed by measurements made by the late William Ogilvie, in the year 1911, at Grand rapid. On August 8, 1912, a gauging station was established at Grand rapid by the Manitoba Hydrometric Survey, and on October 21, of the same year, a second station was established at The Pas. A summary of discharges at these stations is given on pages 127 and 128. Three lakes are situated in the lower portion of the Opportunities river system immediately above Grand rapid ; for Storage ^ riyer flowg throug .h Cedar and Cross lakes, while Moose lake is a tributary to the north. The area of these lakes is as follows: Cross lake 39, Cedar lake 425, and Moose lake 513 square miles; total, 970 square miles. While storage on these lakes is pos- sible, the projected reclamation of low lands in the vicinity of Cedar lake, through the lowering of the latter, would forestall storage pos- sibilities. Investigation is also being made into the storage pos- sibilities in the headwaters of the Saskatchewan river. Assuming that the flow of the winter months, from October 1, 1913, to April 1, 1914, would be similar to that of the same period during 1912-1913, mean curve studies show that a storage of 305,000 million cubic feet would be necessary for a uniform flow of 32,000 second-feet. A one-foot storage on Cross, Cedar and Moose lakes would give approximately 27,000 million cubic feet, indicating that a storage of slightly over eleven feet would be necessary. An estimate of the power available at the three Water-power rapids is given below. The power available has been vax e based on an 80 per cent efficiency, and is also com- puted, — (1) for an estimated minimum flow of 4,500 second- feet, and (2) for a flow of 20,000 second feet, this being the lowest monthly mean flow for the six highest months during each of the years 1913, 1914, and 1915, and the power as indicated refers only to this period. No estimate has been made of the additional power available during periods of low flow through any storage system : — Head in feet Estimated horse-power on 80 per cent efficiency Possible power site Min. flow 4,500 sec.-ft. Period 6 highest months 20,000 sec.-ft. Demi-charge Red Rock 15 15 80 6.100 6,100 32,600 27,200 27,200 Grand Rapid 145,000 126 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The engineers of the Water Power branch and of the Public Works Department, are working out a project for power development at Grand rapids, which will make proper provision for navigation. While the Water Power branch already has considerable topographic and hydrographic information regarding this portion of the Saskatchewan river, it will be necessary to make further examination on the ground before coming to a final decision respecting the method of power and canal development. Arrangements are being made for this work at an early date. The survey by C. H. Attwood, Water Power branch, shows six possible power sites between Prince Albert and Sipanok channel. The results are summarised below : POSSIBLE POWER DEVELOPMENTS— SASKATCHEWAN RIVER Estimated dis- Horse-power Head charge in c.f.s. Power Site De- For 8 Mini- (miles below in pend- months mum Remarks Prince Albert) feet able Mini- (dis- (dis- for 8 mum charge charge months of col. 3) of col. 4) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cole falls Mile 29 28 2,500 1,000 6,363 2,550 Under construction. Mile 38 40 6,500 2,400 23,640 8,730 Mile SV/ 2 .... 40 6,500 2,400 23,640 8,730 Mile 70 55 6,500 2,400 32,500 12,000 Mile 84 40 6,500 2,400 23,640 8,730 Mile 101 y 2 ... 30 6,500 2,400 17,725 6,545 Mile \6\y 2 ... 60 6,500 2,400 35,455 13,090 Squaw rapids. SASKATCHEWAN RIVER 127 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SASKATCHEWAN RIVER. NEAR THE PAS, MAN. (Drainage area 149,500 square miles.) Discharge in second-fee . Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1913 62,740 57,970 63,800 63,005 55,055 58,100 54,600 59,600 55,700 27,400 23,500 25,200 9,450 5.330 5.980. 49.925 32,056 56,350 94,328 100,317 80,330 45,624 44,720 44,190 55,850 54,790 33,060 41,100 38,800 54,900 27,400 23.500 18,500 9,600 6,550 4,745 5,213 5,980 17,930 35,050 57,091 80.720 47.082 25,105 6,000* 5,000* 6,000* 34,200* 53,186 50,346 60,402 58,084 45,000* 25,000* 6,000* 5,000* 4,500* 25,000* 44,400 45.100 58,394 40,400 25,210 20,658 17,200 8,700 4,500* 5,163 5,556 24,583 25,069 44,904 79,185 94,697 65,329 34,141 21,000* 7,000* .041 .033 March .041 .229 May .355 .337 July .404 .388 September (1-28) .30 October 1914 .17 .040 February .034 .030 April .167 .297 .301 Tulv .391 .270 September .169 .138 .115 .058 1915 .030 .034 .037 .164 .168 .300 Tulv .530 .633 .437 .228 .140 December .047 100,317 4,745 32,519 .229 * Estimated. MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, NEAR HEAD OF GRAND RAPID, MAN. Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean 1912 August (331) 62,000 66.500 74,000 47,000 61,250 39.500 52.000 64,500 October . 62.750 November (1-25) • • 38,750 1 23,000 128 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, NEAR HEAD OF GRAND RAPID, MAN.— Continued Month 1913 May (19-31) .... June July August September October November (1-11) 1914 May June July August 1915 January February March April May June July August September October November December Year Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean 48,500 56,000 56,750 53,000 39,950 24,500 48,500 36,500 48,200 54,600 20,454 22,414 38,298 67,060 80,638 83,266 65,308 30,706 83,266 45,500 46,500 54,500 40,400 25,100 19,250 24,700 28.500 35,200 26,600 5,080 5,660 16,572 17,682 39,320 66,330 66.622 30,998 15,610 45,300 45,800 50,900 55,300 46,900 33,100 32,200 32,700 42,200 40,800 *4,500 *5.000 5,850 10,041 18,913 25.621 53,380 74,162 75,601 47,563 20,590 *8,000 29,102 * Estimated. CHAPTER VII North Saskatchewan River and Tributaries The North Saskatchewan river traverses the great central prairies of western Canada and the southern portion of the wooded country between the Rocky mountains and Hudson bay. Rising in the Rocky mountains, it has its source in several branches fed by the glaciers of the eastern slopes. The head-waters are approximately 350 miles west of Edmonton and 1,100 miles west of Prince Albert, measuring along the river. Leaving the foothills, and entering the plains, the tributaries flow rapidly between high clay and gravel banks. Portions of the streams are very tortuous. For eleven miles below the mouth of the Brazeau, the North Saskatchewan continues its northerly course. In this distance, the current is very irregular but averages four and one-half miles per hour. For a distance of ten and one-half miles below Rocky Mountain House, the west bank of the river is a low, alluvial flat, overlying quartzite gravel, and wooded, in most places, with spruce of fair size. The east bank is high in sections, showing escarpments of yellowish, coarse-grained sandstone, apparently horizontal. There is a possible power site at the Rocky rapid, Development 75 miles west of Edmonton. In one of the first Possible schemes contemplated, the total head would have to be created by a dam, as the descent is not very steep. Although there is rock underlying the river bed, it is covered to a considerable depth with gravel and sand ; the rock forming the bank at this point is a soft sandstone and resembles cemented sand more than rock. The river flows through a wide valley formed by banks from 150 to 200 feet in height ; in many places there are wide bottom lands, most of which are well timbered with spruce and poplar. To create a head of 50 feet a dam 1,800 feet long would be necessary. With an assumed low- water flow of 1,400 second-feet, nearly 8,000 theoretical h.p. would be available, but it is reported that the cost of development would be high. 9 [129] 130 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Further investigations in connection with Rocky rapid and vicinity have revealed a more favourable power site in township 47, range 7, west of the fifth meridian, where a dam, 85 feet high, would have to be built. The river, for a few miles above and below this site, has a very swift current and a fall of about eight feet to the mile, with an average width of about 500 feet. The main valley is about 200 feet deep and nearly one mile wide on the crests. Steep river banks on one side generally alternate with low, flat banks on the other. At the proposed dam site, a cut bank on the right, composed of layers of clay and sandstone, rises very abruptly to a height of 225 feet. The river channel lies at the foot of the right bank and is about 500 feet wide at high water. On the left bank, a flat recedes for 700 feet, and then rises in a moderate slope to a height of about 200 feet. The main river, between Edmonton and the junction with the South Saskatchewan, 30 miles east of Prince Albert, is a swift, steady stream, having a uniform descent and an occasional rapid, flowing over a rough boulder bed, between banks of boulder-clay or hard-pan. There are, however, no steep pitches in any of the rapids ; the greatest fall is three and one-half feet in 2,000 and occurs at the Crooked rapids, immediately above the forks.* At Edmonton, and for 186 miles below, the river is narrow. A good channel is found throughout almost this entire distance. From Vermilion river to Prince Albert, a distance of 289 miles, there are no rapids, but shifting sand-bars are of very frequent occur- rence. This section of the river is wide, varying from 1,000 to 4,000 feet, and contains numerous islands and several channels. To obtain a clear idea of conditions in this drainage basin, it is necessary to describe the principal characteristics of the different por- tions of the area. The basin naturally divides itself into five sections. Natural Divisions of Drainage Area The first, or upper division, consists of the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains. While this portion of the basin is not the largest in area, it supplies the major portion of the drainage. In the glaciers and snow of the higher peaks, innumerable small streams rise and flow eastward, forming larger streams, which empty into the main river. These streams also are fed by the melting snow and by rains which fall in the mountains at all seasons of the year. Under these conditions the mountainous region frequently discharges a great * For more detailed information respecting the rapids of this river see also p. 279 and profde facing this page. Feet 320C I40i 1301 Miles 130 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Further investigations in connection with Rocky rapid and vicinity have revealed a more favourable power site in township 47, range 7, west of the fifth meridian, where a dam, 85 feet high, would have to be built. The river, for a few miles above and below this site, has a very swift current and a fall of about eight feet to the mile, with an average width of about 500 feet. The main valley is about 200 feet deep and nearly one mile wide on the crests. Steep river banks on one side generally alternate with low, flat banks on the other. At the proposed dam site, a cut bank on the right, composed of layers of clay and sandstone, rises very abruptly to a height of 225 feet. The river channel lies at the foot of the right bank and is about 500 feet wide at high water. On the left bank, a flat recedes for 700 feet, and then rises in a moderate slope to a height of about 200 feet. The main river, between Edmonton and the junction with the South Saskatchewan, 30 miles east of Prince Albert, is a swift, steady stream, having a uniform descent and an occasional rapid, flowing over a rough boulder bed, between banks of boulder-clay or hard-pan. There are, however, no steep pitches in any of the rapids ; the greatest fall is three and one-half feet in 2,000 and occurs at the Crooked rapids, immediately above the forks.* At Edmonton, and for 186 miles below, the river is narrow. A good channel is found throughout almost this entire distance. From Vermilion river to Prince Albert, a distance of 289 miles, there are no rapids, but shifting sand-bars are of very frequent occur- rence. This section of the river is wide, varying from 1,000 to 4,000 feet, and contains numerous islands and several channels. To obtain a clear idea of conditions in this drainage basin, it is necessary to describe the principal characteristics of the different por- tions of the area. The basin naturally divides itself into five sections. Natural Divisions of Drainage Area The first, or upper division, consists of the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains. While this portion of the basin is not the largest in area, it supplies the major portion of the drainage. In the glaciers and snow of the higher peaks, innumerable small streams rise and flow eastward, forming larger streams, which empty into the main river. These streams also are fed by the melting snow and by rains which fall in the mountains at all seasons of the year. Under these conditions the mountainous region frequently discharges a great ♦For more detailed information respecting the rapids of this river see also p. 279 and profile facing this page. NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 131 quantity of water into the streams in a short time. This is especially noticeable each spring when the mountains, for the most part bare of vegetation, are exposed to the sun, which melts the winter's snow quickly. Floods occur when this warm weather is accompanied by rain. The lower slopes of the mountains and the valleys are well wooded, and, to a considerable extent, offset the effects of warm wea- ther. The streams in this division have a descent of from 20 to 100 feet per mile. Below the mountain section are the foothills, con- Well Covered stituting the second, and largest, division of the basin. Here the river flows easterly and northerly and is joined by numerous streams. The valley is deeper and more clearly defined. The country is hilly and rough but not as broken as the mountain section. The entire region has a fairly heavy precipitation and is well covered with forest. Large tracts of muskeg occur and, while they tend to make the drainage uniform, if well saturated, they offer less resistance to rapid run-off of heavy rains than bare hill- side. The descent of the river in this section is from 5 to 20 feet per mile. From near Edmonton to the mouth of the Vermilion river, the North Saskatchewan flows through a park-like country, with great areas of prairie. Few tributaries flow into the river and the drain- age area of this third division is small. The valley is well-defined, with few flats along the river. The descent is over \]/ 2 feet per mile. The fourth section, from the Vermilion river to Prince Albert, is principally prairie, with occasional stretches wooded with small timber and second growth. The valley of the river is much wider and the stream itself expands into shallow reaches full of shifting sand-bars. Low-lying flats border the river for the greater part of the course. The slope of this section is one foot per mile. The fifth and last division extends from Prince Albert to the con- fluence with the South Saskatchewan. It has a descent of 3% feet per mile, occurring in a series of rapids. The valley is not as deep as in the two preceding sections, but the river channel is more clearly defined. The basin is fairly well timbered and contains very little prairie land. Below the confluence the main Saskatchewan river is a chain of lakes and lagoons, surrounded by low-lying land and muskeg, covered with trees. In the lower portion of the region traversed by the river the tim- ber is chiefly soft wood of small size and of little value for structural purposes. 132 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The river is normally shallow ; near Prince Albert it is from 800 to 1,200 feet wide, and from 8 to 15 feet deep. In the rapids and swifts the shallowest water appears to have a depth of 5 or 6 feet in the mid-channel sections. The flood season is divided into two distinct per- Flood Season iods. The earlier, in April and May, is due to the ordinary freshets on the plains and carries the ice out of the river ; the second, in June and July, results from the melting of snow in the foothills and mountains The latter flood is much the greater and of longer duration. Occasional abnormal rises bring very heavy floods. At Prince Albert the water has risen 20 feet above normal level and at Edmonton it has risen 38 feet in a few hours. The flow of the North Saskatchewan varies greatly through- out the year, although in the autumn and winter months it is nearly uniform. From September until March, it gradually decreases in volume ; the three winter months, January, February and March, com- prise the period of lowest water, on account of the frozen condi- tion of the whole drainage basin. During eight months of the year, a flow of approximately 6,000 cubic feet per second may be relied on. The ordinary maximum flood discharge, occurring in July, appears to be about 80,000 cubic feet per second, but on June 28, 1915, a flood of 204,500 c.f.s. was recorded at Edmonton. Gauge readings on this river have been made at Discharge Edmonton for a number of years, during the open Measurements water season . j n 191 1 regular gauging stations were established by the Irrigation branch of the Interior, at Edmonton, Battleford and Prince Albert, and later at Rocky Mountain House and Rocky Rapids : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT EDMONTON, AI/TA. (Approximate drainage area, 10,700 square miles) Month 1911 May June July August September October November (1-10) December (6-31) Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 21,755 6,568 27,930 10,600 51,442 15,520 46,692 15,320 18,668 8,024 8,024 4,887 4,692 3,132 1,750 1,380 Mean 9,238 17,412 28.094 24,600 11,502 6,597 3,723 1,638 Per square mile .85 1.61 2.60 2.28 1.07 .61 .34 .152 NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 133 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT EDMONTON, ALTA.— Continued Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1912 1,402 1,436 2,620 7,700 16,200 35,150 74,100 70,300 23,750 8,460 5,595 1,980 1,720 1,560 1,820 27,000 14,800 29,700 29,700 32,600 15,400 6,100 2,950 1,740 1,450 1.100 1,300 6,570 15,000 61.740 25,620 14,400 9,370 5,840 2.970 2,350 1,350 1,120 2,420 4.700 14.780 185,560 90,200 33,150 18.600 8,070 4,450 2.280 1,164 1,232 1,062 2,820 4,770 6,180 15,000 13,900 7,350 5,595 1,504 1,266 1,210 1,230 1,210 1,900 4,300 12,100 16.000 9,700 5.700 3.100 1,770 650 968 800 975 1.075 3.950 5,440 11.130 9.110 4.240 3,130 2,050 700 1,010 1,040 1,115 2,220 3.280 17.420 26.670 18.260 6,690 4.450 2.230 1,320 1,255 1,328 1,316 4,629 11,926 18,242 13,900 26,444 12,864 7,162 3,177 1,680 1,393 1,313 1,315 8,227 9,727 19.780 21,439 18,505 9.430 4,539 2,357 1,058 1,213 952 1,134 2,983 9,064 24.618 18.889 11.099 6.492 4,558 2,473 1,102 1,223 1,079 1.677 3,323 8.373 39,272 42,661 23.554 10,294 5,673 3.013 1.716 .116 .123 .122 .43 1.10 1.69 July 1.29 2.45 1.19 .66 .29 .156 1913 .129 .122 .122 .763 May .902 1.830 July 1.990 1.720 .875 .421 .219 .098 .114 .090 .107 .281 .854 2.320 July 1.780 1.040 .611 .429 .233 .104 1915 .115 .102 .158 .313 .788 3.70 July 4.02 2.22 .969 .534 .284 .162 134 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT PRINCE ALBERT, SASK. Month 1910 June (22-30) July August September October (1 and 8-31) 1911 May (8-31) June July August September October (1-29) 1912 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1913 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1914 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1915 January February March April Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean 23,985 13,148 16,600 18,600 12,100 15,346 18,600 10,630 13,904 20,100 10,280 12,609 10,982 6,172 8,120 17,020 7,070 9,817 22,000 8,460 14,828 42,200 17,500 25,956 41,400 18,500 25.682 25,800 10,385 16.438 10,385 5,380 7,902 1,576 1,460 1,505 1,610 1,550 1,584 1,610 1,544 1,579 18,750 1,584 9,022 15,964 6,110 11,280 32,450 6,704 14,864 69.880 17,800 35,301 54,600 19,100 30.044 44,360 12,140 22,277 12,180 8,985 10,024 8,635 2,328 4,915 2,600 1,790 2,315 2,675 1,350 1,663 1,725 1,375 1,583 2,500 1,650 1.981 33,575 2,400 16,330 18,600 7,720 12,149 27,580 13,865 19.042 33,190 21,400 26,186 35,665 17,800 25.096 18,900 9,985 14.576 9,670 3,950 7,114 5,125 2.600 3,022 2,600 1,375 1.819 1,565 850 1,221 1,433 1,077 1.191 1,380 1,229 1,295 15.860 1,402 4,350 17,978 8,516 13,235 63,290 8.900 30,347 35.650 18,590 29.456 17,420 11,580 14,550 13.580 6,986 10.304 8.936 6,634 7,763 6,539 1,670 3,736 3,500 1,050 2,533 2,150 1,280 1,760 1,800 1,550 1,655 2,050 1,570 1,707 18,500 2,250 9,046 NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 135 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT PRINCE ALBERT, SASK.— Continued Month 1915— Con. May June July August September . . . October November . . . December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean 10.700 4,820 7,003 42.660 9,940 25,023 186,546 33,200 60,224 36,430 21,850 28,129 24,460 9,150 14,999 9,190 6.030 7,653 6,010 2,620 3,8% 2,880 1,700 2,238 Note. — As this stream is fed chiefly from the mountains, it was decided not to use the results obtained from the drainage area since they would be misleading. MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, NEAR ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE (Drainage area 4,050 square miles) Discharge in second-fee Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1913 June (2 30) 17,240 21,040 22,750 11,730 4,810 2,350 3,580 920 830 940 1,750 6,300 18,000 16,746 12,566 7,010 4,350 2,322 955 875 798 847 1.827 9,052 129,700 36,325 27,325 12,400 4.925 3,030 1,435 9,150 8,300 7,330 4.460 2,210 1,390 830 720 650 800 900 1,894 4.350 8.640 7,010 3.090 2.280 1.040 802 785 695 627 850 2,052 7,180 15.760 13,600 4,625 3,120 1.340 1,310 12,347 13.456 13,550 7,417 3,100 1,892 1,630 848 729 862 1,114 4,104 10,808 12.914 8,916 4,772 3,187 1.753 850 833 751 681 1,451 5,934 22,894 22,562 16,753 6.964 3,686 1,994 1,364 3.06 July 3.34 3.36 1.84 .76 .47 December 1914 .40 .21 .18 .21 .27 1.02 2.68 T U 1 V 3.20 2.21 1.18 .79 .43 .21 1915 .206 .185 .168 A _ril .358 Mi 1.465 Tune 5.653 Tilly 5.571 4.137 1.720 .910 .492 .337 136 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT ROCKY RAPIDS (Drainage area, 8,230 square miles) Month 1915 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . . September October . . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean m ?j e 1,360 1,300 2,350 4,900 23,000 190,500 94,200 42,240 21,360 7,625 4,570 2,320 1,100 1,100 1,050 2,400 3,700 19,100 24,860 17,780 6,800 4,705 2,310 1,410 1,257 1,209 1,569 3,547 9,519 43,550 41,094 24,549 10,906 5,717 3,149 1,782 .153 .147 .191 .431 1.157 5.292 4.993 2.983 1.325 .695 .383 .216 The North Saskatchewan river is regarded as a navigable stream between the confluence with the South Saskatchewan and Edmonton. It was navigated for many years by the Hudson's Bay Company's and other steamboats. Navigation usually opens toward the end of May or the first of June, in the high-water period, and continues until late in August, depending upon the rate at which the water falls to low level. A very important hydro-electric plant for the city Cole Fall of Prince Albert is now in course of construction on Development ^ ^^ ^ Cole ^ 26 miles eagt of that dty The plant is situated on sees. 30 and 31, tp. 49, rge. XXII, west second meridian, and the development comprises a 30-foot Ambursen dam, giving a head of 29 -5 feet at low water and 23 -5 feet at high water; a lock, 150 feet long and 40 feet wide, is provided at the south end of the dam. The power-house is designed to accommodate machinery with a capacity of 7,500 h.p., but the present installation will generate only 5,000 h.p., divided into two units of 2,500 h.p. The transmission line to Prince Albert follows the government road and will be about 28 miles long ; 35-foot wooden poles, with fire- protected butts, are to be used; the 3-phase current will be trans- mitted at 33,000 volts to the receiving-station, on the north side of the river, adjoining a proposed auxiliary steam-plant. Battle River Battle river is from 50 to 200 feet in width and flows in a very tortuous channel. For the greater part of the course, the river is at the bottom of a deep and winding valley, although occasionally 1 ^^4i ^jmM fi , v , ^ . A j djfcL; JatiJflMaJB afe 5&« ---^"^ ' Saskatchewan River— Grand Rapii Saskatchewan Rivek Red Rock Raj NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 137 it is but little below the level of the surrounding plain. The stream issues from Battle lake, 2,294 feet above sea, and flows eastward midway between the Red Deer and North Saskatchewan rivers, enter- ing- the latter one mile and a half below Battleford. From Battle lake, for a distance of 40 miles, it flows southeast in the bottom of a straight, well-defined valley, which averages one-half mile in width and 100 feet in depth. At the Elbow, it turns N. 55° E., flowing for 19 miles in a gradually expanding valley. The river is still very tortuous, with stretches of quiet water, separated by short rapids, in which the bottom of the channel is covered with pebbles and boulders. At the eleventh base- line, the river turns sharply and flows northward for 16 miles to the mouth of Iron creek. One of the power sites on this river, examined in the interest of the municipality of Battleford, is situated six miles above the town. A dam, approximately 1,500 feet long, would be necessary to obtain a head of 65 feet. However, the cost of construction was considered excessive. In 1911, a gauging-station was established on this river at Battle- ford, Sask., by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior. The following is a summary of discharges since that date : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BATTLE RIVER, AT BATTLEFORD (Drainage area, 11,850 square miles) Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 3,522 908 1,396 .118 842 506 599 .051 739 496 585 .049 4,030 555 1,143 .096 2.350 995 1.560 .132 1,380 990 1,179 .099 1,003 586 727 .061 130 20 57 .005 100 30 58 .005 150 25 75 .006 5,736 1,366 3,175 .268 1,878 580 990 .083 586 330 447 .038 718 400 512 .043 580 320 457 .038 532 420 468 .039 460 275 365 .031 325 130 194 .016 150 38 101 .008 Month 1912 April (14-30) May June July August September . . . October 1913 January February .... March April May June July August September . . . October November . . . December . . . 138 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BATTLE RIVER, AT BATTLEFORD.— Con. Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean 24 29 20 21 20 22 37 446 805 1,429 760 1,680 790 1,920 420 543 351 419 348 501 167 289 93 164 89 104 64 72 64 150 290 1,330 435 498 500 947 1,360 1,962 1,225 1,788 515 707 425 459 139 225 71 102 Per square mile 1914 January . February- March . . . April May June July August . . . September October . . November December 1915 January . . February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December 39 24 33 1,071 1,970 3,630 2,873 770 519 760 438 204 135 90 445 2,355 635 1,585 2,785 2,295 1,180 520 450 150 .0024 .0018 .0019 .0376 .121 .142 .162 .0458 .0345 .0423 .0244 .014 .0061 .0127 .1123 .0420 .0799 .1656 .1509 .0597 .0387 .0190 .0086 Note.— Shifting conditions from June 24 to Sept. 6, 1912. Sturgeon River The Sturgeon river rises in Isle lake, about 50 miles due west of St. Albert, Alta. Isle lake is about eight miles in length and one mile in width, and drains approximately 80 square miles. Except near the outlet, the banks generally slope up to a height of from 50 to 100 feet above water-level, the country beyond being fairly level but rolling. At the outlet the surrounding country is low and marshy. The river channel is narrow and blocked with weeds, and the current is very sluggish. Leaving Isle lake the Sturgeon river flows for about four miles through low, marshy lands, and empties into lake St. Ann. This lake is approximately 12 miles long, with an average width of about 2 miles. The Sturgeon flows out of the eastern end of the lake and continues in a general easterly direction to St. Albert, a distance of about 35 miles. Along its course the land is low, and swampy in many places. NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 139 At St. Albert the river enters Big lake, which is about seven miles long and one mile wide. The shores are low and swampy but the land beyond rises to an elevation of 100 feet or more above the lake. From the east end of Big lake, the river flows for about 30 miles in a north-easterly direction. Along this part the banks become steeper, the river in places flowing in a valley 100 feet deep and about 600 feet wide. At Battenburg the stream takes a sharp turn and flows in a south-easterly direction, a distance of about 10 miles, to the North Saskatchewan river. Along the whole course of the Sturgeon river the predominating timber is poplar and balm of Gilead. Spruce occurs but not in abundance. The municipality of Fort Saskatchewan built a hydro-electric plant on this river situated six miles from the town. The plant consisted of a 250-h.p. unit, and the electrical energy was transmitted at 6,600 volts, over a transmission line six miles in length, to a sub-station, where the voltage was stepped down to 2,200 volts through two 75-k.w. trans- formers. In 1912 the plant was undermined and destroyed and has not been rebuilt. Gauging stations have been established on this river by the Irriga- tion branch of the Department of the Interior. The following are summaries of monthly discharges at St. Albert for 1913, and near Fort Saskatchewan for 1914 and 1915: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF THE STURGEON RIVER, AT ST. ALBERT (Drainage area, 920 square miles.) Month 1913 April (23-30) ... May June July August (1-9) .. . September (3-30) October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 579 447 137 242 246 215 142 107 67 Minimum 460 224 106 134 228 143 108 80 28 Mean 516 304 114 174 239 175 122 103 53 Per square mile .561 .330 .124 .189 .260 .190 .133 .112 .058 140 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF THE STURGEON RIVER, NEAR FORT SASKATCHEWAN (Drainage area, 1,330 square miles.) Month 1914 January . February March . . April . . . May .... June July .... August . . September October . November December 1915 January . February March . . April .... May June July August . . September October . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 46 38 49 380 218 ,827 ,450 432 123 145 200 84 61 61 450 873 240 ,075 921 410 138 138 219 116 16 16 32 51 86 86 480 123 106 123 76 52 55 54 55 180 108 108 410 138 110 138 114 67 Mean 27 24 38 180 132 1,102 915 211 117 139 121 169 58 58 90 531 156 697 663 216 117 138 150 87 Per square mile .020 .018 .029 .135 .099 .828 .688 .159 .088 .104 .091 .052 .044 .044 .068 .399 .117 .524 .499 .162 .088 .104 .113 .065 Brazeau River The Brazeau river, one of the chief tributaries of the North Sas- katchewan, is a swift stream, rising in Brazeau lake, in the heart of the Rocky mountains, near the sources of the North Saskatchewan and Athabaska rivers. It flows north-easterly about 50 miles, and thence in a general easterly direction to its junction with the North Saskat- chewan. Its principal tributaries in the mountain section are Job creek and Southesk river ; in the foothill, the North and South branches and Nordegg river are the chief tributaries. The flow of the river, like all mountain streams, is greatly reduced in winter with floods in sum- mer. Several miles above Job creek the river flows through a limestone canon about three-quarters of a mile in length, from 100 to 150 feet deep, and varying in width from 50 to 150 feet. Toward the lower end of this canon a series of falls have a total descent of 45 feet in a distance of approximately 200 feet. With the exception of this canon, NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES HI the banks of the river, from a point about two miles below Brazeau lake down to near the mouth of the Southesk river, are low, sloping up to the base of the mountains which form the sides of the valley as far as Southesk river. For a short distance above Southesk river, both banks are high. About 300 feet below the Southesk, the Brazeau cuts through a sandstone dyke in a short canon about 300 feet long; the right bank is 80 feet and the left 110 feet high. For a distance of approximately 1,000 feet below the canon, both banks are high and precipitous. From this point down to Thistle creek, banks are alternately high and low, the tortuous stream being broken by series of small cascades. Below Thistle creek, the fall of the river is less rapid, the current gradually diminishing to the junction with the North Saskatchewan. Above the Southesk, the drainage basin is covered with a growth of small jackpine and spruce, with occasional clumps of large spruce. Below the Southesk the surrounding country is thickly strewn with fallen timber and covered with a dense growth of small jackpine. The following discharges have been observed on the Brazeau river: DISCHARGE OF THE BRAZEAU RIVER Date Location Discharge in second-feet 1913 July 9 39-21-5 702 July 11 39-21-5 . 751 July 13 39-21-5 802 July 15 Outlet of Brazeau lake . . . 1 At junction with 1 j North Saskatchewan j y 2 m. below Brazeau lake. . . 208* 1914 222 March 18 285 March 19 283 Oct. IS 109 * May not represent total flow at this point. Clearwater River The Clearwater, one of the mountain tributaries of the North Saskatchewan river, rises in one of the inner ranges of the Rocky mountains. Its source is near the headwaters of Pipestone creek, which flows south-westward into the Bow river, while the Clearwater river takes a north-easterly course. The latter leaves the mountains in lat. 51° 57', long. 115° 42', and eventually empties into the North Saskatchewan near Rocky Mountain House. Through the foot- hills, and as far east as the main pack-trail, north from Morley, the 142 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION banks of the river are reported to be heavily wooded. At the trail crossing the south bank is steep and well-timbered with spruce and poplar; the northern recedes for nearly a mile as a wide, grassy flat, with small pines and poplars scattered over it. The Clearwater, at its mouth, is a swift, clear stream, 150 feet wide and from fifteen inches to two feet in depth, flowing over a bed of rounded, quartzite pebbles. Higher upstream, the channel is divided in many places by wide gravel bars, which are submerged during high water. A gauging station was established on this river near Rocky Moun- tain House by the Irrigation branch. The following is a summary of discharges at this station for 1914 and 1915: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF THE CLEARWATER RIVER, NEAR ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE (Drainage area, 850 square miles.) Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1914 January February March April May 240 225 270 458 1,196 2,280 1,915 1,025 834 850 535 269 206 212 302 450 2,488 39,100 12,540 10,024 2,238 1,340 952 607 128 160 150 240 324 354 834 610 465 395 280 125 160 183 188 295 480 2,164 3,208 2,126 1,230 845 621 305 190 197 232 449 746 1,376 1,406 783 610 603 426 185 175 194 248 359 1,618 5,688 5,881 3,180 1,590 1,023 766 460 .224 .232 .273 .528 .878 1.620 Tulv 1.650 August September .921 .718 .709 November .501 .218 1915 .199 .220 .282 .407 1.84 6.46 July 6.68 3.61 1.80 1.16 .869 .522 - CHAPTER VIII South Saskatchewan River and Tributaries except Bow River The South Saskatchewan rises in the mountains of south-western Alberta. Between the Bow river and Cherry coulee, high, scarped, barren banks rise on both sides of the river, and the general level of the prairie is nearly 250 feet above the water at the latter point. The width of the stream is approximately 1,000 feet. The river is tran- quil as far as Medicine Hat, but the valley is narrow, and, in places, canon-like, with banks from 250 to 300 feet in height. Its direction in this upper part is east, although at Medicine Hat the course changes somewhat abruptly. In this distance of 100 miles the descent is nearly two feet per mile, and the current, in time of low water, flows at the average rate of two and three-quarter miles per hour, approxi- mately. For 12 or 15 miles below Medicine Hat, the river follows a rather tortuous course, through large clay-flats usually wooded with groves of cottonwood. The next section, extending as far as Drowning Man ford, is much straighter, while the bordering flats are very narrow. To the east of Drowning Man ford, the river enters higher ground ; the valley landscape, hitherto somewhat monotonous, assumes a much more striking character. The sloping, grassy banks, which characterize it farther up, are replaced by high, precipitous cliffs of bare, gray rock, while the valley narrows until in many places its breadth scarcely exceeds that of the stream. The height of the plateau above the river is nearly 500 feet. The canon-like appear- ance of the valley prevails for over 30 miles, after which the Cretaceous rocks, by which the river-valley has been confined, gradually sink beneath the softer, Post-Tertiary deposits. Between the eastern end of the canon and the mouth of the Red Deer river, the valley is about one mile and a half wide and 400 feet in depth. Its banks, except near the bends of the river, are grassy, and it contains occasional wide bottoms, some of which support large groves, principally of cottonwood. Below the mouth of the Red Deer, the valley is approxi- mately 200 feet deep. [143] 144 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Below Mouth of Red Deer The valley of the South Saskatchewan, east of the mouth of the Red Deer, is of very uniform character for many miles. It is, as a rule, wide, and contains extensive and valuable bottoms, which, especially in the upper part of this section, are often well wooded. The grassy banks slope gently upward to the prairie level; scarped banks are of rare occurrence. The total distance from the mouth of the Red Deer river to the "Elbow," measured in three-mile stretches, is about 180 miles. The elevation of the former point is 1,901 feet, and of the latter 1,660 feet ; this gives the river an average descent of 1 -3 feet per mile. The fall is very evenly distributed and rapids are few but the great num- ber of shifting sand-bars, which block the channel for nearly its entire length, makes navigation, except in time of high water, a matter of extreme difficulty. In some places the river is nearly a mile wide, and divides into several streams, separated by wide bars or sandy islands, through which it is difficult for even a small boat to find a passage. A power site has been surveyed at a point 15 miles below Sas- katoon, where a head of 15 feet could be created by building a dam. The development project has been abandoned temporarily, probably on account of the excessive cost of construction. Gauging stations were established at Medicine Hat and Saskatoon by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior in 1911. The following is a summary of discharges : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT MEDICINE HAT (Drainage area, 20,870 square miles.) Discharge in second-feel Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1911 40,140 33,575 25,500 7,790 4,562 2,166 2,504 2.940 7,772 20,020 39,815 30,715 18,620 13.050 6,364 5.904 3,040 14,250 13,500 13,500 4,360 790 1,016 1,776 1,550 6,252 6.056 9,905 18.080 10,090 6,560 5,760 3,000 2,056 32,694 25,825 18,545 4,228 2,501 1,663 2,134 1,792 6,746 12,887 19.121 21,513 13,292 8,698 6,065 5.099 2,376 1.57 July 1.24 August (1-26) 0.89 0.20 0.12 1912 0.08 0.10 March (1-24 and 27) 0.09 April (10-19) 0.32 May (3-31) 0.62 0.92 July 1.03 0.64 0.42 0.29 0.24 December 0.11 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 145 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT MEDICINE HAT.— Continued Month 1913 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . September October . November December 1914 January . February March . . April . . . May June July .... August . . September October . November December 1915 January . February March . . . April May June .... July August . . September October . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 2.370 2.370 2,550 15.960 32.273 34,415 31,160 19,931 10.442 8,090 5,470 4.070 3,580 1,810 6,184 9,185 20.350 25.500 19,600 7.700 5,625 12.725 6,860 4,300 2,860 2,030 16,650 7,830 32,100 84,700 47,896 33,205 11,212 8,640 7,830 3,140 Minimum 975 1,640 1,660 2,300 6,422 23,195 10,294 8,680 5,326 5,115 2,242 1,920 1,480 1,310 1,860 2,730 6.800 13,450 7,220 5,100 2,420 4,775 4,100 1,120 1,720 1,890 1,820 3,470 5,814 20,162 23,164 10,652 6,822 5.656 3,140 1,660 Mean 1,652 2,013 2,059 8,977 12.412 29,747 16,907 12,260 7,592 5,873 4,647 3,117 2,547 1.577 4.022 5.754 14.679 19,831 14,122 6,590 4,486 7,600 5,556 1,873 2,305 1,982 6,176 5,345 19,354 32,275 32,997 18,470 8,815 7,112 4,537 2,378 Per square mile 0.079 0.096 0.099 0.425 0.595 1.42 0.810 0.587 0.364 0.281 0.223 0.149 0.122 0.075 0.193 0.275 0.703 0.950 0.677 0.315 0.215 0.364 0.266 0.090 .110 .095 .296 .256 .927 1.547 1.581 .880 .422 .341 .217 .114 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, AT SASKATOON Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean 1911 May (28-31) .... June July August September October (1-19) .. November (20-30) December 10 24.600 43,100 46,600 43.800 35,400 13,400 3,550 5,450 19.350 18,250 19.350 16.600 11.950 3,000 1.888 2.025 22.688 32.477 27.684 23.503 20.357 8.476 2.434 3.045 146 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER, SASKATOON.— Continued AT 1912 January . February March . . . April .... May June .... July August . . September October . November 1913 January . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . November December 1914 January . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . November December 1915 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . . September October . . November December Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean 2,325 1,350 1,686 2,525 2,112 2,297 2,525 2,000 2,304 37,300 2,330 14,152 25,000 8,355 14,737 44,790 12,850 23,204 50,320 23,380 33,602 43,320 15,950 23,681 21,550 10,680 16,359 10,400 8,530 9,293 9,755 4,140 7,414 1,425 1,130 1,247 2,390 1,310 1,981 2,520 2,370 2,432 37,950 2,550 15,852 19,850 7,260 11,937 38,230 17,025 32,436 42,710 13,690 24,232 19,500 11,670 14,854 11,635 6,960 9,143 8,880 6,630 7,909 12,160 5,080 6.079 4,950 2,150 3,752 3,250 2,320 2.702 2,370 1,860 2,130 3,630 2,200 3,038 9,020 3,620 6,319 23,370 7,500 13.876 35,128 16,585 26.375 28,752 14,630 22,694 14,160 8,380 9.762 9,550 7,020 7,945 16.382 7.077 10,315 13.350 5,300 8,151 7,210 1,570 3,482 4,100 2,500 3,379 2,750 2,150 2,345 5,800 2,700 3,318 43,880 6,650 13.472 34,790 7.375 19,813 48,170 26,505 36,144 111,012 36,390 60.566 56,645 20,060 33,704 26,355 12,310 16.357 14,620 10,025 12,714 9,820 4,200 6,118 4,800 2.550 3,855 Note. — As this stream is fed mainly from the mountains, it was decided not to give the discharge per square mile of the area. Such figures would give an erroneous idea of the run-off as the mountains form only a small part of the whole basin. SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 147 Swift Current Creek Swift Current creek rises on the eastern slope of the Cypress hills and flows north-easterly for 75 miles, thence northerly for about 25 miles to the South Saskatchewan. It flows through a valley, 200 to 300 feet deep and a mile wide, to within a few miles of its mouth, where it enters a sandstone gorge, about five hundred feet deep. The bench land above the creek is of rolling prairie, broken by innumer- able coulees. The soil is a sandy loam. The tree growth along the stream is sparse. The mean annual rainfall at the town of Swift Current is about fifteen inches. This increases slightly at the stream's headwaters. The greatest precipitation occurs during the months of May, June, and July. From November to April the stream is frozen over. There are a number of small irrigation ditches in this drainage basin, and the town of Swift Current and the Canadian Pacific rail- way take water for domestic and industrial purposes from the creek. The following are summaries of discharges at two of the gaug- ing stations established by the Irrigation branch : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SWIFT CURRENT CREEK, AT SINCLAIR'S RANCH, LOWER STATION (Sec. 17, Tp. 10, Rge. XIX, W. 3 M.) (Drainage area, 366 square miles.) Month 1910 May (27-31) ... June July ••.. August September October 1911 May (12-31) ... June July August September October 1912 May (16-31) ... June July August September October November (1-15) Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 15.5 23.16 14.1 10.9 17.0 15.1 54 45 42 39 101 44 134 147 38 12.3 17.1 32 38 14.30 6.92 2.82 2.12 8.72 12.70 24 6.6 4.3 4 5.3 17 51 8.5 8.5 7.1 10.9 15.2 28 Mean 14.940 14.316 7.223 7.186 12.738 13.790 37.9 21.9 17 12.2 30 25.6 80 39.4 16.9 10.2 15.1 23.6 33.7 Per square mile .041 .039 .020 .020 .035 .038 .104 .060 .047 .033 .082 .07 .218 .108 .046 .028 .041 064 .092 148 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SWIFT CURRENT CREEK, AT SINCLAIR'S RANCH, LOWER STATION— Continued Month 1913 April (22-30) May June July August September . . . October 1914 April May June July August September . . . October 1915 March (28-31) April May June July August September . . . October Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 234.0 32.0 40.3 .110 41.0 20.0 30.7 .083 45.0 10.0 21.9 .060 22.0 4.8 11.7 .032 7.5 3.6 5.1 .014 19.1 4.1 8.0 .022 22.0 8.6 13.1 .036 210.0 30.00 102.00 .280 37.0 12.80 22.00 .060 45.0 8.80 1.86 .050 11.9 .40 2.90 .008 4.9 Nil 1.08 .003 64.0 2.70 14.10 .038 94.0 7.60 33.00 .091 418 273 350 .956 215 28 83 .227 276 24 | 52 .143 139 2? 64 .175 290 17 44 .120 16 7 9 .026 26 7 | 16 .043 43 15 1 28 .076 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SWIFT CURRENT CREEK, AT SWIFT CURRENT, SASK. (Drainage area, 1,015 square miles) Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean |*»£« 76 28 37.5 .037 36 12 21.4 .021 36 15.0 .015 23 8.55 .008 33 8 18.2 .018 34 11 14.5 .014 600 365 498 .491 896 136 427 .421 117 58 76.1 .075 79 7 40 .039 62 3 27.8 .027 34 3 16.7 .016 137 14 48.9 ! .048 46 17 31.9 .031 1910 May June July August September October 1911 March (27-31) April May June July August September October SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 149 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SWIFT CURRENT CREEK, CURRENT, SASK— Continued AT SWIFT Month Discharge in second-feet 1912 April (21-30) May June July August September . . . October November* . . December* . . 1913 April (9-30) May June July August September . . . October 1914 January February .... March April May June July August September . . . October November . . . December . . . 1915 January February March April May June July August , September October November December Maximum j Minimum Mean Per square mile 308 226 255 .251 169 90 136.4 .134 169 26 91.3 .09 39 23 26.7 .026 30 22 24.3 .024 36 27 29.6 .029 119 33 42.9 .042 85 14.7 32.6 .032 22.9 9.7 11.4 .011 607.0 35.0 193.00 .190 78.0 39.0 55.40 .055 92.0 24.0 45.20 .045 68.0 7.8 34.20 .034 16.8 5.6 10.50 .010 21.0 2.2 4.73 .005 26.0 12.6 18.80 .019 2.6 1.05 1.77 .0018 2.6 1.20 2.07 .0020 344.0 4.00 102.00 .1020 386.0 55.00 228.00 .2280 71.0 17.20 41.00 .0410 179.0 2.40 29.00 .0290 15.2 2.40 6.50 .0065 4.4 .10 .73 .0007 89.0 .13 20.00 .0200 89.0 12.30 35.00 .0350 36.0 12.00 21.00 .0210 36.0 5.30 10.80 .0110 9 3 5 .005 3 3 3 .003 670 3 118 .118 988 61 231 .231 137 49 72 .072 159 35 73 .073 188 59 85 .085 63 8 26 .026 27 11 21 .021 40 20 31 .031 31 4 22 .022 18 8 11 .011 ♦Figures during ice conditions (Nov. 15 to Dec. 31) are only estimates. Red Deer River The Red Deer river rises in one of the interior ranges of the Rocky mountains, in lat. 51° 30', long. 116° W., near a branch of Pipestone creek, which flows southward into Bow river. It leaves the mountains in lat. 51° 43', long. 115° 23' W., and flows easterly through the foothills, reaching the crossing of the Stoney pack-trail. 150 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION slightly to the east of long. 115° W. Here it is a stream of clear, blue water, 200 feet wide and two feet deep, flowing over a bed of quartzite pebbles and boulders. Immediately below the ford, it turns sharply to the north, following the west side of a high, sandstone ridge, and is bordered on the west by a strip of bench land, one-half mile wide, and partly covered with fallen timber. Near the mouth of Raven river it turns eastward; thence to the mouth of Little Red Deer, the river is winding and very swift. It is bordered alternately by scarped, sandstone banks and wide, gravel flats, in some cases open and grassy, in others heavily timbered with large spruce. The descent in this distance is approximately 200 feet, or 15 feet per mile. From the mouth of the Little Red Deer, the Red Deer flows east for one mile and a half, when it is joined from the north by the Medicine river. One of the roughest rapids occurs in this portion of its course. Below the mouth of Medicine river, it becomes much deeper and has a steadier current, with few rapids. From the town of Red Deer to the mouth of Blindman river, a distance, by water, of eight and one-half miles, the river is very tortuous. The banks are 150 feet in height, abrupt and scarped on the outer sides of the bends, but, on the opposite sides, receding from the edge of the stream to fine, alluvial flats, partly wooded with an irregular growth of poplar and willow. Three power-sites have been investigated in the £ ow ? r .,. . vicinity of the town of Red Deer. Although this section Possibilities r .i • t , , , of the river has no concentrated descents, other natural conditions aid power development, either by diverting or by damming the river to create a head. The first of these sites is opposite the town, where a head of 15 feet could be obtained. The second site is situ- ated eight miles below the town, measured along the river, but only six miles in a straight line ; here a head of 25 feet could be obtained by diversion across one of the long bends of the river. The third site is 13 miles below the town, following the river, but only seven miles in a straight line. The river could be dammed at this point, creating a head of 25 feet. An examination by the Water Power branch demonstrated the possi- bility of ;ombining the second and third sites, thus obtaining a head of 100 feet. Owing to the low winter flow, however, it is not economi- cally feasible. A fourth site, some three or four miles above the town, is not considered feasible of development. At the mouth of the Blindman, the Red Deer turns abruptly and flows southeast for 14 miles. It cuts through the high ridge to the Norway House, on Nelson Rivkk Commission of Conservation Hayes River— Rapid, Six Miles Below Robinson Laki SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 151 east of Red Deer in what is locally known as the "Canon," in which the banks are high and steep, though not always scarped. Below the "Canon" the valley expands ; grassy slopes extend to the water's edge on the north side but the south side continues thickly wooded. From the end of this stretch, the river flows eastward for six miles between low and sloping banks. From Red Deer to Tail creek, the outlet of Buffalo lake, the river has a strong current, with numerous short rapids, and an average descent of Sy 2 feet per mile. From the mouth of Tail creek to the mouth of Rosebud river, the Red Deer has an average descent of 3 feet per mile, exclusive of its minor flexures. It has a current of two and a quarter miles per hour and a mean depth of three feet ; the channel is so obstructed by con- stantly shifting sand-bars that it cannot be considered in any sense navigable. The valley of the Red Deer is wide and deep, while the banks are rough and broken by numerous deep coulees draining into the river. Near the source the basin is well-timbered, and a fair growth of tim- ber is found along its banks for some distance through the prairie. A gauging station was established at Red Deer in the month of December, 1911, by the Irrigation branch. Two discharge measure- ments were taken in that month. One, on the 2nd, gave 638 second- feet, and another, on the 14th and 15th, 545 second-feet. The fol- lowing are the subsequent observations at this station : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF RED DEER RIVER, AT RED DEER, ALTA. (Drainage area, 4,500 square miles) Month 1912 January February . . . March (1-28) April May June July August September . . October November . . December . . . 1913 January February March April May June July Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 264 313 1,425 2,698 7,040 13,532 19,043 7,010 8,744 4.353 1,765 867 436 431 440 10,236 9.477 13,500 11,960 222 248 246 1,290 1,705 1,450 3.232 3,340 2.908 1.585 560 434 373 360 370 460 1.262 2.648 3,251 Mean 238 274 401 1.919 3.954 3.953 10,091 4.985 4.532 2.721 1.290 545 417 396 410 3.887 4,101 4,946 5,242 Per square mile .053 .061 .089 .427 .879 .879 2.24 1.111 1.005 .605 .287 .121 .093 .088 .091 .864 .912 1.097 1.164 152 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF RED DEER RIVER, AT RED DEER, ALTA Continued Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 5,482 2,153 3,284 .730 2,944 1,280 1,787 .397 1,441 900 1,223 .272 1,080 585 825 .183 555 105 327 .073 309 195 278 .062 330 270 298 .066 425 338 380 .084 2,266 390 902 .200 2,815 1,110 1,908 .424 5,559 1,300 3,669 .815 3,294 1,424 2,351 .522 1,544 1,120 1,309 .291 1,350 996 1,098 .244 2,698 1,005 1,439 .320 996 715 783 .174 690 200 328 .073 330 240 278 .062 280 260 271 .060 1,560 285 606 .135 1,870 920 1,251 .278 7,040 1,175 4,457 .990 56,000 4,692 12,308 2.740 46,200 6,072 16,748 3.720 30,775 4.490 8,118 1.800 5,116 3,266 3.954 .879 4,243 2,208 2,934 .652 2,222 565 1,195 .266 615 465 520 .116 1913— Con August September . . . October November . . . December 1914 January February March April May , June July August September . . . October November . . . December . . . 1915 January February March April May June July August September . . . October November . . . December . . . Blindman River The Blindman river rises in the foothills, about 50 miles northwest of the town of Red Deer. Below the confluence of the East and West branches, it flows in the same valley for two miles and a half, and then, although the valley continues, the stream leaves it and, cut- ting a narrow gorge through the high ridge to the west, enters an- other valley. Thence to the mouth of Gull creek, it flows in a winding channel, 40 feet in width and from 10 to 20 feet below the level of the flat. Gull creek carries the discharge of Gull lake, a body of clear water, 11 miles long and four miles wide, situated only three miles to the east of the main stream. Below Gull creek the river flows almost due south, for a distance of four miles, in a channel from 20 to 30 feet deep. The valley is marked only by wide slopes stretching toward the east and the west. The river then turns eastward, and flows for 14 miles through a deep, narrow valley; it joins the Red Deer a few miles below the town of Red Deer. SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 153 The following discharges of this river have been recorded by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior: DISCHARGES OF THE BLINDMAN RIVER, AT BLACKFALDS, ALTA. Date Discharge in second-feet Date Discharge in second-feet 1913 April 16 May 8 860 113 116 325 247 1,374 102 70 408 102 71 67 17 10 12.1 13.8 22.0 24.0 178.0 166.0 59.0 1914 August 24 41.0 95.0 May 27 June 17 July 9 68.0 October 17 94.0 November 7 25.0 July 17 December 5 1915 February 6 February 27 March 20 24.0 July 28 August 8 August 20 September 6 September 26 October 14 11.04 9.1 135 April 17 May 5 May 22 122 178 96 June 8 697 1914 July 12 758 102 January 21 February 25 September 1 September 21 October 12 October 23 88 148 141 April 24 . . 123 July 15 December 4 30 32 The town of Lacombe has constructed a hydro- Hydro-Electric electric plant near the mouth of this river. The instal- eve opmen l a tion consists of a 35-inch turbine, operating under a head of 30 feet and driving a 150-k.w. generator. The electrical energy is generated at 6,600 volts, three phase, 60 cycles, and is trans- mitted eight miles over a three-conductor transmission line, to Lacombe. The sub-station equipment consists of three 30-k.w. transformers, stepping the voltage down from 6,600 to 2,300 volts. It is stated that the flow of the river is very irregular, and becomes insufficient to operate the plant between the months of October and March. To conserve the water, a small dam was built at the outlet of Gull lake but, owing to the nature of the outlet and to the attitude of the far- mers with respect to its control, very little, if any, benefit is derived therefrom. The town has also an auxiliary steam-plant of 60-k.w. capacity. It is the intention of the municipality to build a new power dam and to increase the capacity of the steam auxiliary plant by 100 k.w. Oldman River Oldman river, one of the principal tributaries of the South Saskat- chewan* river, is formed by the union of numerous small streams which *By a recent decision of the Geographic Board, the name Oldman is applied to the main stream from the confluence with the Belly, downstream to its junction with the Bow. 154 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION originate in the mountains. The more important of these are the Livingstone, Dutch creek, Racehorse creek, Crowsnest, South fork, Belly, St. Mary and Little Bow rivers. It drains an area of approxi- mately 9,424 square miles, varying in character from mountainous dis- tricts to rolling prairie. 'The Gap,' situated near the mouth of Racehorse creek, is a narrow, rugged gorge crossing the Livingstone range. Its course follows a double curve, somewhat in the shape of the letter S, and is one mile and a half in length. The flow is very rapid in this part of the course, but shows no abrupt descent. The section of the foothill belt through which the upper branches of the Oldman river flow is densely wooded along the base of the mountains and contains occasional prairie valleys. The bed of the river, consisting of rock and gravel, has a steep descent, with conse- quent swift water, interspersed with falls and rapids, but it changes to quicksand and mud in the prairie region where the current is more sluggish. Between the mouth of the Livingstone and the Gap, a distance of 16 miles, the Oldman descends about 900 feet; between the mouth of Dutch creek and the Gap, a distance of five miles, the descent is approximately 212 feet. Below the Gap the descent continues fairly steep ; in the 35 miles from this point to the mouth of the Crowsnest river, the fall is about 800 feet. Below the mouth of Pincher creek, the descent gradually becomes less marked. In the 29 miles between the mouth of Pincher creek and Macleod the fall is 285 feet, and thence to the junction with the Belly river, a distance of 24 miles, the river descends only 144 feet. The Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior established gauging stations on this river near Cowley, in 1908, and at Lethbridge in 1911. The following is a summary of the discharges since that year: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF OLDMAN RIVER, NEAR COWLEY, ALTA. (Drainage area, 820 square miles.) Month 1908 June (17-30) July ■ August September . October J Discharge ir second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 2,990 1,500 2,167 2.64 1,500 460 956 1.17 460 225 311 0.38 225 170 186 0.23 225 170 181 0.22 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 155 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF OLDMAN RIVER, NEAR COWLEY, ALTA. — Continued- Month 1909 May June July (1-24) .... August September October 1910 May (18-31) .... June July August September October November (1-28) 1911 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1912 January February March (1-15) .. April May June July August September October November December 1913 January February March April May June Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 4,690 265 1,433 1.75 8,285 1,525 3,386 4.13 2,020 662 1,381 1.68 1.680 310 682 0.83 310 200 252 0.31 200 175 178 0.22 1,760 980 1,250 1.52 1,058 546 826 1.01 548 199 323 0.39 199 174 191 0.23 296 174 213 0.26 756 238 324 0.39 345 242 274 0.33 112 66 97.2 0.118 143 69 117 0.143 184 66 110 0.134 1,139 134 369 0.45 5,580 533 1,262 1.54 4,350 978 2,052 2.50 1,014 337 565 0.689 2,319 390 809 0.987 2,970 390 996 1.21 496 300 371 0.452 461 174 266 0.325 205 98 182 0.222 90 77 84.4 0.103 92 78 85.4 0.104 92 85 87.6 0.107 2,020 270 540.0 0.658 1,238 360 826 1.01 7,140 672 3,058 3.73 2,290 727 1,079 1.32 1,238 337 557 0.679 270 229 253 0.308 256 203 223 0.272 229 145 204 0.249 170 145 147 0.179 145 97 112 0.136 124 106 116 0.141 126 74 104 0.127 1.490 130 714 0.871 2,381 465 1.709 2.080 2,245 1,074 1,720 2.100 156 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF OLDMAN RIVER, NEAR COWLEY, ALTA. — Continued Discharge in second-fee t Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1913— Con. Tulv . 1,446 1,074 450 316 297 185 160 98 142 695 1,960 2,016 1,005 490 290 1,038 448 280 203 147 191 855 2.992 4,350 2,658 1.407 499 485 464 196 458 331 255 245 180 160 86 85 84 133 455 840 290 205 164 200 254 127 101 53 52 207 1,379 1,365 756 426 360 365 180 110 601 548 333 283 255 176 122 90 97 372 1,346 1,275 605 270 202 449 375 155 172 106 105 494 2,306 2,450 1,341 693 401 407 322 149 0.733 0.668 0.406 0.345 0.311 0.214 1914 .15 .11 .12 .45 1.64 1.55 Tulv .74 .33 .25 .55 .46 .19 1915 .215 .132 .131 .618 2.882 3.100 Tulv 1.676 .866 .501 .509 .402 .186 - MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF OLDMAN RIVER, NEAR LETHBRIDGE. ALTA. (Drainage area, 6,764 square miles.) Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1911 22.050 4.350 2,500 1,912 990 987 6.554 4,890 12,970 14,810 2,125 1.912 1,712 1,412 930 753 708 2.250 5,602 6,375 8,788 2,836 2,135 1,672 964 896 1.30 .42 .32 .25 1912 .14 .13 1.806 3,610 .54 7,886 i 1.17 June 7,883 ! 1.17 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 157 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF OLDMAN RIVER, NEAR LETHBRIDGE, ALTA— Continued Month 1912— Con. July August vSeptember October November (1-27) 1913 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1914 January February March April May June July August September. October November December 1915 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Per square Maximum Minimum Mean mile 8,110 4,910 6.792 1.01 5,010 1,675 2,953 .44 1.898 1,430 1,625 .24 2,018 1,322 1,636 .24 2,280 1,367 1,856 .27 860 460 618 .09 460 380 412 .06 600 418 451 .07 8.450 800 5,114 .76 24,940 4,405 9,384 1.39 23.090 9,736 15,795 2.33 12,920 3,760 6,087 .90 5,783 2,325 3,487 .52 2,618 1,383 1,952 .29 2,744 1,383 2,121 .31 2,188 1,230 1,786 .26 1,428 300 904 .13 740 602 671 .099 840 560 622 .092 1,484 290 1.122 .166 5.691 1.460 3,412 .505 11.680 4.880 8,606 1.270 12,324 5,592 7,928 1.170 5,795 1,824 3,799 .562 3,112 1,120 1,923 .284 2.482 1,219 1,616 .239 7,935 1,788 3.999 .591 3,896 1,680 2,995 .443 2,040 704 1,094 .162 1,283 645 916 .135 766 690 722 .107 6,160 642 1,962 .290 5,401 1,730 3,475 .514 14.798 4.280 10,500 1.552 22,100 8.990 14,438 2.135 15,680 5.907 9.165 1.355 8,672 2,824 5,107 .755 4,778 2,712 3,316 .490 4.240 2,880 3,591 .531 3.158 1,080 2,095 .310 1.073 876 984 .145 St. Mary River The upper valley of the St. Mary river is well defined. It is one- half mile wide, consisting of rolling slopes (open prairie with no timber) ; the river cuts through it at an average depth of 140 feet. The water is cold and free from silt. From the southeast quarter of section 23 to the northwest corner of section 25, township 1, range 158 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION XXX, the river flows through a canon, 150 feet in depth. The bot- tom is of solid sandstone, visible nearly everywhere. The banks con- sist of layers of sandstone and hard clay. In the upper portion of the river valley, as far as the international boundary, there are, alternately, flats and cut-banks 50 to 100 feet high. The Alberta Railway and Irrigation Co. has water rights on this river. The head-gates of its canal are at Kimball, five miles north of the international boundary, and the company already has hundreds of miles of ditch constructed for the irrigation of land surrounding Leth- bridge. There is a possible power-site on the upper St. Power Sites Mary at section 23, township 1, range XXV, where a Available head couM be created by a dam 14Q feet high It ; s stated, however, that an effective head of 238 feet and a more econ- omical development could be obtained by diversion, from a point near the boundary line, through a canal and pipe line to a point situ- ated above the intake of the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company, a distance of seven miles. However, the above scheme may not be feasible, as, in the gen- eral scheme for irrigation in Southern Alberta, the Irrigation branch contemplates the construction of a dam on the St. Mary river to divert the peak of the summer flood to the Mary lakes. The proposed dam is to be built in section 9, township 1, range XXV, west 4th meridian, and will be 105 feet high. In the event of the flow being regulated to suit the irrigation interests, a regulated flow of 1,000 c.f.s. would be available for seven months. For the remaining five months 100 c.f.s. is about the maximum flow that could be depended upon, since, while the average minimum flow of the St. Mary river is 200 c.f.s., the irrigation interests would, in all probability, exercise their right to one-half of the flow of the stream and store 100 c.f.s. With 1,000 c.f.s. and 105 foot head it is possible to develop 9,500 h.p. for seven months, and, for the remaining five months, with 100 c.f.s., 950 h.p. could be developed. As the water in this case is chiefly used for irrigation, and as its control is subject to the International Joint Com- mission, special power regulations are practically impossible. The Boundary Waters treaty, 1910, provided that the St. Mary and Milk rivers and their tributaries in Montana, Alberta and Saskat- chewan "are to be treated as one stream for the purposes of irrigation and power and the waters thereof shall be apportioned equally" be- tween Canada and the United States. This provision was inserted to protect the citizens of the two countries who depend upon irrigation to produce crops. The two streams are treated as one inasmuch as the United States has diverted part of the waters of the St. Mary to SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 159 the Milk river, thus permitting the irrigation of large areas in its por- tion of the Milk River basin. Canadian interests offered the below suggestion for apportionment of the waters of the St. Mary and Milk rivers : Canada Acre-feet 500,290 72,000 1 United States 20,000* 76,400t 136,000 804,690 St. Mary river up to a maximum flow of 2,000 second-feet, May to October, inclusive St. Mary river below A. R. & I. intake St. Mary river from November to April, inclusive. St. Mary river — peaks of over 2,000 second-feet, flood flow in summer Milk river at Eastern Crossing Less delivered at A. R. & I., intake on Milk river Equals ' • "V i Milk river at A. R. & I. Co.'s intake— during floods Milk river at A. R. & I. Co.'s intake— St. Mary or Milk river waters • Northern tributaries of Milk river— stored or di- verted by Canada. Ditto passed by Canada Milk river and tributaries below Eastern Crossing up to Hinsdale or Vandalia Ditto below Vandalia Acre-feet 131,662 103,500 100,000 335,162 76,400 258,762* t 54,000 350.000 72,000 1 734,762 On the lower St. Mary a good power site is available at section 24, township 6, range XXIII. The dam could be about 90 feet in height but very little water would be available during the irrigation season, as almost all of the flow is diverted for this purpose above this site. A gauging station has been established on this river at Kimball, Alta., and discharge measurements taken by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior. The station is above the intake of the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company and measures the flow from a drainage area of 472 square miles. Records from this station are available only since 1909. Prior to 1909, the United States Geological Survey maintained a gauging station near Cardston, a short distance above Kimball, where the drainage area is 452 square miles. The fol- lowing is a summary of discharges at these stations : Note. — The difference between the total quantities is a low estimate of the value of the Canadian prior appropriation on St. Mary river as compared with the United States prior appropriation on the Milk river. *Estimated capacity of A. R. and I. Co's. Milk River canal. tThese amounts are not at present considered available for irrigation but possibly for power. *tMr. Newell has stated that about 200,000 acre-feet will be required by the United States. 160 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF ST. MARY RIVER, NEAR CARDSTON, ALTA. (Drainage area, 452 square miles) Month 1907 January* February* . . . March* April May June July August September . . . October November . . . December* . . The year 1908 Januaryf February! . . Marchf April May June July August September . October November . . Decemberf . The year Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 685 3,490 5,620 4,830 2,010 1,330 1,040 365 5,620 1,860 3,720 18.000 3,050 1,180 510 660 528 225 590 3,260 2,010 830 1,080 365 174 225 1,340 2,700 1,180 528 425 365 410 Mean 150 200 150 489 1,930 4,260 3,120 1,330 1,210 567 244 157 1,150 50 100 225 844 2.490 6,390 2,490 785 462 485 472 125 1,240 Per square mile 0.332 .443 .332 1.08 4.27 9.42 6.90 2.94 2.68 1.25 .542 .347 2.54 0.111 .221 .498 1.87 5.51 14.1 5.51 1.74 1.02 1.07 1.04 .277 2.75 * Ice conditions and discharge estimated January to March and December 15-31, 1907. flee conditions and discharge estimated. MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF ST. MARY RIVER AT KIMBALL, ALTA. (Drainage area, 472 square miles.) Month 1909 April (26-30) ... May June July August September October November (1-20) Discharge in second-feet 575 4,380 7,280 6,167 3,510 815 565 870 427 290 3,415 1,820 760 480 307 340 505 1.906 5,646 3.096 1,466 645 453 683 1.078 4.039 11.961 6.560 3.107 1.366 0.960 1.447 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 161 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF ST. MARY RIVER, AT KIMBALL, ALTA. — Continued Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1910 April 2,450 2,820 2,985 1,655 775 740 1,655 910 220 214 360 1,188 3,839 4,391 2,714 1,420 2,080 1,030 405 308 208 174 131 700 3,330 2,810 2,200 1,262 620 532 570 382 202 146 226 1,240 5.260 5.380 3,620 1.690 816 576 416 312 500 1,505 1,520 750 345 335 705 495 194 167 131 250 1,074 2,388 1,284 684 684 390 286 128 128 130 129 169 700 1,895 1,238 600 365 320 413 174 95 101 135 238 902 3,240 1,340 830 372 364 266 78 1,068 2,206 2.26 4.67 2,208 ! 4.68 July 1,176 562 544 1,114 711 210 189 196 527 2,070 3,651 1,783 1,044 1,377 676 334 190 171 138 130 493 1,966 2,295 1,644 882 547 423 496 246 158 129 191 749 1,912 4,519 2.024 1.162 542 448 371 190 2.49 1.19 1.15 October 2.36 1.50 1911 0.44 0.40 0.41 1.12 May 4.38 7.74 July 3.77 2.21 2.92 1.43 0.70 0.40 0.362 0.292 0.275 1.04 May 4.16 4.86 Tulv 3.48 1.87 1.16 0.896 1.05 0.521 1913 0.335 0.273 0.405 1.587 4.051 9.574 July 4.288 2.462 1.148 0.949 0.786 December 0.403 11 162 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF ST. MARY RIVER AT KIMBALL, ALTA. — Continued Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1914 January . February March . . April May June July .... August . . September October . November December 1915 January . February March . . April May June July August . . September October . November December 215 130 248 1,129 2,834 3,120 1,989 840 818 1,255 1,012 485 186 148 265 1,018 2,215 2,670 2.514 1,360 1,694 810 464 347 77 70 98 265 1,092 1,742 840 543 410 671 375 183 149 93 108 212 1,270 1,461 1,240 1,360 1,694 810 464 347 128 101 184 637 2,230 2,331 1,433 719 584 840 713 259 168 117 157 575 1,645 2,251 1,722 969 842 579 405 243 0.271 .214 0.390 1.350 4.725 4.939 3.036 1.523 1.237 1.780 1.510 0.549 .356 .248 .333 1.220 3.490 4.770 3.648 2.053 1.784 1.227 .858 .515 Lee Creek Lee creek, a tributary of the St. Mary river, becomes a torrent at certain seasons ; it receives its flow principally from the precipita- tion of the northern slope of Chief mountain. Its general direction is northeast. A possible power-site is available at Cardston, Alta., with intake at the "Canon," four miles distant. A head of approximately 127 feet could be obtained, but the power available would be small and the development cost per horse-power high. A gauging station was established on this creek at Cardston by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior in 1909. The following is a summary of discharges since that year: SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 163 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF LEE CREEK, AT CARDSTON,* ALTA. (Drainage area, 118 square miles.) Month 1909 June (28-30) ... July (1-26) .... August (11-31) September October November (1-10) 1910 April May June July August September October 1911 May June July August September October (1-14) . 1912 August September October November December 1913 January February March April May June July August September October Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean 198.0 230.0 55.0 39.0 13.5 16.5 50.8 138.0 117.8 25.0 14.8 118.2 124.0 ,400 464 185 206 590 144 56 34 45 45 21 14.0 18.0 84.0 653.0 318.0 428.0 204.0 130.0 26.0 84.0 198.0 48.0 23.0 10.0 7.0 7.0 23.8 19.8 23.0 4.0 2.0 14.8 25.0 242 140 49 56 43 94 13 25 25 15 10 16.3 10.6 20.0 86.0 123.0 76.0 34.0 22.0 14.0 14.0 198.0 120.7 35.9 19.7 10.1 11.3 30.6 60.6 45.8 8.8 60.9 63.7 49.2 357 242 83.3 90.8 244 124 28.7 25.6 26.2 27.0 16.5 9.09 13.00 59.30 293.00 224.00 180.00 75.40 37.60 16.90 32.30 Per square mile 1.02 .30 .167 .085 .096 .26 .51 .39 .075 .52 .54 .42 3.03 2.05 0.706 0.770 2.07 1.05 0.244 0.217 0.222 0.229 0.139 0.077 0.110 0.502 2.480 1.900 1.530 0.639 0.319 0.143 0.274 *This station was discontinued after 1913. A new station has been estab- lished at Layton ranch, a short distance upstream. MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF LEE CREEK, AT (Drainage area, 92 square miles.) LAYTON RANCH Discharge ir second-fee t Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1914 24 13.9 26.0 7.2 5.2 9.5 31.0 76.0 15.4 9.2 21.0 82.0 127.0 0.167 0.100 0.228 April May 163.0 163.0 0.891 1.380 164 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF LEE CREEK, AT LAYTON RANCH— Con. Month 1914— (Cont.) June July August September October November December 1915 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum i Minimum 149.0 61.0 61.0 25.0 178.0 94.0 20.0 23 15 90 117 346 560 260 330 336 126 76 62 72.0 12.8 8.5 12.2 12.8 13.3 13.2 13 12 9 45 90 103 56 27 26 50 42 26 Mean 94.0 34.0 20.0 16.7 65.0 60.0 16.5 17 14 26 62 175 359 151 92 71 91 56 36 Per square mile 1.020 0.370 0.217 0.182 0.707 0.652 0.179 .188 .149 .282 .680 1.900 3.902 1.641 1.000 .774 .990 .612 .391 Belly River The Belly river rises in the mountains of northern Montana. It is augmented in the United States by the Middle Fork and by the North Fork in Canada. Below the junction with the latter, the river flows in a winding, north-easterly course as far as the confluence with Old- man river.* It drains in area of 1,420 square miles. The topography of the basin is varied, ranging from forested, mountainous regions in its upper part, to rolling prairie near the boundary, and level prairie near the mouth of the river. As yet, very little use has been made of its waters. Utilization would naturally be in connection with irrigation, but a possible power-site has been reported to exist near section 33, township 8, range XXIV, where it is said that 1,200 h.p. could be developed. In the upper regions, where water could be diverted easily, it is not required for irrigation pur- poses. There are, however, a number of sites where power can be developed. Irrigation would be an expensive undertaking farther downstream. The Alberta Railway and Irrigation Co. may construct a canal from the Belly river to supply its irrigation system if the St. Mary river is found to be insufficient for that purpose. The Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior estab- lished a gauging station on this river at Standoff, Alta., in 1909. The following is a summary of the discharges observed at this station : *By a recent decision of the Geographic Board, the name Oldman is applied to the main stream from the confluence of the Belly, downstream to its junction with the Bow. SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 165 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BELLY RIVER, AT STANDOFF, ALTA. (Drainage area, 461 square miles.) Month 1909 May (26-31) June July August September October 1910 April May June July August September October 1911 January February March (1-18 and 24-31) ... April May June July August September October November (1-4 and 27-30) December (1-13) 1912 January February March (1-24) April (16-30) May June July August September October November 1913 January February March April May June July August September October November December '. Discharge in second-feet Maximum 2,245 3,330 1,975 1,350 310 255 1,430 1,200 990 615 285 765 788 98 138 2,662 683 2,466 2,025 1,015 973 2.162 372 132 134 85 62 313 1.560 954 906 521 192 372 361 68 75 96 678 2,380 1.834 1,271 804 323 461 195 144 Minimum 1,975 1,350 655 310 205 132 340 460 460 285 122 100 305 40 52 138 122 487 1,051 453 287 287 187 126 107 61 52 54 287 287 726 561 216 140 117 93 44 58 64 93 317 840 395 323 100 100 124 105 Mean Per square mile 2,086.7 2,518.8 1,134.0 608.2 267.8 189.3 788 852 682 439 220 410.8 494 60.7 88.3 394 298 1,043 1,454 641 534 955 266 128 127 78 75 57 297 860 851 675 321 171 227 249 56.4 67.1 80.7 427.0 810.0 1.391.0 706.0 457.0 186.0 204 n 156.0 128.0 4.54 5.46 2.46 1.32 .58 .41 1.71 1.85 1.48 0.952 0.478 0.891 1.07 0.131 0.192 0.855 0.646 2.26 3.15 1.39 1.16 2.07 0.577 0.278 0.275 0.169 0.163 0.124 0.645 1.86 1.85 1.46 0.696 0.371 0.492 0.540 0.122 0.146 0.175 0.926 1.760 3.020 1.530 0.991 0.403 0.443 0.338 0.277 166 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF BELLY RIVER, AT STANDOFF, ALTA.— Continued Discharge in second-feel Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1914 147 67 180 606 1,604 1,338 866 508 420 961 466 137 82 62 200 514 1,231 2,700 1,939 2,100 1,210 681 328 141 45 29 63 108 478 544 359 224 151 289 121 66 55 54 49 154 413 570 442 302 302 333 153 45 93 50 98 357 872 888 571 320 256 450 251 78 67 57 100 274 679 1,401 870 578 452 437 244 81 0.202 0.108 0.213 0.774 1.890 1.930 T u 1 v 1.240 0.694 0.555 0.976 0.544 0.169 1915 .145 .124 .217 .584 1.472 3.039 July 1.887 1.254 .980 .948 .529 .176 . Waterton Lake A possible power-site is situated between the upper and lower portions of this lake, at a place called the Narrows. The banks are only 375 feet apart and a 50- foot dam could be erected, but the cost of development would be rather high. A gauging station was established in 1908, by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior, at Waterton Mills, on the Waterton river, the outlet of the lake. The following is a summary of discharges since that year: DISCHARGE OF WATERTON RIVER, AT WATERTON MILLS, ALTA. (Drainage area, 214 square miles.) Month 1908 June (10-30) . July August September . . . October (1-17) Discharge in second-feet Maximum 7,750 3.040 780 335 660 Minimum 2,325 660 335 200 280 Mean 3.811.4 1,852.6 485.3 234.8 426.8 Per square mile 17.81 8.66 2.27 1.09 1.99 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 167 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF WATERTON RIVER, AT WATERTON MILLS, ALTA.— Continued Month 1909 April (9-30) .... May June July August September October November (1-25) 1910 April May June July August September October November 1911 April (19-30) .. May June July August September October November (1-4) 1912 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1913 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 280 090 414 ,555 105 395 235 555 650 650 ,925 165 450 030 ,770 970 2,974 3,022 4,102 1,999 1,089 1,818 800 134 551 470 130 560 2,535 2,245 1,442 799 310 497 600 250 144 112 113 876 5,185 5,149 2,389 888 408 543 416 440 Minimum 200 280 2,800 905 395 235 200 200 520 1,485 1,165 450 248 248 600 485 285 1,128 2,075 720 422 394 134 128 78 110 109 131 533 1,357 835 258 242 224 262 127 111 106 108 114 525 2,006 681 379 188 192 171 130 Mean 242.5 1,527.3 4,707.7 2,140.8 782.9 314.7 221.5 425.0 1,106 2,145 1,819 830 347 591 1,061 731 1,035 1,650 3,106 1,136 744 1,255 457 132 245 217 112 364 1,509 1,744 1,205 454 270 330 371 181 121 110 110 373 1,577 3,383 1,133 638 273 384 267 179 Per square mile 1.13 7.14 22.00 10.00 3.66 1.47 1.03 1.99 5.16 10.00 8.50 3.88 1.62 2.76 4.96 3.42 4.84 7.71 14.50 5.30 3.47 5.86 2.14 .62 1.14 1.01 .52 1.70 7.05 8.15 5.63 2.12 1.26 1.54 1.73 .84 .56 .51 .51 1.74 7.37 15.80 5.29 2.98 1.28 1.79 1.25 .84 168 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF WATERTON RIVER, MILLS, ALTA— Continued AT WATERTON Discharge in second-fee t Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1914 214 165 161 1,135 2,490 2,908 1,352 551 576 1,454 806 503 148 103 134 1,020 1,890 2,142 1,618 801 630 640 630 234 114 109 106 186 1,012 1,256 445 298 256 510 303 93 74 82 74 148 1,006 1,294 721 341 320 445 180 146 161 134 131 611 1,913 1,993 905 431 394 856 536 201 111 91 92 548 1,369 1,713 981 496 507 539 384 197 0.752 0.626 0.612 2.85 8.94 9.31 July 4.23 2.01 1.84 4.00 2.50 0.939 1915 January February .519 .425 .430 2.561 May 6.397 8.005 July 4.584 2.318 September October 2.369 2.519 1.793 December .920 Oil Creek Oil creek, a tributary of Waterton lake, receives its flow from the melting snow of the surrounding peaks. The flow is very much dependent upon the temperature, and a hot, rainy summer results in a greatly diminished water supply before autumn. Above the foothills, where there is a fall of about 30 feet, the creek flows through a canon in a series of cascades. Power could be devel- oped at this point and, with one-half mile of pipe, an effective head of 250 feet could be obtained. The minimum flow has been estimated at 14 second-feet, so that 400 horse-power would be available. The development cost would not be high. The following are miscellaneous discharges taken by the Irriga- tion branch of the Department of the Interior near the mouth of this creek : Date Discharge in second-feet Date Discharge in second-feet 1906 September 12 1907 July 18 1908 29 216 14 85 30 28 October 1 November 4 1910 June 29 July 15 21 26 154 67 1909 July 24 August 12 September 5 22 22 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 169 Blakiston Brook Blakiston brook is another tributary of Waterton lake, receiving its water from the melting snow in the mountains. The valley is nar- row, averaging one-quarter mile in width. Power might be developed by means of an intake at section 5, township 2, range XXX, with a canal and pipe line, over five miles in length, to Waterton lake. An effective head of 158 feet would thus be rendered available. The minimum flow had been estimated at 40 second-feet, but a later dis- charge measurement, taken on August 12, 1910, gave only 28 4 second- feet. Assuming the latter calculation to be correct, nearly 500 h.p. would be available during the summer. Tib Creek Tib creek is a tributary of the Belly river, which it joins two and one-half miles north of the international boundary. It rises in the mountains and has a narrow valley, varying from one-third to one- half mile in width, and canon-like in places. There is a possible power- site, with the intake a short distance north of the boundary, and the power-house situated four miles below. A head of 349 feet could be obtained. The minimum flow has been estimated at 35 second- feet, giving 1,364 horse-power. Willow Creek Willow creek is one of the more important tributaries of Old- man river. It rises in the northern Porcupine hills and flows south- easterly to its confluence with the Oldman. The distance in a straight line, from its head-waters to its mouth, is approximately 40 miles, but, by following the river, whose lower course is very tortuous, this is greatly increased. The following is a summary of discharges at a gauging station established near Macleod by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior: DISCHARGE OF WILLOW CREEK, NEAR MACLEOD, ALTA. (Drainage area, 1,016 square miles.) Month 1909 July August . . September October . Discharge in second-feet Maximum 946 350 60 46 Minimum Mean 295.1 133.5 44.4 41.4 Per square mile .294 .133 .044 .041 170 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF WILLOW CREEK, NEAR MACLEOD.— Continued Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 45 35 40.67 .040 68 35 52.58 .052 35 7.5 23.48 .023 7.5 1.1 3.2 .0032 4.3 .9 2.72 .0027 82 5.2 46.59 .046 70 23.9 47.63 .047 292 65 185 .184 131 33.5 76.9 .076 881 63.9 211 .209 460 92.8 199 .198 144 42.5 72.5 .072 1,312 48 309 .305 1,413 113 515 .512 253 48 136 .135 174 81 136 .135 298 225 255.9 .25 398 238 305.0 .30 1,360 134 381.4 .38 952 298 493.3 .49 581 143 284.6 .28 233 103 137.3 .14 165 104 120.6 .12 143 95.5 114.9 .11 755 223 490 0.482 563 202 397 0.391 637 183 317 0.312 644 189 300 0.295 422 105 187 0.184 142 62 92 0.091 92 76 85 0.084 102 41.0 65 .064 448 118.0 182 .180 193 118.0 156 .154 448 73.0 151 .149 358 21.0 91 .090 89 11.0 31 .031 37 12.2 22 .022 288 15.5 125 .123 291 108 207 .204 166 108 130 .128 1,804 128 994 .981 3,959 773 1,609 1.588 2,012 800 1,226 1.210 1,228 254 543 .536 1910 April May June July : August September October 1911 March (22-31) . April May June July August September October November (1-15) 1912 April (20-30) .. May June July August September October November (1-15) 1913 April (7-31) .... May June July August September October 1914 March (19-31) .. April May June July August September October 1915 March (22-31) .. April May June July August SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 171 Castle (Southfork) River This river rises in numerous mountain streams and, flowing in a north-easterly direction, enters the Oldman river near Cowley, Alta. Three possible power sites are reported on this river. The first is at sec. 35, tp. 6, r. I, w. of 5th, where a head of 45 feet could be created by a dam 400 feet in length. The second is at sec. 6, tp. 6, r. I, w. of 5th, where a head of 100 feet or more could be created by a dam in a narrow canon. The third is at sec. 24, tp. 6, r. II, w. of 5th, where a head of 40 feet could be created by a dam 250 feet in length. Assuming a minimum flow of 70 second-feet, 350 h.p., 800 h.p., and 320 h.p., respectively, would be available at these three sites. A gauging station was established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior on this river, near Cowley, in 1909. The following is a summary of discharges since that year: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF CASTLE RIVER, NEAR COWLEY, ALTA. (Drainage area, 374 square miles) Discharge in second-fee t Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1909 August (5-31) ..... 980 350 230 2,605 2,790 2,250 880 240 695 1,145 100 241 251 2,450 5.555 5,050 1,990 1,575 6,130 861 4,430 237 195 89 204 1.336 2,730 2,062 350 230 200 345 1,215 880 240 155 155 465 69 85 186 178 1,388 2,080 473 424 404 374 224 192 85 71 76 204 732 910 631 274.8 203.9 1,115 1,908 1,420 497.6 204 371 722.8 86.5 118 226 743 2,275 3,675 933 726 1,911 566 867 222 107 81.8 93.1 682 1,845 1,433 1.69 September .74 .55 1910 2.98 5.15 3.8 Tulv 1.33 0.547 0.993 1.93 1911 0.237 0.316 0.604 1.99 6.08 9.83 Tnlv 2.49 1.94 5.11 1.51 2.32 0.567 1912 0.286 0.219 0.249 1.82 4.93 Tune 3.83 172 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF CASTLE RIVER, NEAR COWLEY, ALTA — Continued Discharge ir second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1912— (Cont.) July 1,650 772 1,157 3.09 August 772 290 444 1.19 September 550 235 290 0.775 October 374 374 182 135 124 235 180 77 96 76 304 319 133 119 98.5 0.813 0.853 0.356 1913 0.318 February 0.263 March 107 76 88 0.235 April 1,184 112 612 1.640 May 5,016 779 1,954 5.220 June 4,859 1,565 2,709 7.240 July 1,640 450 789 2.110 August 720 298 426 1.140 September 321 232 265 0.709 610 370 232 274 395 345 1.060 November 0.928 254 101 138 0.369 1914 January 186 82 141 .405 February 199 88 164 .471 450 1,392 2,610 105 646 1,010 145 907 1,781 .416 2.610 5.120 June 2,930 891 1,545 4.440 1,040 300 596 1.710 August 810 210 352 1.010 September 520 250 311 .894 October 2,138 350 934 2.680 828 490 448 218 605 297 1.740 December .853 January 305 160 221 .635 173 107 136 .391 242 1,190 106 219 143 722 .411 2.075 May 4,330 1,714 2,353 6.761 3,055 1,570 2,150 6.178 July 1,510 690 980 2.816 1,220 325 563 1.618 September 540 310 419 1.204 575 480 528 1.517 November 510 20o 336 .966 231 162 196 .563 Crowsnest River The valley of Crowsnest river, which is a tributary of Oldman river, is well-defined, consisting of rolling slopes with occasional moun- tains. It is free from cut banks and is partly timbered and partly open prairie. The banks of the river seldom exceed 10 or 12 feet in height. A possible power-site is situated at the fall, near Lundbreck. The SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 173 fall is caused by a fault in the hard sandstone formation, which lies practically horizontal above and below the fall. This power site is in sec. 26, tp. 7, R. II, west of fifth meridian. The natural fall is 31 feet and a dam 9 feet in height would give a total head of 40 feet, which, with an estimated minimum flow of 60 second-feet, would give 270 h.p. The cost of development would be moderate. A gauging station was established at Lundbreck, Alta., by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior in 1907. The fol- lowing is a summary of discharges at this station since 1908: DISCHARGE OF CROWSNEST RIVER, NEAR LUNDBRECK, ALTA. (Drainage area, 263 square miles) Month 1908 September (16-30) October 1909 April (15-30) ... May June July August September October November 1910 April May June July August September October November (1-26) 1911 January February Marcli April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 167 167 425 1,945 2,395 2,665 1,245 226 167 297 839 709 539 350 175 149 278 309 89 99 155 1,090 2,455 1,657 627 858 1,328 344 555 105 Minimum 142 142 82 82 690 380 226 167 119 142 175 439 350 175 105 105 149 162 76 87 88 115 615 615 259 192 186 183 76 57 Mean 152 149 235 847 1,425 785 439 187 143 175 445 583 450 245 138 134 219 85.2 90.9 111 352 976 996 736 345 559 257 175 78.9 Per square mile 0.578 0.568 0.893 3.22 5.42 2.98 1.67 0.712 0.544 0.666 1.69 2.22 1.71 0.933 0.523 0.510 0.833 0.715 0.324 0.346 0.422 1.34 3.71 3.79 2.80 1.31 2.12 0.977 0.677 0.30 174 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF CROWSNEST RIVER, NEAR LUNDBRECK.— Continued Month 1912 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . . September October .. November December 1913 January . . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . . November December 1914 January . February March . . April May June July A.ugust . . September October . November December 1915 January . . February , March . . April May June July August . . September October . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 106 94 160 531 681 1,300 681 373 168 162 205 205 90 82 91 959 1,224 1,149 499 324 253 232 139 117 78 121 625 855 610 395 244 221 580 315 154 150 101 124 446 ,467 Minimum 754 425 185 188 170 106 90 76 81 110 330 339 330 162 134 122 117 67 60 60 90 403 448 216 168 122 112 99 72 65 69 119 244 332 184 130 130 204 158 106 104 67 68 104 578 455 330 175 146 144 93 52 Mean 97.5 86.1 97 324 530 488 487 239 151 132 145 105 77.8 68.6 76.7 411 706 717 330 240 164 148 120 103 Per square mile 0.371 0.328 0.369 1.23 2.02 1.86 1.85 0.909 0.574 0.502 0.552 0.399 0.296 0.261 0.292 1.560 2.680 2.730 1.250 0.912 0.624 0.563 0.456 0.392 84 .32 72 .27 91 .35 333 1.27 589 2.24 438 1.67 271 1.03 177 .67 169 .64 310 1.18 225 .86 123 .47 131 .475 79 .286 95 .344 307 1.112 861 3.120 600 2.174 458 1.660 251 .903 161 .583 160 .580 136 .492 92 .333 Bow Ivake, Showing Glacier c.iiost River CHAPTER IX Milk River Milk river is the only stream of importance in Canada belonging to the Missouri drainage basin. It rises in the eastern slope of the foothills in the Blackfoot Indian reserve, in the United States. Its headwaters descend in two main streams, known as the North and South branches. The North branch flows north-easterly for a distance of about 15 miles, and enters Canada in tp. 1, R. XXIII, west of the fourth meridian ; thence, northerly and easterly to its junction with the South branch. The South branch enters Canada in tp. 1, R. XX, west of the fourth meridian; thence northeast to join the North branch. From the con- fluence of the two branches, Milk river flows easterly and south-east- erly, crossing the boundary into the United States, in tp. 1, R. V, west of the fourth meridian. Throughout its course in Canada, Milk river flows through a well- defined valley, bordered on each side by a range of hills. Bare prairie land comprises the entire watershed. The river receives several small tributaries, all of which discharge a considerable volume of water during the spring freshets. Usually they become dry early in July, and have no considerable discharge again until late autumn, when some of them have a small flow for perhaps a month before winter. The general conditions of flow in the basin of the Milk river are typical of those in most watersheds devoid of tree growth, vis., extreme floods during the freshet period and small flow during the summer months.* From its headwaters to the crossing in sec. 1, tp. 1, R. V, the total area of its watershed is 2,514 square miles. Of this area, two-thirds are in Canada and one-third in the United States. The following are summaries of discharges at two of the gauging stations established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior : ♦Respecting the diversion of a portion of the waters of the St. Mary to the Milk, see pp. 158-159. [175] 176 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF MILK RIVER, AT SPENCER'S LOWER RANCH, ALTA. (Drainage area, 2,514 square miles at boundary line.) Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1910 April (14-30) .. May June July August September October 1911 March (16-31) . April May June July August September October November (1-7) 1912 April (6-30) .... May June July August September October November (1-16) 1913 April May June July August September October November 1914 March (21-31) . April May June July August September 1915 March (15-31) .. April May June July August September October November December 271.5 279.5 209.5 55.5 11.0 68.0 52.0 981 444 1,013 1,655 853 195 1,409 350 229 2,008 909 319 176 100 83 90 83 1,858 937 702 739 216 51 98 112 550 1,064 254 300 69 44 122 1,750 1,367 540 1,220 610 515 515 252 156 65 169 120 43.5 5.5 3 12.3 36 238 99 170 129 87 71 70 124 101 280 191 59 64 39 35 65 72 60 363 179 69 52 22 46 59 78.0 156.0 98.0 55.0 0.9 0.0 6.3 60 100 100 180 194 103 97 136 72 25 218.6 184.9 108 27 4.6 43.8 42.2 433 285 363 348 230 116 422 200 168 580 318 136 113 59.6 60.4 78.1 76.6 944 530 320 180 85 32 66 81 340.0 501.0 158.0 103.0 26.0 7.3 23.0 542 300 224 550 321 204 196 193 115 42 .087 .074 .043 .011 .002 .017 .017 .172 .113 .144 .138 .092 .046 .168 .080 .067 .231 .126 .054 .045 .023 .024 .031 .030 .375 .211 .127 .072 .034 .013 .026 .032 .135 .199 .063 .041 .010 .003 .009 .216 .119 .089 .219 .127 .081 .078 .077 .046 .017 MILK RIVER IN CANADA 177 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SOUTH BRANCH OF MILK RIVER, AT MACKIE RANCH, ALTA. (Drainage area, 441 square milesO Month 1910 April May • June July August September October November (1-27) 1911 April (17-30) ... May June July August September October November (1-3) 1912 April (5-30) May June July August September October November (1-16) 1913 April (6-30) ... May June July August September October Discharge in second-feet 1914 (Drainage area, 504 square April (4-10) May (6) (20-31) June July August September October 1915 April May June July August September October 239.5 242 242 41 14 46.5 36.5 56.5 341 961 982 223 82 446 97 85 449 669 121 110 59 42 48 45 554 456 424 359 106 36 140 miles) 436.0 156.0 131.0 40.0 39.0 19.4 215.0 124 288 858 377 167 462 126 75 34 1.6 1 12.5 24 25 198 158 100 44 29 34 59 83 157 121 44 45 21 21 22 39 163 185 106 46 18 9.6 30 227.0 68.0 30.0 .6 Nil 6.4 7.2 40 42 53 63 31 31 74 137.7 121.2 71.4 15 4.43 30.8 29.9 37.98 258 275 254 90 54 141 74 84 222 209 78.8 63.6 35.6 32.8 42.6 42.4 430 332 216 100 51.3 18.4 68.4 292.0 102.0 60.0 15.0 10.3 11.4 70.0 73 130 249 139 61 130 93 .312 .275 .162 .034 .010 .070 .068 .086 .585 .624 .576 .204 .122 .320 .168 .190 .503 .474 .179 .144 .081 .074 .097 .096 0.975 0.753 0.490 0.227 0.118 0.042 0.155 .579 .202 .119 .030 .020 .023 .139 .145 .258 .494 .276 .121 .258 .185 CHAPTER X Bow River below Calgary For fourteen and one-half miles below Calgary, the Bow river flows almost due south near the 114th meridian, thence eastward for a distance of eight miles to its confluence with the Highwood. The banks are about 100 feet in height, and although scarped in some places, often bear groves of cottonwood. The bottoms are not of great area but, in many cases, are well adapted to farming ; the entire country shows an excellent growth of grass. Pine canon extends for about nine miles below the mouth of the Highwood. The banks here are almost 200 feet in height. They are steep and generally scarped but, in the hollows, heavily wooded with spruce and broad-leafed trees. This is the easternmost occur- rence of coniferous trees on the Bow. From this point the valley again widens and the banks are scarped only at the bends of the river. They are at first much lower, often only from 50 to 60 feet high, but, approaching Blackfoot crossing, they gradually rise and attain a height of from 100 to 150 feet. The greater portion of this section of the river is moderately direct in its course, but, before reaching Black- foot crossing, it describes several great curves and many minor bends. The stream is wide and shallow, with innumerable sloughs and chan- nels, and, in two parts of its course — twelve and two miles respec- tively above the crossing — forms a complete plexus of islands and shoals. The elevation of the Bow river, above the Bassano dam, is 2,563 feet, as compared with 3,363 feet at Calgary. The distance traversed by the river is approximately 103 miles, and the average descent 7*8 feet per mile. The most dangerous rapids occur in a reach a few miles in length, below the mouth of Fish creek, and are both rough and strong. A large volume of water is diverted from the Bow river for irriga- tion purposes, chiefly by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and the Southern Alberta Land Company. The Southern Alberta Land Company has a dam and reservoir near Namaka. These works were practically completed in 1913. It is proposed to irrigate by this system about 300,000 acres. [178] BOW RIVER BELOW CALGARY 179 The Canadian Pacific Railway Company diverts water at two points, one just east of the city of Calgary and the other three miles southwest of Bassano. The first system has been in operation for several years and distributes water over the western section of the irrigation block which extends east as far as Gleichen. The works at Bassano comprise a very large, earth fill dam and concrete spillway, which were completed in 1913. This system is to serve the section of the irrigation block east of Bassano. It is proposed to irrigate altogether about 1,000,000 acres of land. The Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior has had stream-measurement stations on this river for several years. The following tables have been compiled from the records: — MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BOW RIVER, AT CALGARY, ALTA. (Drainage area, 3,900 square miles.) Month 1908 May (10-31) ... June July August September October (1-28) 1909 April (20-30) . . . May June July August September October November (1-6) 1910 April (6-30) ... May June July August September October Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 7,093 18,880 13,134 6.873 4,496 2,904 1,620 10,126 20,306 22,051 8,680 4,758 3,106 1,880 5,311 12,317 14,251 10,529 7,915 4,039 3,740 Mean 5,063 9,050 6,631 4,496 2,904 1,940 1,280 1,280 10,069 8,060 4,314 2,490 1,880 1,880 760 3,871 7,823 5,431 3,689 3,172 2,330 5,954.9 13,701.5 10,801.1 5,652.2 3,648.2 2,400.2 1,354.5 4,176.2 14,527.4 12,263.2 5,878.9 3,703.0 2,422.9 1,880.0 1,984 6,867 10,655 8,513 5,646 3,662 3,164 Per square mile 1.53 3.51 2.77 1.45 .94 .62 .35 1.07 3.73 3.15 1.51 .95 .62 .48 .51 1.76 2.73 2.18 1.45 .94 .81 Note. — The discharges of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company's canal have been added to those of Bow river at dishing bridge, in this table. 180 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BOW RIVER, NEAR CALGARY, ALTA. (At Langevin bridge) (Drainage area, 3,056 square miles.) Month 1910— (Cont.) November (29-30) December 1911 January (1-4, 21-30) February March April May June July August September October November December 1912 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1913 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1914 January February March April May Tune July August September Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1,230 1,180 1,205 .39 1,660 700 1,205 .39 1,040 600 880 .29 1,005 796 914 .30 940 810 857 .28 2,288 860 1,292 .42 3,720 1,496 2,676 .87 16,460 5,970 11,434 3.74 13,730 7,000 9,459 3.10 15,130 5,250 7,396 2.42 6,420 3,160 4,452 1.46 3,270 1,800 2,424 .79 2,200 960 1,609 .53 1,070 650 774 .25 1,670 680 1,109 0.36 1,160 980 1,048 .34 1,640 825 1,030 .34 2,170 1,040 1,571 .51 5,485 1,620 3,432 1.12 13,894 2,420 8,185 2.68 15,210 6,890 10,772 3.52 11,121 6,006 8,169 2.68 7,160 3,310 4,847 1.58 3,505 2,240 3,064 1.00 2,562 1,274 2,076 .68 1,720 580 985 .32 1,270 1,003 1,118 .366 1,250 908 1,124 .368 1,539 864 1,192 .390 2,380 1,180 1,663 .544 9,070 1,565 3,201 1.05 14,670 8,470 11,557 3.78 10,910 4,870 7,651 2.50 9,270 5,126 6,825 2.23 8,030 3,163 4,561 1.49 3,249 2,120 2,635 .862 2,505 1,268 1,951 .638 2,234 890 1,794 .587 1,360 800 1,045 .342 1,055 845 945 .309 1,144 908 1,034 .338 1,870 1,150 1,498 .490 5,470 1,660 3,700 1.211 14,290 4.990 10,208 3.340 13,390 5,500 9,645 3.156 6.010 3,725 4.750 1.554 3,775 2,500 2,926 .958 BOW RIVER BELOW CALGARY 181 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BOW RIVER, NEAR CALGARY, ALTA. — Continued ■ Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1914— (Con/.) 3,450 2,170 1,720 lare miles) 1,320 1,267 1,504 1,993 5,790 28,130 18,590 11,560 6,280 3,058 2,373 1,485 2,095 1,470 920 1,050 1,150 1,280 1,194 2,480 5,460 10,560 6,190 3,079 2,256 1,400 955 2,772 1,767 1,111 1,225 1,197 1,400 1,605 4,459 10,440 14,470 8,305 4,115 2,680 1,746 1,269 .907 .578 .363 1915 (Drainage area, 3,113 sq January .394 .385 .450 .516 1.432 3.354 July 4.648 2.668 1.322 October .861 .561 .408 DISCHARGE OF BOW RIVER, NEAR MORLEY, ALTA* (Drainage area, 2,111 square miles.) Month Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1910 May (25-31) June July August September October November December 1911 January (21-31) February March April May Tune July August September October November (1-8, 27-30) 10,440 13,090 9,640 6,635 3,210 2,986 1,930 1,510 704 920 1,262 3,400 13.545 10,825 7.440 5.160 2.272 1.734 6,500 6,115 5,760 2,952 2,460 1,972 950 770 512 564 560 340 1,240 5,040 6,150 4.076 2,240 1.350 724 8,473 9,544 7,859 4.829 2,794 2,510 1,519 1,111 593 615 687 827 2,229 10,184 8.059 5.759 3,501 1,840 1,308 4.01 4.52 3.72 2.29 1.32 1.19 .72 .53 .281 .291 .325 .392 1.06 4.82 3.82 2.73 1.66 .872 .620 *1911, the Morlev station was transferred to Kananaskis, as the operation of the Calgary Power Company's plant caused the records at Morley to be unsatisfactory. [82 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BOW RIVER, NEAR KANANASKIS (Drainage area. 1,601 square miles.) Month 1912 March (10-31) April May June July August September . . . October November . . . December 1913 January February March April May June July August September . . . October November December 1914 January February March April May June July August September . . . October November December 1915 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 640 710 4,389 8,100 8,308 7,947 4,604 2,464 2,221 1,390 790 770 1,065 2,008 8,378 11,150 7,975 6,446 5,536 2.820 2,000 1,660 1,260 740 740 980 4,130 10,422 10,146 4,945 2,450 2,520 1.848 990 816 880 1,365 1,752 3,670 13,780 13,276 6.875 4,125 2,010 1,833 1,370 570 546 635 1,894 4,432 4,100 2,320 1,734 710 300 640 570 670 820 1,040 7.165 3,509 3,734 1,976 1.440 1,144 1,200 600 560 605 700 1,168 2.872 4,210 2,351 1,841 1,729 860 420 500 630 662 728 1,860 3,290 5,924 4,268 1,833 1,725 1,220 865 Mean 580.50 627.00 2,199.68 5,475.13 6.130.0 5,923.0 3,294.0 2,158 1,259 656 703 679 839 1,285 2,546 8,776 5,540 5,049 3,381 2.026 1,507 1,398 859 717 670 821 2.584 6,932 6,957 3,536 2.136 2,159 1,225 644 654 803 825 1.093 2.570 5.428 8,059 5,134 2.539 1,855 1,394 1,165 Per square mile .36 .39 1.37 3.42 3.82 3.70 2.05 1.35 .79 .41 0.439 0.424 0.524 0.083 1.58 5.48 3.46 3.15 2.11 1.26 0.941 0.873 0.537 0.448 0.419 0.513 1.620 4.330 4.350 2.210 1.330 1.350 0.765 .401 .401 .492 .506 .670 1.580 3.330 4.940 3.150 1.560 1.140 .855 .714 BOW RIVER BELOW CALGARY 183 The drainage area of the Bow is almost the same near Namaka as near Bassano ; the latter is the lower. The following summaries of discharges are from the lowest points on the Bow where regular observations are taken : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BOW RIVER, NEAR NAMAKA, ALTA. Discharge in secon d-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean 1910 March (23-31) 10,195 5,475 12,875 14,670 9.930 7,360 4.290 4,182 3,157 1,855 4,209 8,577 5,265 3,569 3,535 2,940 6,855.2 2.576.3- 7,179.3 10,843.4 Tilly 7,909.5 5,387.7 3,910.0 3,597.8 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF BOW RIVER, NEAR BASSANO (Drainage area, 7,613 square miles.) , ALTA. Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1911 7,950 20,190 17,500 22,780 10,860 4,170 2,720 8,565 14,274 8,430 3,700 14,340 13,140 5,330 4,450 4,450 2,740 2,180 1.800 1,650 3.100 3.450 17,260 69.156 43.408 22,244 9,780 4,530 3,550 2,160 1,920 7,950 8,160 5.060 4,080 2,420 2,070 5,830 6,180 3,100 2,946 8,360 4,820 3,950 1,625 2,420 1,310 550 1,000 1,200 1,300 1,100 2.115 10.600 18.580 7.600 3,950 2,220 840 750 4,061 14,669 10,833 9,566 6,363 3,286 2,337 7,453 8,449 5,032 3,251 12,021 8,705 4,658 2,750 3.138 2.228 1,027 1,262 298 263 959 9,617 18.475 27,273 12,407 5,888 3,131 2.211 1.357 .53 1.93 July . 1.43 1.26 .84 .43 .31 July (20-31) 0.978 1.11 0.661 0.427 1914 1.579 July 1.143 0.612 0.361 0.412 0.293 0.135 1915 .166 .039 .034 .126 1.26 2.43 Tulv 3.58 1.63 .773 .411 .290 .178 Note— The monthly summary of discharges for 1912 is not available. 184 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Highwood River Highwood river is an important tributary of Bow river. It rises in numerous small streams on both sides of Highwood range, and flows in an easterly direction to High River, thence almost due north to its confluence with the Bow. It receives many fairly large tri- butaries, including Sheep river, Tongueflag and Pekiska creeks. In the foothills adjacent to the mountains the valley of the main stream is a wide depression, with prairie flats and terraced sides. The neighboring hills are partly wooded. The river leaves the Highwood range through a narrow gap or gorge ; for a distance of 14 miles, to a point near Mist mountain, the valley contains stretches of prairie, but becomes more generally wooded at the mountain. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior : DISCHARGE OF HIGHWOOD RIVER, AT HIGH RIVER, ALTA. (Drainage area, 746 square miles) Month 1908 June (1-27) August September October 1909 April May June July August September October 1910 April May June July* August* September* October* * Includes Little Bow ditch Discharge in second-feet Maximum 460 272 322 375 3,805 4,400 2,965 1,205 290 153 710 1,715 1,205 400 226 540 490 Minimum 2,365 250 160 160 115 240 1,320 667 290 140 140 110 405 625 226 155 178 185 Mean 4,163.6 342.1 195.5 221.1 186.6 1,568.1 2,651.6 1,516 547.6 223.5 145.6 258.5 855.6 953.2 398.4 191.2 351.3 341.1 Per square mile 5.58 .458 .262 .296 .249 2.10 3.55 2.02 .734 .299 .195 .346 1.15 1.28 .531 .256 .471 .457 BOW RIVER BELOW CALGARY 185 DISCHARGE OF HIGHWOOD RIVER, AT HIGH RIVER.— Continued Month 1911 March (22-31) t . Aprilt Mayt Junet Julyt August! September t October! November (1-13) t 1912 April May June July August September October November (1-23) . 1913 April May June July August September October November December 1914 April (10-30) .... May June July August September October 1915 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 150 464 2,301 3,345 1,339 2,728 1,975 594 384 425 1,510 6,720 2,240 1,264 375 265 284 370 2,220 2,106 1,646 642 431 405 271 121 365 1,272 1,921 922 215 220 593 76 132 490 3,416 8,024 3,800 1,648 470 464 300 158 Minimum 72.6 51.3 290 1,130 276 312 426 316 67.8 242 256 502 920 394 240 103 98 282 260 734 356 352 244 164 114 26 233 365 744 235 131 116 127 70 69 30 61 900 1,800 1,260 335 250 255 102 126 Mean 105 182 790 1,844 612 860 984 412 186 300 732 1,275 1,172 627 293 221 174 318 768 1,478 702 528 319 273 195 308 880 1,209 550 173 140 293 85 74 66 255 1,968 2,879 1,973 796 351 357 173 141 Per square mile .141 .244 1.06 2.48 .821 1.15 1.22 .553 .248 .402 .982 1.71 1.57 .840 .393 .296 .234 0.426 1.03 1.98 0.941 0.708 0.428 0.366 0.261 0.115 .413 1.180 1.620 .737 .232 .188 .393 .114 .099 .088 .342 2.638 3.859 2.645 1.067 .470 .479 .232 .189 t Includes flow through Little Bow ditch and Lineham's spillway. 186 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Sheep River Sheep river is the principal tributary of Highwood river. It rises in the outer ranges of the Rocky mountains and foothills and flows easterly to its confluence with the Highwood. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior near Okotoks : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SHEEP RIVER, NEAR OKOTOKS, ALTA. Month 1908 April (5-30) .... May June July August September October 1909 May (7-31) .... June July August September October 1910 April May June July August September October 1911 April May June July August September October November (1-5) 1912 April (6-15) .... May June July August September October November (1-15) Discharge in second-feet 3,400 7,685 780 210 160 275 3,386 3,212 2,116 862 172 98 203 408 314 180 159 255 203 804 1,720 1,720 1,080 2,410 1,726 446 232 603 701 5,446 4,711 863 255 435 495 Minimum Mean 80 173.5 130 968.8 880 2,396.6 210 444.4 145 187.4 100 122.8 160 191.6 705 2,071.3 1,008 2,018.5 348 1,033.8 172 318.2 112 130.1 72 88.4 59 112 180 251 180 251 80 119 69 115 107 210 123 156 66 273 182 563 440 855 194 386 226 853 352 688 222 281 225 230 239 305 282 510 282 915 610 1,682 205 387 141 221 183 263 104 175 Per square mile .277 1.55 3.84 .712 .300 .197 .306 3.32 3.23 1.66 .51 .181 .142 .180 .403 .402 .191 .184 .336 .249 .438 .902 1.370 .619 1.367 1.103 .450 .369 .489 .818 1.467 2.695 .620 .354 .422 .281 BOW RIVER BELOW CALGARY 1H7 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SHEEP RIVER, — Continued NEAR OKOTOKS, ALTA. Month 1913 April May June July August September . . . October 1914 April (4-30) . May June July August September . . . October 1915 March (17-31) April May June July August September . . . October Discharge in second-feet Maximum 1,045 901 1,581 1,341 1,285 315 ISO 646 789 854 772 167 172 458 307 150 2,979 21,390 18,500 2,300 920 560 Minimum 54 105 352 276 190 139 143 131 182 252 120 103 78 135 84 92 301 1,032 296 391 315 270 Mean 345 466 735 463 411 194 148 228 517 563 330 128 108 212 156 124 1,330 2,871 3,920 847 466 382 Per square mile .558 .754 1.190 .749 .665 .314 .239 .361 .818 .890 .522 .203 .171 .335 .247 .196 2.104 4.543 6.203 1.340 .737 .604 Fish Creek Fish creek is a tributary of Bow river. Rising- between the Sheep and Elbow rivers, it flows in a general easterly direction to its con- fluence with the Bow, 15 miles below Calgary. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior near Priddis: 188 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF FISH CREEK, NEAR PRIDDIS, ALTA. (Drainage area, 109 square miles.) Month 1908 June (11-30) ... July August September October 1909 May (3-31) .... June July August September October 1910 May June July August September October 1911 April May June July August September October November (1-16) 1912 April (22-30) .. May June July August September October November (1-15) 1913 April (21-30) ... May June July August September October Discharge in second-feet 496 104 40 23 49 556 104 182 44.5 9 15 11.5 15.5 1.9 5.5 44.8 10.5 95 293 200 242 930 109 59 30 48 170 312 734 180 125 89 38 59.0 289.0 310.0 117.0 95.0 54.0 35.0 118 12 9 6 12 58 31 23 7. 5 6 5. 1. 5.5 5.5 22.8 7.9 22.2 24.6 24.0 29.4 24 21 30 32 18 24 36 33 24 30 24.0 22.0 24.0 16.0 7.0 9.0 9.0 228.6 53.6 16.7 9.5 22.3 241.0 58.8 70.2 15.8 6.7 6.8 7.8 7.23 .48 1.5 17.0 6.8 56.8 68 56 62.9 125 51.7 37.3 23.8 36.1 75.6 56.8 249.6 76 62.5 53.8 34.3 32.6 96.6 80.8 42.1 28.8 16.4 16.9 Per square mile BOW RlVKK— HVDKO-El.KCTRIC Pl.ANT AT HORSKSHOK FAI, Row Riviu KANANASKIS l'\l. BOW RIVER BELOW CALGARY 189 DISCHARGE OF FISH CREEK, NEAR PRIDDIS, ALTA.— Continued Month 1914 April (7-30) . May June July August September . . . October 1915 March (15-31) April May June July August September . . . October Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 47.0 55.0 110.0 81.0 20.2 5.9 33.0 1,540 490 952 7,020 2,760 774 332 223 21.00 15.20 15.20 1.70 1.20 1.40 2.50 404 16 22 58 216 59 67 65 Mean 35.0 28.0 37.0 17.3 5.1 3.5 17.0 953 99 214 547 711 190 140 122 Per square mile .321 .257 .340 .159 .047 .032 .156 8.743 .908 1.963 5.018 6.523 1.743 1.284 1.119 Nose Creek Nose creek rises in township 28, about eight miles west of the fifth meridian, and flows into the Bow river from the north at Calgary. Its course is almost due south and is paralleled by the Edmonton branch of the Canadian Pacific railway. MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NOSE CREEK, NEAR CALGARY, ALTA. (Drainage area, 294 square miles) Month 1911 April (24-30) ... May June July August September October November (1-15) 1912 March (26-31) . April May June July August September October November (1-15) Discharge in second-feet 21.1 85.3 110.0 17.4 42.1 17.4 9.6 6.5 94 77 66 75 82 82 83 52 28 6.5 6.5 6.5 5.7 6.5 7.9 5.9 5.7 53 6.5 15.2 7 15.5 12.3 31 17.4 8.7 12.4 20.6 30.3 8.7 14.4 9.8 7.4 5.8 77.7 29.8 37.3 17.5 44.9 27.6 55.2 32.1 17.5 .042 .070 .103 .030 .049 .033 .025 .020 .264 .101 .127 .060 . 1 S3 .094 .188 .109 .060 190 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF NOSE CREEK, NEAR CALGARY, ALTA. Continued Month 1913 April (10-30) May June July August September . . October 1914 May (7-31) .. June July August September . . . October 1915 April May June July August September . . . October Discharge in second-fee Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 227 15.6 81.4 .277 177 15.6 56.3 .191 167 11.6 44.2 .150 135 14.9 38.3 .130 36 10.7 18.3 .062 29 10.4 15.0 .051 11.6 10.1 10.8 .037 14.4 7.0 9.9 .031 48.0 7.0 15.5 .048 16.7 4.1 7.7 .024 7.0 3.2 4.4 .014 9.3 3.4 5.5 .017 15.5 5.7 10.3 .032 23 6 12 .040 166 7 34 .116 1,011 21 140 .476 1,225 23 312 1.060 1,935 90 344 1.170 235 112 137 .466 144 80 108 .367 Elbow River The Elbow river forms one of the main tributaries of the Bow and enters it within the boundaries of the city of Calgary. It rises in the eastern ranges of the Rockies and flows eastward till it reaches a point due south of Calgary, thence northward to the Bow. A reconnaissance survey of the Elbow river was recently made by the Water Power branch, and several schemes are being con- sidered with a view to securing the most economical and efficient development. The cost of development, it is reported, would be com- paratively high. One of the projects proposed would produce approxi- mately 3,600 continuous electrical h.p. with an increase to 4,200 h.p. during part of the year. This proposition includes both a storage and a power dam, the location of the latter being at section 15, township 22, range VI, west of fifth meridian. A head of 225 feet would be available through a flume line, 1.75 miles long. Another project would develop a head of 500 feet, bringing the water from the storage dam to the power-house by tunnel and pipe line. A gauging station was established on this river at Calgary by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior in 1908. The fol- lowing is a summary of observations at this station: BOW RIVER BELOW CALGARY 191 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF ELBOW RIVER, AT CALGARY, ALTA. (Approximate drainage area, 482 square miles.) Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1908 May (8-31) 1,165 5,615 1,000 410 310 360 360 2,757 3,320 2,282 695 271 240 165 602 650 387 412 657 363 323 161 73 123 255 539 1,063 1,466 1,208 3,159 1,546 470 377 225 139 155 300 400 590 4,312 3,690 838 535 426 168 191 212 960 360 260 260 212 212 220 717 502 271 238 226 76 156 336 204 194 237 237 90 72 45 73 86 79 190 635 436 430 464 290 75 31 34 100 65 180 255 299 614 412 323 281 113 48 694.5 2,266 700.3 332.6 280.8 244.8 236.5 968 1,377.2 929.9 430.6 255.5 231.4 101 308.5 466 282 287.5 421.9 291.6 205.5 119 62.2 95.9 141 236 407 915 633 982 700 367 212 100 106.3 120.2 129.4 263 461 937 1,588.9 554.5 403.2 332.2 149.9 117.7 1.44 4.69 July 1.45 .690 .582 .508 .490 1909 2.01 2.86 Tulv 1.93 .892 .530 .480 1910 .209 .640 .967 .585 .596 .875 October .605 .426 .247 .129 .199 .293 .490 .844 1.898 July 1.313 2.037 1.452 .761 .440 .207 1912 February .22 .25 .27 .54 .96 1.94 Tulv 3.30 1.15 .84 .69 .31 .24 192 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF ELBOW RIVER, AT CALGARY, ALTA.— Continued Month 1913 January . February March . . . April May June July .... August . September October . November December 1914 January . February March . . April May June July .... August . . September October . November December 1915 January . February March . . April May ■June July August . . September October . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 129 138 183 1,205 1,112 1,171 961 1,367 461 268 ' 268 200 159 127 130 372 576 1.020 796 414 240 472 234 158 148 117 401 252 2.005 8,427 4,033 2,035 947 723 424 229 67 114 62 136 172 455 317 348 245 236 198 69 75 92 109 145 232 412 252 180 168 236 130 100 99 99 97 192 200 1,163 1,203 447 528 424 234 65 Mean 92 126 107 406 538 695 476 559 320 247 230 138 115 110 113 255 396 691 453 255 199 336 174 121 126 105 157 218 1,198 2,127 1,930 907 656 558 299 186 Per square mile .192 .261 .222 .842 1.120 1.444 .988 1.160 .664 .512 .477 .286 .24 .23 .23 .53 .82 1.43 .94 .53 .41 .70 .36 .25 .266 .222 .331 .460 2.53 4.49 4.07 1.91 1.38 1.18 .631 .392 CHAPTER XI Bow River above Calgary* Conservation of the waters of the Bow river is of the utmost moment, for upon it directly depends the agricultural and indus- trial prosperity of a very large area of southern Alberta. Rising in the high and remote regions of the Rocky Mountains National Park, and, with numerous tributaries, furnishing the most interest- ing and attractive feature of its world-famed scenery, the river emerges from the park only to be harnessed to supply energy for transmission to the city of Calgary for municipal purposes, street lighting, tram- ways, and for general commercial and industrial use. After furnish- ing the hydro-electric energy, the same waters have, by irrigation, converted thousands of acres of otherwise useless land into the most fertile tracts within the province. At first consideration it would appear that the two Dual Use important uses of this water, for irrigation and for of Water power, would result in a serious conflict of interest. Fortunately, however, irrigation requirements occur during the high- water stages of the river. Storage reservoirs on its upper waters would also make it possible to conserve enough of the flood flow, not required for irrigation, to compensate for the low water during the winter months, when otherwise the volume would not be sufficient for power purposes. The present use and distribution and the future conservation of the water resources of the Bow River basin, constitute one of the most important problems before the Department of the Interior. In some of its phases this problem has already been solved, while in others it awaits solution, although a beginning has been made and the lines of practicable progress have been fairly well marked out. ♦Note. — The storage and power possibilities of this river above Calgary have been investigated by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior, and a detailed report, made by M. C. Hendry, has been published as Water Resources Paper No. 2. The greater portion of this chapter, relating to the Bow river proper, is a brief summary of the above publication, prepared by Mr. J. B. Challies, superintendent of the Water Power branch, for insertion as a part of this report. The tables of discharges for stations on the Bow river, situated above and below Calgary, are grouped together in chapter X. 13 [193] 194 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The Bow is a typical mountain river, rising in the Description eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain system, west of River Q f t ^ e c jty of Calgary, Alberta. It drains an area of 3,138 square miles. The mountain portion of the basin — the portion above the Kananaskis fall — includes an area of 1,710 square miles. Fortunately, the mountain area is in the Rocky Mountains National Park, and enjoys all the advantages of park administration. The river has a very steep slope, and in several places falls occur, caused by out- cropping ledges of sandstone. Bow lake, in the headwaters, is at an elevation of about 6,620 feet above sea level. Thence to Kananaskis fall, at the confluence of the Kananaskis river, a distance of 90 miles, the descent is approximately 2,250 feet. Between Kananaskis fall and Calgary, a distance of 55 miles, it descends an additional 775 feet. Its flow is typical of all mountain streams, subject to sudden variation, and greatly influenced by conditions of temperature. During the winter it is greatly reduced, but in June and July, rains and the melting of the glaciers cause floods, and the variation between high and low water is very great. While no direct gaugings of extreme flood discharges are available, it has been computed, from levels taken by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company at Bow bridge and Kananaskis bridge, that at Horseshoe fall a flood of 45,000 c.f.s. has occurred. A low water discharge of less than 600 c.f.s. has been recorded at the same point. Records of the discharge at various points have been kept more or less continuously since 1909. What may be termed the power-producing section Producing of the river is a stretch about 30 miles long, within Section ^gy transmission radius of the largest power market of the district, the city of Calgary. The growth of this city has been phenomenal. As the city controls its public utilities, including street railway, water-works, electric light, etc., it is in the market for power in rapidly increasing amounts. There are, also, other large users of power, including the Canadian Pacific railway. p . The first hydro-electric development on the Bow Municipal river was that of the Eau Claire Lumber Company, Lighting situated within the city limits of Calgary. This development utilizes about 12 feet of the natural fall of the river, by means of a diverting dam (pile and timber construction) and a canal. The present installation is for 600 horse-power, but it is under- stood that additional installation is proposed. A growing demand for hydro-electric power at Calgary Power Calgary resulted in the Calgary Power Co., Ltd., con- structing a modern 19,500 horse-power hydro-electric plant at Horseshoe fall, about 48 miles from the city (see plate facing 194 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The Bow is a typical mountain river, rising in the Description eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain system, west of River f t h e c j ty f Calgary, Alberta. It drains an area of 3,138 square miles. The mountain portion of the basin — the portion above the Kananaskis fall — includes an area of 1,710 square miles. Fortunately, the mountain area is in the Rocky Mountains National Park, and enjoys all the advantages of park administration. The river has a very steep slope, and in several places falls occur, caused by out- cropping ledges of sandstone. Bow lake, in the headwaters, is at an elevation of about 6,620 feet above sea level. Thence to Kananaskis fall, at the confluence of the Kananaskis river, a distance of 90 miles, the descent is approximately 2,250 feet. Between Kananaskis fall and Calgary, a distance of 55 miles, it descends an additional 775 feet. Its flow is typical of all mountain streams, subject to sudden variation, and greatly influenced by conditions of temperature. During the winter it is greatly reduced, but in June and July, rains and the melting of the glaciers cause floods, and the variation between high and low water is very great. While no direct gaugings of extreme flood discharges are available, it has been computed, from levels taken by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company at Bow bridge and Kananaskis bridge, that at Horseshoe fall a flood of 45,000 c.f.s. has occurred. A low water discharge of less than 600 c.f.s. has been recorded at the same point. Records of the discharge at various points have been kept more or less continuously since 1909. „. . What may be termed the power-producing section Water-power J . , „~ ., , . , • Producing of the river is a stretch about 30 miles long, within Section ^gy transmission radius of the largest power market of the district, the city of Calgary. The growth of this city has been phenomenal. As the city controls its public utilities, including street railway, water-works, electric light, etc., it is in the market for power in rapidly increasing amounts. There are, also, other large users of power, including the Canadian Pacific railway. The first hydro-electric development on the Bow Municipal river was that of the Eau Claire Lumber Company, Lighting situated within the city limits of Calgary. This development utilizes about 12 feet of the natural fall of the river, by means of a diverting dam (pile and timber construction) and a canal. The present installation is for 600 horse-power, but it is under- stood that additional installation is proposed. A growing demand for hydro-electric power at Calgary Power Calgary resulted in the Calgary Power Co., Ltd., con- structing a modern 19,500 horse-power hydro-electric plant at Horseshoe fall, about 48 miles from the city (see plate facing COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Diagram showing DAILY DISCHARGE IN SECOND-FEET BOW °RIVER MEAN DAILY TEMPERATURE IN DEGREES FAHRENHEIT iaio D LEt^NJD - - Curv«, o» no li T do t i do H - do — - JANUARY DECEMBER BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 195 page 208). Owing to variation in flow, the output is not continuous. This development was commenced in 1909 and completed on the as- sumption that the minimum flow of the river was about 1,000 c.f.s. Unfortunately, in the early stages of operation it was discovered that the minimum flow was so much less than supposed that the company was, early in 1911, confronted with the immediate necessity of either constructing a steam auxiliary plant at Calgary, or of undertaking stor- age works at the most favourable point on the upper waters of the Bow river. .„ , In March, 1912, construction was commenced on Storage Works ' ... ,,, , . for Winter a storage dam at the outlet of lake Minnewanka, in Flow the Rocky Mountains National Park. It was com- pleted in time to impound the flood waters of the summer of 1912, and make them available for the winter flow of 1912-13. By the construc- tion of this dam, about 58,000 acre-feet of water can be stored, of which 44,000 acre-feet are guaranteed to the power company. In con- structing this dam provision has been made for all necessary per- manent works for an intake to a future power project on the Cascade river, which will be capable of developing about 900 continuous elec- trical horse-power, to be used for park purposes within the Rocky Mountains National Park. The Calgary Power Co. has also constructed an Kananaskis additional plant (see plate facing page 210) at Kanan- askis fall, about iy 2 miles west of its present plant at Horseshoe fall, where, with a head of 70 feet, machinery capable of producing 11,000 horse-power has been installed. The company's two plants are being operated together, and the power is mainly transmit- ted for use in and near the city of Calgary. With these two plants in operation, and with the present storage at Minnewanka lake, a continuous output of 11,600 wheel horse-power can probably be depended upon.* Power and The rapidly increasing demand for power from the Storage Bow river, and the necessity for providing adequate Investigations r .... , . . , , , , storage facilities for existing and contemplated plants on the river, rendered necessary immediate and vigorous action by the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior, to investigate the power and regulation facilities of the river, and at the same time, to formulate a policy providing for the maximum advantageous util- ization of the resources of the river in the best interest of present and prospective users, for both power and irrigation purposes. Accord- ingly, Mr. J. B. Challies commenced, in 1911, a thorough investiga- tion of the Bow river, and its tributaries west of Calgary. The field 'A more detailed description of these plants is appended hereto, p. 209. 196 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION work was carried on under the direction of M. C. Hendry, with the general advice and assistance of Mr. C. H. Mitchell, of the consulting engineering firm of C. H. & P. H. Mitchell, Toronto, one of the board of consulting engineers to the Water Power branch in connection with water-power matters in Western Canada. Mr. Mitchell also collaborated with Mr. Hendry in the preparation of his report, pub- lished as Water Resources Paper No. 2. A thorough reconnaissance of the whole Bow Preliminary River basin was made, with subsequent surveys of all possible power sites and storage basins. Owing to the lack of run-off data at important points, both on the Bow river and its tributaries, additional gauging stations were established by the hydrographic engineers of the Interior Department. Most of the pre- vious work of stream gauging in this district, while excellent, had been carried on only during open water season, and little information was available as to the flow during the winter months. The work was carried on by Mr. Hendry during the summer of 1911 and summer and winter of 1912. In the two summer seasons the following was accomplished : Reconnaiss Reconnaissance was made of Kananaskis river, of Bow and Kananaskis lakes, Spray river and tributaries and Tributaries Spray lakes, Bow lake, Hector lake, Pipestone creek, Baker lake, Ptarmigan lake, Redoubt lake, Johnston creek, Redearth creek, Brewster creek, Forty-mile creek, and Ghost river. A thorough reconnaissance, preliminary to surveys, was made by both Mr. Hendry and Mr. Mitchell, of the power-producing portion of the Bow river between Kananaskis fall and Radnor. The creeks and lakes examined on these trips were either eliminated as being unsuit- able for power or storage purposes, or accepted as feasible, and some general scheme for development settled on. In the latter case a field party was then assigned to carry out the investigations in detail. During the summer of 1911 and 1912, detailed topo- Topog?aphical graphical surveys were made of approximately 30 miles of the Bow river, from the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge above Kananaskis fall, down as far as Radnor, particular atten- tion being given to the several possible power sites. Topographical surveys were also made of Bow lake, lake Minnewanka, and the basin of the Spray lakes, with a view to the creation of storage. The profile of the Bow river above Calgary shows the results of these surveys. Briefly, there are six power sites on the power-pro- ducing stretch of the Bow river, as follows : — 1. Kananaskis Fall site, developed. 2. Horseshoe Fall site, developed. 3. Bow Fort site, undeveloped. £ a a a E I * ^"^ fit IS 3 cli» c P! , S 1 3^v 1 a - J ? O = *> 1 i f w ! 1 %1 pq c -5 •,ON aurr 1 < . o . I i e no" > * a 5 i ^ 1 O ! 1' ; ! is " so? *Jj| 1 -; : 1. «* ■;-;»» " b o»S : '. ';.• ■ ';':x : x; xx-. : . 2 3^2 ^ n L """"^ L x-x to-: vl: .? o E -I J -g si ; '-' ; B - " n ; , ! 1 a gyp aunp qaj S 5 T - 5~- 1 " • «s — 1 ,.,., . ..,.,. ^ i : . I : N m =V ss >»^«Ni ->*,■* ; J \ ..._ ,;„;;,„;,,; . - ™~^~ i *j V ft sfis >~*H» " i S i 0| ; ? ' rr ■7 "7 et Jls -Jf— 3BQ MM qaj g 9 << , . 1 J ix; T;r ^- i "" : " i- : ff)N 1 , ,1' t 1 .5/ K vN i T 3 ■ ^§ta^ • < 6-*»;i 1 - >SF . A ^, [ ..,,.: ; , J ~| ; . J ■ I \f„ ,;■ .:j. ; j*s» ■ ife Lv.x^cciw^^-V.vja. s- xxxX x'xxxx '■x, >"' . : x. 'j :: ' f' , -.J-9/3V E ** »l *■? : q g <5< il;^ &SP af t 1 u-r ™ ? c - - j 3»C wu) X : : lf]»l d» S 9»J ' ^ 1 iJt i i r ■ xt' r ■ I. ^ x; x;,. x V ;.-■■ ■. ■ ■ 0,5 . . •;,.•; ■; l - ,.. j _ : ; x-x. >. j^l 1 1 I ! 1 m "!• 1 i 1 | -r L ! ooooooooo 8 8 8 § § 8 § § 8 8 |28X|S|S8S BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 197 4. Mission site, undeveloped. 5. Ghost site, undeveloped. 6. Radnor site, undeveloped. Two other developments in this basin have been proven feasible, one of about 900 horse-power capacity on the Cascade river, imme- diately below the outlet of lake Minnewanka, where the Calgary Power Co. has constructed a storage dam ; the other on the Kananaskis river, just above the Canadian Pacific bridge, where a combined storage and power development has been proposed by the same company. The famous Bow fall, on the Bow river, near the Bow Fall as a Canadian Pacific Railway Company's hotel at Banff, Scenic Feature hag been cons j derec j to h ave a f ar gre ater potential value from an aesthetic standpoint than from any possible use for power development purposes. For this reason no attempt has been made to consider it from a utilitarian viewpoint. The storage possibilities of the basin are extensive and important, although the question of flow during winter conditions from the possible storage reservoirs must be further considered before any comprehensive construction scheme is finally determined. Results of the surveys are briefly sum- marized in the following tables : STORAGE BASINS Storage Possibilities Basin Capacity Bow lake Spray lake , Lake Minnewanka Lake Minnewanka auxiliary (created) Total above Calgary on Bow river Total above Calgary with auxiliary Elbow river Total above Calgary, including auxiliary at Minnewanka 27,400 acre- ft 171,000 " 44,700 " 14,200 " 243,100 " 257,300 " 23,000 " 280,300 " POWER SITES Site Pondage above dam in acres Head in feet Bow river — 1. Kananaskis fall . . 2. Horseshoe fall . . 3. Bow Fort 4. Mission 5. Ghost 6. Radnor Cascade river — At Minnewanka dam Kananaskis river — Above C. P. Ry. brid 122.25 98.47 205 . 19 353.09 786.10 241.50 .000 70 operating 70 operating 66 47 50 44 64 45 198 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION In addition, it is probably possible to develop power at several points on the Spray river below the proposed storage dam, but no detailed investigation has been made. All possible storage on the Bow river above Cal- Benefits of gary is available for the whole power section of the river between Kananaskis fall and Radnor. The mean flow for the low winter months, as recorded at Horseshoe fall, has been found to be as low as 720 c.f.s., and the minimum flow as low as 600 c.f.s. By means of the storage that has been and that may be created, it is anticipated that the mean flow can be raised to at least 1,500 c.f.s. Below the mouth of the Ghost this would be increased to 1,600 c.f.s. The effect of storage upon the power output of the river, over that due to the natural flow, is shown in the following tables : SHOWING EFFECT OF REGULATION AT EACH POWER SITE ON BOW RIVER Power site Continuous wheel h.p. Natural flow Regulated flow 3,820 3,820 3.600 2,565 3,180 2,800 9 545 9,545 9 000 6 410 Ghost 7,275 6,400 Total 19,785 48,175 Department power site at Minnewanka dam, Cascade river 1,165 w.h.p. Grand total of power capacity of river fully regulated 49,340 w.h.p. Giving an increased continuous output of 29,555 w.h.p. A tabulated summary is shown of the effects of storage upon the developed and undeveloped water-power sites within the power producing stretch of the Bow river. This table is compiled from diagrams and shows the effect of storage upon the river for different assumptions. BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 199 Q < Q W to S w > w Q w a o Ph sg < £ m o w ^ to < ! m w O Eh c/3 to O H a w to to w to O to < *s 01 "Iod ui sb Moy qjiM 3Sbjo;s uiojj pappB SJB3X 'd'H 01 -03 ui se Moy qjiM 3iqB[iBAB •d-q snonuijucQ £1 "JOQ UI SB XjIOB -(Ibo auiqjnj qi'iM jsjbav UJOJJ 3jqB[IBAB SJB3A - 'd'H 3tui; jo }U3D J3d 09 'J3Mod j'q PZ 'ind}no auiqjni ajqissoj 0T •JOQ UI SB A\oy p3}B|n§3J UIOJJ biqBpBAB SJB3A" -J'JJ spaqM jo XjpBdBD pasodojd uiqiiM pappB sjb3X 'd'H •s-j-o ui Aioy paiBUiSaj umuiiuipj; oo op r*s cm oo iri ^ VO vo u-, _ ,_ c .-tcm-t as OnvONvo 1-t OOO rr if if> co so >-\ ,5 n n o cm — o 0(M« CM otCcdtv.' oo oo o oo o "*5 CM -^ CM ui o'r-Coo'K" 00--' ro fOTj-ii-) ,_, PON lOOTK _ i-i -h Ot ir,to CM CM CM*— .",-.'_ ,* 88 LOLO 8 'IO3 UI SB AJIDB -dBD [asqM Suisn jsieay iuojj aiqBjiBAB 'sjb3A" -jpf 3UJI1 jo 1U3D jad 09 'J3A\od uq PZ 'jndino auiqjna ajqissoj w O O O O u~j OO IT) CO 1 — I TJ* Tf rr CA CA N f^ t' 'I°D U ' SE AipBdBO j93qA\ qjIAV ' JE3A - ' U3AB UI 3iqBpBAB SJE3A - -jj-j^ 0\ n n n sb A\oy qaiM "d-q 3[qBpBAy ^ COCO CM §°>00 'S"J - D UI A\oy A^qjuoiu uBsui umuuuij^ 00 0000 fM CM CM CM CM CM NN NN0O00 pasodoad jo payBis sauiqjni jo 'd-q pa~.E^[ J33J ui 'psaq SuiJfJO,\\ jlUBp JO 1S3JD JO UOJlBA9[Vl IS 8888 ;_ m CM iri 1-0 irj * ON ni o O* o" 10 (M OmNO 10 00 .— ' \o -^ ^o *~1°. OCO CON ^ -^ U5 4 « SI & . . "e . . . . J2£2 CM Orh a\ ^3" "^r vo »-o OS 00 \qvq CM^-iigo VO\D VO'tj-'iot}-' S y &q= an( j an auxiliary storage at lake Minnewanka of 14,200 acre- feet, a flow of 1,500 second- feet may be maintained during the low-water period of any year; during years of ordinary precipita- tion, this flow may be as much as 1,700 c.f.s. Below the mouth of the Ghost river, the regulated flow may be increased by at least 100 c.f.s., or, from the Ghost river to Radnor, a continuous flow of 1,600 c.f.s. would be available; during some seasons it might reach 1,800 c.f.s. Complete data are not available for the discharge of creeks tribu- tary to the Bow between Radnor and Calgary, but below Calgary, and including the regulated flow of the Elbow, a flow of nearly 2,000 c.f.s. may be expected during the low water period. A profile of the power producing stretch of the river is shown on plate facing page 202. This plate demonstrates the inter-relation of the head and tail waters of the different plants, and of the proposed con- centrations. Estimates of cost have been prepared providing for Estimates a complete development of the three proposed storage basins, including that already built at the outlet of lake Minnewanka, and for four additional power plants on the power 202 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION r^t>. 1-s.r}; OCM 228 f^<^SS Oi-T (OOCtN ,1 CO cococO'-' 82 S2SS r- ion>o to 00 tJ-^hOO <§ 861 o ooo ^h On— ' NO CM CM "^CM CO 00 CM co CM Os 2 S=2§ iO ON 00 On ""> •* ?S2 OO OOO' co.On ONt^ON' > a; Mrs &W > re j — a= h. rt o V 5 CM 55 >, ON > ^On 2 fc U'C o^.SS "~S 2S o S, o a a.-c «8s w © 88! o<5< «°, 2§ o ? - C > C '& ** rt u C ») »- bpo 3 C UON ,-Tu-T 202 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION N^tqi r-H u-i r^ CO < O— " VO~OV 2 82Si iL oo t}-^hoo On co t^ op rj- C0t>» OS cm" £££f^ 2 g2S CM CM -*J-CM (O^O 00 u-T^-h'cO 2 g28 Tt-OOVO cvfoo" © A ^h S -¥ ™ "t" . 2& ■as ©\ rt &•* •o * .gs fc.S a £ ca.ti 2g: — o «-* J5 w « a •a o. «.S o »- e.o <-> o IB S o «> h « &«•§ 3 rt o 4> rt c w « c £ 1/5 «-*.£ * i>*2 cs o " c fin 3 te CO ^ S ' a> £ rt O c , ^ en w rt o -i •o £ o •oca rt >- tn o"5 g w 3 "° '".5 rt «; c «- bo o S>£8 •Sg8 UON L ® BOW RIVER POWER and STORAGE SURVEYS PROFILE of BOW RIVER KANANASK1S FALLS to RADNOR N 1 n; •.» t Profila 3*rgv».P - gs "" w » ho ""- J^_ .... f : I 1 £^ - ,J " 2H - n 17 @ *S — — T k N 7 1 1 0,. r;:::i u *. St.LES , , i r; • I "'\ J ; 1 "1 M 1 _u 11 H I 1 1 1 LJ_ i Jj j fl i S j I! 1 JJ'i i j i f - © i' I ^ \j«s... ii a s sa J SS 5 Tk/.C-AuMtuj, c... .,„. (S) "!. ,* « s « * i 4 — §„ » !» 1 i: H IS 1 , 1 5 5? ^4 C*j ll.o- . T e.E*. 3710 - v *»l! ^5?" \l i 11 II! SS fill H llfl ii gjj 3« Ii !f]RT b Ii ! 4 i ji f* j s— t4- ! fl H ; 1 PP :£ N j i I ■ • 3 • t j 1 ~i — ' i s fl 1 i 1 S i j s S I i sunt " BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 203 no lo co \Olf)KtO "1 .*■* . lO "TO CO VO cj oOfotT < o_ O Ov co o On i-h C5 O T_ ' m CM Tf T T 8 ■" 1 in »**° n ro in in co " tj NmOK rrt^rv.NO *j co co T O CM KonCM lo' ^T d CO NO O On o o O -ti £ T OOLO CO 00 NO r>» < oo y OO^co co_^ lo"co^h LO ©* If; oo 1 '— tn LOLO CO OioCM O 1-co n LOT On >*H LO O NO u Oco CO 01 o <£ CO- co" _H i tri LO LO LO o 6h >. aS % "■ NO CO NiOmN o co »NI "t ON !N| CM uco"; o^nn oo g 0. >-" | o o c P ,_, U C« fH On > o — i 2 ^ ~ — B -< o\ E s *• C t— i o t-< CM CM — . lo S-a rt -o £ O - be 2 2 2 o m o tn = S E ^ o c ^=5 OQ CO <5 o O.rt H.-S -— JTj jj c lo Lo •S3 . w . i s -o o ra > u .- O be i< '-we- 204 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION ,-« t>. CO CM CM On O O On CM On lo 1*1 oqt>»p p uS vd "^" on ^ ro^ ^h ■q-CMON co eg CO t>; to no 06 o\ no r< CO CO CXJ CO oo co-^r -3- Tf00> OnONC O On ^h co \p »o OO co .a o eg <« II rt o •co + . w oo • -, <" ^ t*OiO NO 00 co rH t-l r-H CM rH ONl OO NO NO ONO 00. tCtC^'cO uS^corvi co co ON On ON 00 On CC co ■^•"tC £-o^ O j^CM «a £io fr :1S.3p '* : & b,5 3 • o rt cq rt « o. *+?£ * ° w ° £(E bo S bn ?„ bo g SJ *- £ *■ a - V V JS JZJ2 ■a <« 0 00 nom rs ON > «ON 3£ £ C 888 POO 2 bo rt 2 2 <-■) O O OT J* c £ rt hOO, £ ^ O q= q3 •d ^_; -a ,, j rt u a 3 u S UJ c/ (/) l-O rtt^ rt Wltrl lts accompanying irrigation requirements, is Requirements pre-eminent in this locality, and as regards the use of water, must take precedence of all power requirements. When this investigation of the Bow river water supply was first undertaken, there was some apprehension respecting a possible con- flict of interests in the adjustment of the water supply. As the investigations progressed, and broadened, however, it soon became apparent that instead of any interference, there was, on the con- trary, rather a co-operative effect. On the broad principle that any storage project will equally assist both power production and irrigation, in supplying ample water for their requirements, it is obvious that there can be no conflict of rights if the river discharge is equably controlled so as to be uniform during the spring and autumn. Irrigation at Fortunately, water for irrigation is required only Favourable during high and normal water stages of the river, Water Seasons commencing not earlier than April 7, and extending to not later than September 30. During these summer months, at least three have flood discharge on this river, while the other two, viz., May and September, have discharges larger than the proposed new regulated flow of 1,500 second-feet at, say, Morley. The withdrawal of water by storage on the high summer flood will not interfere with efficient irrigation ; on the contrary, provision is made for the future, because such a large supply cannot be maintained throughout the entire irrigable season; the month of April is much improved by storage, while September remains as before. BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 207 Under any circumstances, the requirements of irrigation should be kept clearly in mind, and, in the face of a threatened shortage, its rea- sonable demands must be given precedence. With the limited space available, it has been impossible to discuss pertinent questions of cost, runoff, precipitation, temperature, evapora- tion, ice conditions, storage manipulation, and geology. All such, and other allied questions, have been exhaustively treated by Mr. Hendry, in Water Resources Paper No. 2. Recommendations of Consulting Engineer Mr. C. H. Mitchell, in submitting his final recommendations to the Department of the Interior, following the completion of Mr. Hendry's surveys, says : General. — If the country in the foothills east of the Rockies, and within transmission radius of the Bow river, is to be encour- aged as an industrial region, the utilization of its natural resources is an economic necessity, and the utmost development of the water power of the Bow river is a logical outcome. In this region there are already rapidly growing industrial communities, and their steady growth is dependent on probably no more important fac- tor than an ample supply of power. The Bow river is peculiar, in that, in its natural condition, its summer flood discharge is upwards of seventy times its low water winter discharge, a condition which obviously renders its use, in its present state, unsuitable, inefficient, and commercially unfeasible for power purposes. The investigations which have been carried on during the past two years, the results of which have been embodied in the gen- eral report of Mr. Hendry, and in which I have collaborated, indicate that, if the Bow river is to be an efficient commercial source of power, and at the same time to afford an ample water supply for power and irrigation purposes, it is absolutely neces- sary that the river be regulated and controlled, so as to ensure a fixed and usable supply of water continuously throughout the year. Conditions to be Met. — If the improvement of Bow river is undertaken for the advantage of the power and irrigation indus- tries, it is obvious that it should be done by, and remain under the control of, the Government, because of the many conflicting inter- ests involved. In addition to the irrigation interests, there are, or are likely to be, several power companies requiring water in some degree of uniformity throughout the year. Such being the case, it is evident that, once the storage system is constructed, its satisfactory operation can be secured only through the medium of some central official body, exercising an absolute control over the water supply, so as to obtain the greatest advantage and efficiency to the largest proportion of public users. All users must be made parties to the arrangement to make it completely co-operative. 208 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Policy to be Framed. — If this water supply project is under- taken as a work of public benefit by the Dominion Government, it would naturally be the function of the Water Power branch of the Department of the Interior to carry it out, and subsequently administer its operation. Conclusion. — Realizing- the importance of the Bow river waters to every phase of the development of the district through which it flows, and recognizing the urgent necessity of having a practicable conservation scheme worked out and put into practice without delay, the investigations described herein were carried to completion with all reasonable thoroughness, and with every pos- sible dispatch. They have been surprisingly gratifying, showing that it is economically feasible so to regulate the flow of the Bow river, by means of storage works in its upper waters, as to war- rant the development at six power sites of over 45,000 continuous 24-hour wheel horse-power, all within 50 miles of the city of Cal- gary. At the same time, it has been shown that the using of these waters for power purposes above Calgary need not conflict with the consumption of the same water below Calgary for irrigation purposes ; rather would the regulation proposed for power pur- poses be a distinct advantage to the extension of existing irriga- tion systems to their ultimate capacity, and also insure in the future the instigation of additional irrigation projects. All of the present power and storage projects within the Bow River basin have been authorized under the Dominion water power regulations, which, in the way of limited grants, reason- able return to the Crown for the privileges, continuous control and periodic regulation of rates to consumers, the best possible physical use of the privilege, and continuous, beneficial operation provide for all that is essential in present day conservation prin- ciples regarding water power development. Care has also been taken to make all the present developments conform to any future comprehensive control scheme to be put into practice as soon as the necessities of the situation warrant. Not only by the engineering investigations briefly described herein, but 'in the departmental administration of the resources referred to, the main purpose of the Dominion Water Power branch has been to realize, in the broadest sense of the term, "conservation." Existing Developments on Bow River Eau Claire Plant. — The first hydro-electric development on the Bow river, in the section from Calgary west, is that of the Eau Claire Lumber Company (Calgary Power Company), situated within the city limits of Calgary. The development makes use of the natural fall of the river by means of a diverting dam of pile and timber con- struction and a canal. The head developed is about 12 feet. The diverting dam is situated just above the bridge crossing the Bow river at Ninth street west, and the intake and canal are on the south side, BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 209 the canal following the south bank for about one-half mile. Advantage is taken of small islands or gravel bars, and these, together with tim- ber pile structures, form the stream side of the canal. At the lower end an island forms the north side of the canal, or forebay, the original channel between it and the mainland forming the tail race. The pre- sent installation is for 600 horse-power. The development is not on a permanent basis, and cannot be a very efficient one, though, with such a small head, and the restricted flow of the river that exists, no very large expenditure of money upon its development would be warranted. This plant supplies current for lighting in the city of Calgary, having a franchise for the distribution of power. The water-power is supplemented by steam generated power, and in consequence the ser- vice is liable to very few interruptions, though, during the winter season, ice interrupts the operation of the water-power plant for con- siderable periods. Lake Louise Potver Plant. — An interesting power development in the Bow basin is that operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway Com- pany in connection with the hotel at Lake Louise. This plant sup- plies light to the hotel at the lake, the station, and surrounding houses and buildings. During the summer of 1912, the plant was enlarged and changed, and the output increased. The original plant was operated under a head of 45 feet, obtained by means of a concrete dam 75 feet long, built across the bed of Louise creek about a quarter of a mile below the outlet of the lake ; from the intake, a 16-inch wood-stave, pressure pipe leads to the power house, the head being secured from the natural fall in the creek. A 35-k.w. machine, belted to the turbine, together with a switchboard, formed the station equipment. The new installation, rendered necessary by the increased hotel accommodation, involves a concrete dam placed at the outlet of the lake, and forming part of the intake. The structure is in the nature of a bridge, having the spill sections situated between the piers, and is so built that the former high, low, and normal levels of the lake will still obtain. Leading from the intake to the present power-house is a 20-inch wood-stave pipe line about 1,800 feet long, and giving a total head of 130 feet. The power-house has been enlarged, and a new unit con- nected to a generator of 75 k.w. installed, which, together with the other unit, can give an output of about 130 horse-power. Horseshoe Fall Plant.— The largest completed power development on the Bow river (see plate facing page 208) is that of the Calgary Power Co. at Horseshoe fall, about 50 miles west of Calgary, where one of the very few concentrated falls on the Bow river is utilized. 14 210 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION At this point the river flows through a deep gorge, the walls and bed of which are formed of shale, banded with sandstone. At the point of development an anticline crosses the river. The rock has been considerably eroded, and there is a descent of approximately 25 feet. A concrete dam has been built across the gorge upon the lip of this out- crop, and this, with the natural fall, produces a head of 70 feet. The dam is of solid spillway type, with an inspection and drainage tunnel. In addition to the spillway, there are eight sluiceways pro- vided to take care of flood discharges. Four are simply stop-log open- ings, and four are supplied with sluicegates. The spillway section is 140 feet long, and, with the sluices, can discharge a flood of 40,000 c.f.s. The intake structure is distinct from the dam, and occupies a position adjacent to it, approximately parallel to the stream flow. The water, which is admitted through racks and concrete chambers to the penstocks, is controlled by means of stop-logs and butterfly valves placed in the inlet chambers. Provision has been made for four penstocks. The smaller ones are 9 feet 6 inches in diameter, and the larger, 12 feet, each delivering water to a single unit. They are approximately 250 feet in length, supported upon concrete piers, and protected from possible interfer- ence from the river at the lower end by a concrete wall. On account of the severity of the climate, it was considered necessary to house them, and a frame structure was built enclosing them for their full length. The power-house, the main portion of which measures 118 feet by 56 feet, is situated in the gorge below the dam ; it is of steel, concrete, and brick construction, and houses the turbines, generators, exciters, etc. At the rear of the power-house, and partly over the penstocks, the switch and transformer rooms are built. The tail race is pro- tected from back water in time of flood by means of a wing wall, which separates the tail race from the river for some distance below the power-house. The complete turbine installation consists of four turbines of the horizontal, double runner type, in steel wheel-cases, and two exciter turbines of the single runner type, the latter being of 330 horse-power capacity each. Two of the main units are of 3,750 horse-power cap- acity. The other two main units are of 6,000 horse-power each, and are controlled by Lombard governors. The smaller units are direct- connected to two generators of 2,500-k.v.a. capacity, being 3-phase, 60- cycles, 300-r.p.m. machines, and operating at 12,000 volts. The other two units are direct-connected to generators of 4,000-k.v.a. capacity, operated at 12,000 volts, 3-phase, and 60 cycles. The exciters are 175-k.w., 125-volt, and 700-r.p.m. machines. BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 211 The current is carried from the machines to two busses, one sup- plying the lines to Exshaw at 12,000 volts, the other supplying the step-up transformers, which raise the voltage to 55,000 for the Cal- gary lines. The transformer room contains four 3,000-k.v.a., 12,000 to 55,000-volt, oil-insulated, water-cooled, 3-phase transformers. The company has three transmission lines in operation, one extend- ing to Exshaw, a distance of eight miles, and the others forming a duplicate line to Calgary. The Exshaw line supplies power to the cement plant at that place. It is a double-circuit, 3-phase, 12,000-volt line, strung on wooden poles ; the six conductors are of No. 00 aluminum stranded cable. A tele- phone line is strung upon the same poles, and also a ground wire. The transformer station at Exshaw contains four 700-k.v.a. 12,000 to 600- volt, oil-insulated, water-cooled transformers, with lightning arresters and switching apparatus complete. The transmission line to Calgary is in duplicate ; Transmission each is a sin £ le circuit > 3-phase, 55,000-volt line, the conductors being No. aluminum, with telephone line and ground wire, carried on 40-ft. wooden poles. For the first ten and one-half miles from the power-house, the lines follow the line of the Canadian Pacific railway ; they then separate. Line No. 1 turns south- east and joins the road outside the Indian reserve ; thence it follows the Springbank road to within eight miles of Calgary. The total dis- tance is nearly 51 miles from the power-house to the Calgary sub-sta- tion. The second line, from the point where line No. 1 turns south- east, runs about eight miles north of No. 1 to the south-east corner of township 24, range II, and thence to the sub-station parallels the other line. These lines transmit the power output of the plants at Horseshoe fall and at Kananaskis fall. The Calgary sub-station, the capacity of which has recently been increased, provides for delivery of power to the city and the Canada Cement Company at three voltages, 12,000, 2,400, and 600 volts. This is accomplished by means of 3,000-k.v.a. and 1,250-k.v.a. transformers, with the necessary switch apparatus. Kananaskis Fall Plant.— The site of the Kananaskis Fall plant (see plate facing page 208) is at the fall of that name on the Bow river. This fall is about two miles upstream from the Horseshoe Fall plant, and immediately below the junction of the Bow and Kananaskis rivers. The total descent occurs in four sections, first, the rapids above the fall, and then a series of three falls, giving a total descent of, approxi- mately, 55 feet. Above the rapids, the Bow is wide and fairly shallow ; the banks are comparatively low, gradually increasing in height to the head of the falls. Below the falls the banks are perpendicular, the river flowing through a wide canon. The banks of the Kananaskis are high, 212 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION and, on the west side, perpendicular, rising at least forty feet above the water. On the east side, the slope is more gradual for the first few hundred yards, but, beyond, they are high and abrupt. The Canadian Pacific railway crosses the Kananaskis river about 250 yards above its mouth, and crosses the Bow river about one mile above the fall. The presence of these bridges affects developments at this point. The dam, at the head of the fall, diverts the water Development into a canal excavated on the south bank. The water is conveyed by the canal to an intake structure provided with racks and gates for controlling the flow. From the intake the water is conveyed in pressure tunnels to wheels placed in concrete scroll chambers situated below the power station, and thence, in draft tubes, to discharge tunnels leading to the river. The plant is designed for a working head of 70 feet. The dam (see frontispiece) raises the water to an elevation of 4,198, which was determined by the elevation of the lower chord of the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge across the Kananaskis — 4,204.75. The top elevation for flashboard and stoplogs, authorized by the Department, has been fixed at 4,198.75, or six feet below the bottom chord. The dam is built upon a ledge of rock extending practically across the river. The first section, approximately 200 feet long, is nearly parallel to the centre line of the canal; the shore end of this section is in the form of a retaining wall, while the outer 180 feet, or that portion nearest the angle, is of the spillway section, comprised of nine 17-foot openings, with 3-foot piers between. The central section is 174 feet long, and is provided with eight 17-foot openings, with 3-foot piers between, and one 24- foot opening in the form of a spillway. The section is built partially upon, and partially below, the ridge rock mentioned, and is provided with two inspection tunnels, one above and one below the ridge; drains lead from the face of the rock to the inspection tunnel. In addition, a line of holes was drilled along the face of the dam down through the rock, and grouted, to close any seams that may underlie the dam. The third section, forming the connecting link between the cen- tral section and the north bank of the river, runs upstream, making an angle of about 30 degrees with the centre portion. It is 268 feet in length between abutments, and is provided with sixteen 18-foot open- ings, with intermediate piers seven feet thick. It is proposed to control these 18-foot openings with stoplogs operated from a deck running the length of the dam, the bottom of the deck being at elevation 4.205. The elevation of sills of these openings has been finally determined as 4,181, working level being 4,198, which may be raised to 4,198.75 by BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 213 flashboards. This section is also provided with an inspection tunnel extending to the north bank, and having an extension in the form of a drift leading into the rock forming the north abutment; by means of this drift it is expected to cut off possible leakage around the end of the dam, and minimize danger to the structure in that respect. In addition, holes were drilled in front of this wall, and then grouted under pressure. Access to the inspection tunnels is gained by means of a shaft in the block, forming the junction between the second and third sections. This shaft leads to the tunnels, and also has an open- ing to the lower side of the dam ; there is also a shaft in the north abutment of the dam, leading to the tunnels. The discharging capacity of the structure is given below in tabular form. It should be noted that, with the exception of the roll- way and log run, the discharge is dependent upon manual operation, and is not automatic except above elevation 4,198. DISCHARGING CAPACITY OF KANANASKIS DAM Discharge, Elevation of headwater* Discharge, in sec.-ft, through eleven 18-ft. sluices. Eleva- Discharge, in sec.-ft, through rollway and log in sec.-ft., through sluiceways and with stop-logs at Total discharge, sec.-ft. tion of sill, 4,181 (automatic) elevation 4,198 (automatic) 4,195 34,600 34,600 4,1% 38,400 38,400 4,197 42,400 42,400 4,198 46,100 46,100 4,199 50,300 940 660 51,240 4,200 54,400 2,820 1,750 57,220 4,201 58,800 5,450 3,425 64,250 The canal is excavated in rock, sand and clay. Owing to the high angle of dip, the rock surface appears as a series of saw teeth, the inter- vening spaces being filled with clay, sand, and gravel. Through the rock section, the canal is 72 feet wide, and, in the earth, 40 feet wide on the bottom, and 80 feet wide on top; the bottom elevation is 4,183. It is approximately 650 feet long. The forebay to which the canal leads is divided into two bays, one for each pressure tube, and these again are divided into two openings by central piers. The openings are controlled by means of Tainter gates, though stop-logs, working in guides, may be placed in the en- trance piers. Each bay is 34 feet wide, and each opening 14 feet, the dividing pier being six feet wide. The method of operating is mechanical. ♦Elevations are above mean sea level, 43 feet having been added to original figures. 214 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Wide passages from the forebay to the pressure tunnels, which are of reinforced concrete, afford easy access to the wheels situated in wheel-pits below the power-house. The power station is built in excavation near the Power Station river bank. The necessity of placing the station in excavation was determined by the economical length of solid steel shafting connecting the generators and turbines. The sub-structure is of concrete, and the superstructure of steel and hol- low tile construction. In addition to the electrical and hydraulic equipment described below, the station is provided with a 50-ton crane, pumps, etc. The electrical equipment consists of two vertical shaft type, direct- connected 3,750-k.v.a., 12,000-volts, 3-phase, 60-cycle generators, to- gether with necessary exciters and motor generator set, switch ap- paratus, etc. ; 12,000-volt busses are direct-connected to the Exshaw line, no step-up transformers being used. With this arrangement power may be delivered either to Exshaw or Calgary through the Horseshoe Fall plant, the two plants being connected. The turbines are vertical shaft type, each of 5,800 horse-power capacity, with scroll cases formed in the concrete, giving easy en- trance to the wheels. The method of installing these wheels is similar in many respects to that used at the large plant at Keokuk on the Mississippi. Jumpingpound Creek Jumpingpound creek is an important tributary of the Bow river, rising in numerous branches north of Fisher range and south of the Stoney Indian reserve. It follows a very irregular course in a general north-easterly direction, joining the Bow river from the south, 25 miles above Calgary. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Inter- ior, near Jumpingpound: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF JUMPINGPOUND CREEK, NEAR JUMPINGPOUND P.O., ALTA. (Drainage area, 187 square miles.) Month 1908 June July August September October (1-26) Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 829 186 57 57 40 236 57 27 20 27 Mean 414.8 101.9 49.7 28.7 39.5 Per square mile 2.21 .54 .27 .15 .21 BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 215 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF JUMPINGPOUND CREEK, NEAR JUMPINGPOUND P.O., ALTA.— Continued Month Discharge in second-feet 1909 May June July August September October 1910 April (9-30) .... May June July August September October 1911 May June July August September October (1-19) . 1912 April May June July August September October November (1-15) 1913 April (15-30) . May June July August September October 1914 April (4 to 30) . May June July August September October 1915 March (15-31) .. April May June July August September October Maximum Minimum 491 311 236 117 27 20 16 27 76 16 27 117 40 392 548 548 1,200 366 156 220 308 772 1,384 333 276 131 950 196 441 778 240 374 137 32 456 78 111 111 35 19 70 216 48 973 5.784 3.336 1.054 169 155 76 96 57 27 20 20 9 16 9 3.5 3.5 9 5 30.8 52 73.4 106 109 70.8 19 89 41 194 95 74 78.2 95 22 20 70 53 42 20 24 39 39 42 14.4 11.5 8.6 8.3 19 18 103 282 411 114 82 109 Mean 222.8 188.6 121.3 61.9 24.7 20.0 12.8 22.4 40.6 6.56 8.9 64.0 16.5 127 216 205 357 184 115 45.4 175.9 211.5 708.1 222.6 144.7 104.6 95 144 221 119 134 52 26 143.0 57.3 70.4 40.3 18.5 11.6 26.0 66 28 342 1,042 968 241 138 129 Per square mile 1.19 1.01 .65 .33 A3 .11 .063 .119 .216 .035 .042 .342 0.679 1.155 1.096 1.909 0.984 0.615 .24 .94 1.13 3.78 1.19 .77 .56 .51 0.486 0.796 1.22 0.657 0.740 0.287 0.144 .761 .305 .374 .214 .098 .062 .138 .357 .151 1.850 5.630 5.230 1.300 .746 .697 216 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Ghost River The Ghost river, which enters the Bow on the north side, about 35 miles west of Calgary, is 40 miles long, and has a drainage area of 367 square miles. Eight miles from the mouth, it divides into the Main branch and the North fork. Seven miles farther upstream, the main stream divides again, one branch retaining the name Ghost river, and the other being known as the South fork. The sources of these three branches are at about the same altitude, 8,000 feet above sea-level. The South fork rises on the east slope of the Fairholme range, and issues, through the gap between End mountain and Saddle peak, into the foot-hill country ; in a distance of eight miles, it descends 2,000 feet, or 250 feet per mile. The main branch of the Ghost river rises on the north side of the Palliser range ; it flows south of Devils Head mountain and out into the foothills. The descent of this part of the Main branch is not as steep as that of the South fork, being approximately 133 feet per mile; the valley through which it flows is wide, and covered with gravel and debris carried down by the mountain tributaries. The North fork rises on the eastern slope of Castle Rock; its slope is more gradual than the others, and the major portion of its drainage area is in the foot-hills; it has numerous tributaries which rise in the swamps and sloughs. Studies of this river have referred mainly to storage possibilities rather than to the development of power, but, even for storage pur- poses the Ghost is not well adapted. It might be considered advis- able, at some future time, to create a storage of 4,000 acre-feet for the benefit of power plants on the Bow river, but any greater storage seems impracticable. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior at Gillies ranch: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF GHOST RIVER, AT GILLIES RANCH, ALTA. (Drainage area, 360 square miles.) Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1911 August (17-31) 1,118 1,235 359 247 532 359 228 191 773 505 291 219 2 15 1 40 October 81 November (1-11) .61 Cascade River — Minnewanka Dam (Summer) Cascade River Minnewanka Dam (Winter BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 217 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF GHOST RIVER, AT GILLIES RANCH. ALTA.— Continued Month 1912 January . . . February . . March April May June July August September . October . . . November . December . 1913 January . . . February . . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December . 1914 January . . February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December 1915 January . . February . March . . . April May June July August . . . September October . . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 144 112 137 342 748 1,371 1,695 1,101 670 486 338 294 176 143 126 572 645 1,225 777 600 488 316 287 242 174 124 128 212 215 348 348 256 261 320 230 163 118 98 98 195 550 8,440 2,825 2.245 775 490 445 475 100 96 96 76 133 96 219 498 449 277 180 176 132 112 96 143 400 344 311 231 192 170 94 91 95 92 113 151 250 204 191 199 172 92 90 91 93 145 350 576 560 490 342 265 167 Mean 128 99 115 134 358 300 1,073 653 545 395 278 196 148 132 108 212 316 371 553 428 353 289 230 189 150 107 113 144 168 268 276 243 206 227 187 113 107 94 95 135 334 1,301 1,453 986 574 417 314 244 Per square mile .35 .27 .32 .37 .99 .83 2.99 1.81 1.51 1.10 .77 .54 .411 .367 .300 .589 .879 1.03 1.54 1.19 .98 .803 .639 .525 .416 .297 .314 .400 .466 .745 .766 .675 .572 .630 .520 .309 .285 .251 .253 .360 .890 3.470 3.870 2.630 1.530 1.110 .837 .651 218 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Kananaskis River The Kananaskis river has a drainage area of 406 square miles between the lakes and the Bow river. It flows through a narrow valley confined by high mountains — the Kananaskis range forming the west boundary, and the Opal range the east. The tributaries are small mountain torrents ; they are short and steep and carry down large quantities of gravel and detritus. The river valley is, on the whole, wide and flat. Where this is not the case, the stream flows between alternating high, rocky cliffs and gravel and clay banks, the latter being moraines. The valley floor is deeply covered with this deposit, through which the river has cut its way ; where the valley is wide and flat, the stream is continually changing its course, especially during the high-water season. At one point, about four miles below Lower Kananaskis lake, a fall of approximately 25 feet occurs ; for the rest of the course, no abrupt descents occur but the fall is considerable. Investigations regarding possible storage on this river, in connec- tion with the power-sites on the Bow, have revealed three favourable situations, at three-quarters, six and nine miles, respectively, above the mouth. The total storage capacity at the three sites would be more than 33,000 acre-feet and, in addition, it would be possible to produce 1.000 h.p. at the lowest site. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior near Kananaskis : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF KANANASKIS RIVER, KANANASKIS, ALTA. (Drainage area, 395 square miles.) NEAR Month 1911 September October November (1-11) 1912 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1.168 430 715 1.81 415 187 300 .76 187 111 152 .38 160 123 136 .34 132 118 129 .33 132 113 129 .33 149 108 128 .32 866 120 477 1.21 3.006 478 1,582 4.00 3.258 1,262 1,996 5.04 3.222 1.014 1,424 3.60 898 424 653 1.65 414 314 376 .95 314 120 252 .64 440 72 204 .52 tOMMISSlUN ur (.unscnv/M .ui LAKE M1NNEWANKA STORAGE Diagram shewing Discharge in Acre - Fee t, from Jan. 1911 to Aug. 1912 al60 of .Filing Basin, and providing constant Discharge of 150 Sec- Ft. with 12 ft. of Storage Consulting Eng" Chief Enginee- accompany report on Water Powers of Bon River, by J B Chatties C. £ LAKE MINNEWANKA STORAGE Diagram shewing Discharg e in Acre - Feet , from Jan 19 I I to Aug. 1912 also Process o f Tillin g Basin, and provid ing for a con stant Discharge of 150 Sec- Ft^ with 16 ft. of Stora ge Consulting Engir Ch'fcf Eng>rie*r accompany report on Water Powers of Bow Hi by J B Choi I,. LAKE MINNEWANKA STORAGE Diag ram shewin g Dischar g e in Acre- Feet, from Jan. 19 1 1 to Aug._J9i? also Proc e ss of Fil [i ng Basuv, and. p rovidi ng for a_constan< Discharge of 200 Sec : Ft. with 16 ft of Storage 7k/. 6. fy^4g < # o z , o -s : i£ | z < s I* — 1911 — 4* IS It >> S ' accompany report on Water Powers of Botv Hiver. by J 8. Cholhes C. E. BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 219 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF KANANASKIS RIVER, NEAR KANANASKIS, ALTA.— Continued Discharge in second-fee t Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 195 134 168 .426 190 140 169 .428 170 112 136 .345 258 112 178 .451 1,648 173 492 1.25 2,150 1,406 1,712 4.34 1,545 913 1,245 3.15 1,685 1,015 1,277 3.23 1,731 700 989 2.50 764 286 507 1.28 340 258 306 .775 277 200 226 .572 206 81 142 .360 180 75 133 .337 180 127 153 .388 224 139 169 .428 1,162 249 722 1.830 2,370 1,090 1,653 4.180 2,168 1,096 1,702 4.300 1,198 700 961 2.440 720 489 599 1.520 700 426 542 1.370 412 252 311 .787 275 110 197 .500 123 75 97 .249 163 97 145 .372 163 107 133 .341 383 128 200 .513 1,296 461 921 2.360 5,380 1,109 1,893 4.850 3,217 1,589 2,010 5.150 1,645 1,119 1,363 3.490 1,119 646 811 2.080 630 383 480 1.230 400 296 328 .841 298 204 266 .682 Month 1913 January . February March . . . April May .... June July August . . September October . November December 1914 January . February March . . . April .... May June .... July August . . September October . November December 1915 January . February March . . . April May June July August . . September October . November December Cascade River Cascade river, one of the most important tributaries of the upper Bow river, is of particular interest in connection with the Minnewanka Lake storage and power project. Minnewanka Storage and Power Dam. — This concrete structure, 100 feet long - and 55 feet in upstream height, was built by the Cal- gary Power Company primarily to furnish storage in connection with that company's power plants at Horseshoe fall and at Kananaskis fall. As the dam was constructed in a canon at the junction of Cascade river 220 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION and Devil creek, and immediately above a power site on the Cascade, the Dept. of the Interior took advantage of the situation. The com- pany's original plans had provided a simple concrete structure with four spillway sections, but, upon demonstration by the Water Power branch of the possibilities of a future power project, to be constructed and operated in the interest of the Rocky Mountains National Park, the company readily agreed to alter its original designs, and have one of the spillway openings used for an intake for the project. Accord- ingly, in place of the fourth sluiceway to the left of the dam, a pen- stock opening has been provided, with all permanent works necessary for racks, intake piers, stop-log openings, etc. A steel thimble, to form the intake end of a penstock five feet in diameter, was placed. This dam was commenced early in March, 1912, and hurriedly completed in time to store the summer's flood of 1912 for use dur- ing the following winter. Cascade Power Project. — The canon of the Cascade river, in which it is proposed to develop power, is about seven miles from Banff and lies directly below the junction of Cascade river and Devil creek, the latter carrying the discharge of lake Minnewanka. The area tributary to the river at this point is approximately 220 square miles, of which lake Minnewanka forms about 6 square miles. The greater portion of this basin lies at considerable altitudes, the entire water supply com- ing from mountain streams, springs, and glaciers. As the project lies wholly within the Rocky Moun- Jurisdiction of tains Park, any development at this point will be Parks Branch under the j urisdiction of the Parks branch of the De- partment of the Interior. All privileges, such as land, water, and rights-of-way, are vested in the Crown. The natural conditions on the river no longer obtain, since the storage and regulation works are complete and in operation ; but the influence of these works upon the operation of a power plant at the point contemplated will be entirely beneficial. In authorizing the construction of the Minnewanka Joint Benefit dam by the Calgary Power Company, it was realized that this company would not be the only beneficiary from the storage created; that it was very probable that other plants on the Bow river would be built, which would receive direct benefit from this storage. Provision was made, therefore, for the absolute control by the Dept. of the Interior of the operation of the dam. Provi- sion was also made for reconsideration and reapportionment of the rental payable to the Department by the Calgary Power Company or any other company deriving benefit from the storage thereby created. With respect to the proposed power project on the Cascade river immediately below the dam, provision was made for discharge or re- BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 221 lease through the dam of a continuous minimum volume of water of 150 cubic feet per second, which may be used for power purposes within the Rocky Mountains National Park. The release of such water through the dam shall at all times be under the full control of the Department. During the early part of the flood season, water will be stored in Minnewanka lake. This storage should be completed not later than July 15, in any season, after which date water will probably be wasted over the dam. A flow over the dam, greater than 150 second-feet, is practically assured during part of July, August and September, so that the greatest power will be available during the summer months. This period synchronizes with the time of heaviest tourist traffic and of consequent heaviest power load, a very fortunate combination of cir- cumstances. It is to be noted, however, that the tourist traffic Tourist Traffic in Rocky Mountains Park during the winter months is steadily increasing. With vigorous encouragement of the use of this park, it is probable that, in the not distant future, the power load during the winter months for park purposes will be equal to, if not greater than, that for the summer months. The Minnewanka dam produces at least half the available head to be developed for the Cascade power project, the other half being due to the natural fall of the river between the dam and the proposed power site. As the pond above the dam is primarily for storage purposes, there will necessarily be a fluctuation in level. This will not, however, affect the head un- favourably, for the low-working head will occur during the winter months, when the load will be small, at least for the early stage of the development. As the Minnewanka clam provides a total storage possibility of 58,080 acre-feet, of which 44,080 acre-feet only is guaranteed to the power company, 14,080 acre-feet of surplus storage can be made avail- able for the Cascade project. This surplus storage will allow of a con- tinuous flow of 200 feet per second. The available head, when the storage basin is full, will be 64 feet, of which 60 feet may be assumed to be effective head. With this head, and a flow of 200 second-feet, an electrical output at the power station may be secured of at least 900 horse-power, of which 825 horse-power could be delivered in Banff ready for delivery to the consumers. Owing to the loading conditions imposed, this flow of 200 c.f.s. could not be utilized continuously, and hence an overdraft for peak loads would be available of probably 330 c.f.s. It is on this basis of flow, i.e., 330 c.f.s., that the proposed devel- opment has been worked out. Under the method of development contemplated, it is proposed to construct all the general works, such as power station, tail race, etc., 222 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION for the full capacity of the plant, but only sufficient equipment will be placed in the station at first to develop two-thirds of the proposed station capacity, the remainder to be added as the demand warrants. The scheme of development has been worked out Method of ^ y t jj e engineers of the Dominion Water Power Development , . ,, , . . , , , , ,• branch, in collaboration with, and under the direction of, Mr. C. H. Mitchell, whose full report has been published in the annual report of the Dept. of the Interior for 1913-1914. Dam. — The Minnewanka storage dam at the upper end of the canon, to be used as an intake for the power project, is of concrete masonry construction, and is provided with means for discharging water either through stop-log spillways, or through a low level sluice- way controlled by a gate valve. At one side of the canon one of the stop-log openings was modified to be used as an intake to the penstock, provision being made for screens, and a steel thimble five feet in diameter inserted in the open- ing to provide a connection to the penstock. This thimble is set at such an elevation that the water may be drawn down in the basin with- out breaking the water seal on the entrance to the penstocks. It should be pointed out that the power project begins at the outside end of the thimble ; the cost of the dam, thimble, etc., is charged against the cost of creating storage. Penstock or Flume. — The penstock connection to the thimble will lead along the cliff for a short distance, and then enter a tunnel driven in the rock along the south side of the canon ; the tunnel will connect with a steel penstock so designed and placed as to provide an unsup- ported crossing of the river at this point. After crossing the river, the steel penstock will join one of wood, seven feet in diameter, which will convey the water to a point just outside the power house; it will be under pressure, and generally in cut, though, for a length of approxi- mately 150 feet, it will be carried above the ground on concrete piers. The lower end of the penstock at the power-house will be steel pipe, eight feet in diameter, from which the necessary connections to the turbines will branch. These branches will be fitted with valves to control the flow, and the penstock itself connects directly with a steel surge tank built upon the side of the hill. The tank will be approx- imately 12 feet in diameter, and of such height as to be above the highest level of lake Minnewanka, and thus prevent spilling. It will provide sufficient hydraulic regulation in the operation of the long pipe line. Pozver Station. — The power-house, which will be placed in part of the present river bed, will be of concrete construction, protected on the BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 223 river side by a wall, both upstream and downstream, from the power- house. The equipment will consist of three units ; each turbine will be of 600 horse-power capacity, direct connected to 350-k.w. generators, the latter having exciters mounted on the outer end of the shaft. The generators will be connected through the necessary switch and pro- tecting apparatus to the transmission line, no step-up transformers being necessary. It is proposed to install two units at first, one of which will act as an auxiliary ; the third will be added when the power load demands it. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior at Bankhead : MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF CASCADE RIVER, AT BANKHEAD, ALTA. (Drainage area, 246 square miles) Month 1911 August (16-31) ... September October November (1-6) 1912 January (1-4, 8-31) . February March (1-21, 27-31) April May June July August September October November December 1913 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1914 January February March April May Discharge in second-feet Maximum 714 501 296 175 206 119 303 261 532 1,500 1,500 1,695 437 1,362 724 522 225 169 225 513 551 1,240 945 905 507 252 805 975 372 180 164 133 414 Minimum 499 298 156 160 70.8 60.8 58 42.6 62.1 Nil 8.5 10 Nil 232 107 74 128 106 150 283 3 3 101 266 86 101 194 374 155 70 77 9.2 2.6 Mean 624 411 226 166 148.7 85.2 101.6 66.6 301.4 648.4 337.8 788 289.2 278 290.4 313.8 166 140 184 342 259 878 417 583 350 200 377 637 217 91.7 98.4 90.4 126 Per square mile 2.54 1.67 .92 .67 .61 .34 .41 .27 1.22 2.63 1.37 3.20 1.18 1.13 1.18 1.28 .67 .57 .75 1.39 1.05 3.57 1.70 2.37 1.42 .81 1.53 2.59 .37 .40 .37 .51 224 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF CASCADE RIVER, AT BANKHEAD, AETA. Continued Month 1914— (Cont.) June July August September October November December 1915 January February March April May June July August September October November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 1,400 1,014 322 248 259 313 422 399 503 476 356 166 2,607 2,270 1,178 472 246 286 180 Minimum 5.1 214 36 36 82 163 124 119 146 285 161 5.5 51 1,149 286 132 157 205 143 Mean 890 625 172 74.2 206 224 158 159 266 379 216 57 843 1,444 764 235 202 238 166 Per square mile 3.62 2.54 .70 .3© .84 .91 .64 .652 1.090 1.550 .885 .234 3.460 5.920 3.130 .963 .828 .976 .680 Spray River Spray river, one of the largest tributaries of the Bow west of Calgary, joins that stream in the Rocky Mountains park, at Banff, directly below Spray fall. It is between 40 and 50 miles long- from source to mouth, and has a drainage area of 310 square miles. About eight miles above the mouth, the river divides ; the eastern branch, the smaller, flows from the valley between mount Rundle and Goat moun- tain. From the junction upstream, for about 17 miles, the west branch flows through a narrow valley, with a total descent in this distance of 750 feet. In this stretch there are very few important tributaries. It is quite possible that a limited amount of power, such as that to be developed on the Cascade in connection with the storage at lake Min- newanka, might be developed on this river. The Spray lakes, three in number, lie to the north of the river. They are connected with it by a stream about one-half mile in length, which enters just below the mouth of Hogarth creek. As a capacity of 171,000 acre-feet is available, the possibilities of storage on these lakes are encouraging. The following is a summary of discharges at the gauging station established by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior near Banff: BOW RIVER ABOVE CALGARY 225 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SPRAY RIVER, NEAR BANFF, ALTA. (Drainage area, 305 square miles) Month 1910 July (15-31) •■ August September October December (4-31) 1911 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1912 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1913 January February March April May June July August September October November December . . . . . Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1,510 862 1.153 3.78 1,042 450 784 2.56 545 450 490 1.60 545 345 443 1.45 390 150 237 .77 255 156 199 .65 153 138 146 .48 157 135 143 .47 233 116 156 .51 512 246 389 1.27 2,640 815 2,011 6.58 2,332 990 1,523 5.00 1,020 635 829 2.72 752 400 544 1.77 395 232 315 1.03 300 180 226 .74 260 188 209 .69 155 146 150 .49 150 132 141 .46 141 75 108 .35 158 108 134 .44 912 152 517 1.69 2,530 469 1,405 4.60 1,830 1,065 1,398 4.58 1,056 778 907 2.98 826 499 664 2.17 524 318 428 1.40 330 144 272 .89 395 144 237 .78 222 180 202 .663 180 140 151 .496 158 136 146 .480 260 143 191 .627 1,985 221 535 1.75 2,960 1.432 2.144 7.03 1 .596 741 1,041 3.42 1.078 668 908 2.98 1,096 562 703 2.30 556 275 447 1.47 352 231 298 .978 278 184 225 .738 L5 226 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF SPRAY RIVER, NEAR BANFF, ALT A. Continued Month 1914 January . . February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . November December 1915 January . . February . March April May .. June July August . . . September October . . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum 227 184 180 238 1,196 3,041 2,565 1,028 575 625 446 240 Minimum 150 160 126 152 290 1,039 1,028 562 409 430 227 150 198 162 189 167 187 148 519 163 909 486 2,300 760 2,085 1,188 1,259 691 712 405 426 329 329 210 209 173 Mean 196 170 167 180 731 1,942 1,736 772 491 533 333 183 182 179 172 276 675 1,196 1,477 929 507 364 257 193 Per square mile .642 .557. .548 .590 2.400 6.360 5.690 2.530 1.610 1.750 1.100 .600 .617 .607 .583 .936 2.290 4.050 5.010 3.150 1.720 1.230 .871 .654 ATHABASKA RIVER General outline at some of the rapids Approximate sca/e Z M mile* I inch CROOKED and ROCK RAPIDS no/stone cliff 6°" , on ti2f gra nd *&r- Descent Desc e ilC- GRAND RAPID PELICAN RAPID *m> K**t ^SHimSHUlu^ as. a °a% W: ,2* «*Yf <* ^ CHAPTER XII Athabaska River and Tributaries The Athabaska is the most southerly of the three great tributaries of the Mackenzie. It rises in the watershed range of the Rocky moun- tains in lat. 52° 15' N., and, after a north-easterly and northerly course of 780 miles, empties into lake Athabaska. Thence, its waters are con- veyed by Slave river to Great Slave lake and from there to the sea by the Mackenzie river. Between Lesser Slave river and Athabaska, a distance of 66 miles, the course of the Athabaska river is first easterly and then south- erly. In width it averages about 250 yards, occupying a valley 350 feet deep and approximately two miles wide. The current has a fairly uniform rate of from three to four miles per hour and the river is easily navigable. From Athabaska to the Grand rapid, a distance of Obstructions 153 miles, the general course is northerly; its width aviga ion var j es f r0 m 250 yards to 400 yards, and the current, except for occasional accelerations, averages from three to four miles per hour as far as the mouth of the Pelican river. Between Pelican river and the Grand rapid, several rapids obstruct navigation in low water, but, at medium or high water, they are easily ascended and descended by the steamer plying between Athabaska and the Grand rapid. This portion of the valley is from 300 to 400 feet deep, while, owing to the plastic character of the clay shales, the banks consist of a succession of slides. The grade of the river, between the mouth of Lesser Slave river and the head of the Grand rapid, averages 2 6 feet per mile, or a total descent of 575 feet. At the Grand rapid, the character of the Athabaska changes entirely. Its grade increases greatly and, in the next 76 miles, or as far as its junction with Clearwater river, there are swift and danger- ous rapids at intervals of a few miles. The Grand rapid is caused by the river cutting through a soft, sandstone terrace of Cretaceous formation. After passing the Grand rapid and the succeeding rough water, the Athabaska flows quietly for over 20 miles before rushing down the Brule rapid. In this stretch the valley is deep and gorge-like. The banks are from 500 to 600 feet high, and are often terraced by differ- [227] 228 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION ential denudation. At the Brule rapid the stream is shallow and con- tains many boulders. The Brule rapid is succeeded by 16 miles of smooth water, below which the river falls in quick succession over the Boiler, Middle and Long rapids ; all of these occur within a stretch of seven miles. The three rapids, which are similar in character to the Brule, owe their existence to a steeper descent than usual, combined with an accumula- tion of boulders in the channel of the river. Five miles below Long rapid, the river makes a sharp bend at Crooked rapid, where two ledges of limestone project into the stream from the right side. Below Crooked rapid the stream falls over several limestone ledges, forming Rock rapid and the Little Cascade and Big Cascade. Thence, it descends unobstructed for eight or nine miles, to Mountain rapid which, like the Cascades, is formed by a low limestone ledge. The descent of the Athabaska, between the head of the Grand rapid and the Clearwater confluence, a distance of 76 miles, totals 410 feet, an average of 5 4 feet per mile. Below the confluence with the Clearwater river the River Changes character of the Athabaska again changes greatly. The rapids disappear and the river, enlarged to a third of a mile in width, flows smoothly at an average rate of three miles per hour. The valley increases in width, while the banks gradually de- crease from an elevation of about 400 feet at the forks to the level of the delta at the entrance to lake Athabaska. In passing through the delta the channel divides into several branches ; new channels are con- stantly being opened and old ones closed by the spring floods. From the forks to the head of the delta, a distance of 130 miles, and thence to lake Athabaska, an additional 31 miles, the Athabaska contains no obstruction to navigation. The steamer "Grahame," owned by the Hudson's Bay Company, has been plying on this portion of the river for several years. The foregoing general description of the river may be supplemented by a more detailed description of its rapids and flow. During the summer of 1911 the hydro-electric engineer of the Commission of Conservation examined these rapids, and the following extract is quoted from his report: The difference of levels in the various rapids was obtained by means of aneroid readings ; in most cases readings were taken when descending and checked when ascending the river. At the time of observation (Aug. 11 to 21) the river was unusually high for the season of the year: the highest water, usually occur- ring in June or July, is about six feet higher and the lowest stage, at the end of April or beginning of May. about four feet lower ATHABASKA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 229 than that at which the observations were taken. Illustrating the sudden fluctuations to which this river is subject, during one night, Aug. 23-24, its level rose some six feet, almost reaching the high water mark. This, of course, is unusual, and must have been caused either by excessive rain near the head-waters or by melting snow in the mountains, as it was afterwards ascertained that a rise had also been observed in the Smoky river on or about the same date, and on the North Saskatchewan river at Prince Albert on Aug. 28. . The rapids of the Athabaska river are long and have relatively low heads ; these conditions naturally imply that the wide fluctua- tion in the flow of the river will materially affect the working heads when developed. Similar conditions occur in some of the rapids of the Saskatchewan river, where, to overcome the difficulty, it has been suggested that each turbine unit be provided with an auxiliary turbine which can be coupled to the shaft when the head is low and there is an abundance of water, or thrown out of use when the flow lowers and the head becomes normal. The problem may be solved in a similar manner when the rapids of the Athabaska are being developed. Between Athabaska and the mouth of Lesser Slave river, there is only one important rapid. It is simply a swifter part of the river occurring at a point seven miles below the mouth of the Lesser Slave river, where the Athabaska is divided into two chan- nels by an island; the descent in this rapid is ten feet in three- eighths of a mile. Pelican Rapid, commencing three-quarters of a mile below the Pelican river, or 41 miles above the Grand rapid, has a descent of twelve feet in two miles. Just above this another small rapid, ending at the mouth of the Pelican river, descends five feet in one-half mile. Stony Rapid, 37 miles above Grand rapid, has a descent of five feet in one-third of a mile. Rapid, seven miles below Stony rapid, has a descent of eight feet in one mile. Joli Fou Rapid, 20 miles above the Grand rapid, as indicated on the Geological Survey and other maps, consists of the Drift- wood, the Major, and the Wheel rapids: individually, these are of little importance, the Driftwood having a descent of two or three feet in a quarter of a mile, the Major, a descent of six feet in one-half mile, and the Wheel, three feet in one-half mile. Grand Rapid is much the most important rapid of the Atha- baska river, particularly from a water-power standpoint; it is 150 miles distant from Athabaska, following the river, but only about 110 miles in a straight line. The river, at this point, is divided into two channels bv an island and the difference in elevation of the water at the ends of the island is 32 feet : this descent occurs within a distance of 2,200 feet. Below the main rapid are two and a half miles of rapids and swift water, called the "Little Grand" rapid, with a total descent of 10 feet. Above the head of the main rapid is another rapid, about one-half mile long, with a descent of 12 feet. The total descent is, therefore, approxi- 230 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION mately 54 feet in less than three and one-half miles. M. C. Hen- dry's survey, in 1912, shows that 45 feet head can be developed : maximum continuous output, approximately 9,500 h.p. ; for nine months of year 16,400 h.p. would be available. Between Grand rapid and Brule rapid, are two other rapids. One of these, situated at point Brule, has a descent of ten feet in two miles ; the other, which is about two and one-half miles above, has a descent of ten feet in one mile. Brule Rapid is situated 22 miles below the Grand rapid, or six miles below Point Brule ; it has a descent of eight feet in slightly more than one-half mile. Boiler Rapid, 17 miles below Brule rapid, has a descent of 25 feet in three miles. Middle Rapid, situated three miles below Boiler rapid, has a descent of 20 feet in one and one-half miles. Long Rapid is situated three miles below Middle rapid. It is three miles long with a total descent of 28 feet. Crooked Rapid, seven miles below Long rapid, is about one and one-half miles long, and has a descent of 13 feet. Rock Rapid, one mile below the foot of Crooked rapid, is one and one-half miles long, with a descent of 12 feet. Little Cascade Rapid is three miles below Rock rapid. It has a descent of ten feet in two miles, and includes a stretch of swift water and a succession of rapids. Cascade Rapid is situated two miles below the Little Cascade and has a descent of seven feet in a distance of one mile. Mountain Rapid, seven miles above McMurray, descends eight feet in about one mile. Midway between it and Cascade rapid is a series of rapids or swift waters extending over a distance of four miles and having a total descent of 15 feet. Moberly Rapid, two miles above McMurray, is unim- portant ; the descent is only two or three feet in a quarter of a mile. The foregoing description covers the portion of the river below the mouth of the Lesser Slave river. Above this point the following power sites are to be noted : Athabaska Fall, where a head of 20 feet could be developed to give 637 h.p. during the open season. Tp. 56, R. XXI, west of fifth meridian, where a head of 42 feet would give 9.550 h.p. during the open season. Tp. 58, R. XXI, west of fifth meridian, where a head of 80 feet would give 18,000 h.p. during the open season. ATHABASKA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 231 DISCHARGE OF THE ATHABASKA RIVER Date Location Discharge sec. feet 1911 Sept 18 Athabaska Sec.8,tp. 51, rge.25,w. of 5 28,783 1912 Sept 18 7,334 1913 Feb 27 2,820 Mar 29 Athabaska 2,368 4,313 Dec 23-24 Athabaska 4,077 Regular gauging stations have been established on this river near Jasper and at Athabaska by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior. The following are summaries of monthly discharges at these stations since their establishment: DISCHARGE OF THE ATHABASKA RIVER, NEAR JASPER (Drainage area, 1,600 square miles.) Month 1913 July (1-22) .. August (5-31) September . . . October November . . . December 1914 January February March April May June July August September October November . . December . . . 1915 January February March April May June July August September . . . October November . . . December . . . Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 11,632 13,428 7,390 3,240 1,160 807 557 380 388 853 5.200 13,440 16.320 9.780 4,876 3,775 1,212 715 563 490 437 1,430 6,360 19,620 13,070 16.220 8,160 2,130 1.500 853 4,450 5,900 2,422 1,110 650 351 354 243 271 340 820 3,904 6,924 4,670 1,908 1,124 660 480 494 438 402 440 1,135 4,200 7,230 9,900 1,675 1,279 620 422 Mean 7,268 8,604 4,114 1,748 930 552 476 556 334 574 2.379 8,242 11,366 6,512 3,191 1.897 857 540 536 463 423 752 3,955 7,960 10,055 12,043 3,430 1,592 880 717 Per square mile 4.540 5.387 2.571 1.092 .581 .345 .298 .348 .209 .359 1.488 5.151 7.104 4.070 1.994 1.186 .535 .338 .335 .289 .264 .470 2.472 4.975 6.284 7.527 2.144 .995 .550 .448 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF THE ATHABASKA RIVER, AT ATHABASKA (Drainage area, 29,200 square miles.) Discharge in second-feet Month Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 1914 3,500* 3,150* 3.300* 12,300 18,450 108.640 55,656 23,525 17,800 16,900 3,890 3,640 6,800 15,600 20,450 97,620 92,080 37,030 22,300 10,415 8,180 4,010 2,900* 2,630* 3,000* 3,175 11,160 11,340 23,525 16,040 11,530 8,700 3,330 2,860 3,080 7,725 7,887 18,395 37,100 23,840 10,590 7,757 4,000 2,890 3,200* 2,902* 3,161* 4,615 13,216 56,223 41,280 19,358 13,832 12,572 3,669 3,232 4,044 11,616 13,112 40,510 58,539 29,365 15,007 8,929 5,460 3,340 .110* .099* .108* .158 .453 1.925 Tniv 1.414 .663 .474 .431 1915 .126 .111 .138 .398 .449 Tune 1.387 T u 1 v 2.004 1.006 .514 .306 .187 .114 ♦Discharges for January, February and March estimated, as no gauge heights were obtained until March 17. Clearwater River The Clearwater is one of the tributaries of the Athabaska river, entering it at McMurray. It winds through a valley which has received very favourable notice from many travellers and explorers. Below Methy portage the stream varies from 200 to 400 feet in width. It is fairly rapid and numerous sandbars have formed in its bed. The valley is from one-half mile to three miles wide, and, in the greater part, contains good soil. The upper region is very heavily wooded with large timber. On the slopes of the valley, which are from 200 to 600 feet long and rather steep, the timber is chiefly poplar, with some spruce ; when the bench land is reached, large, open hay meadows are frequently seen. Five rapids or falls of importance occur on this Important river, Whitemud fall offering exceptional natural Water-powers advantages for water-power development. The fol- lowing is a short description of these rapids, taken in the order in ATHABASKA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 233 which they are encountered in ascending the river from the mouth ; other minor rapids, also, are included : From two and one-half miles below to one-half mile above the mouth of the Christina river, the Clearwater comprises a series of swift waters and small rapids; the approximate descent of these is four feet per mile. Five miles below High-hill river, a small rapid, 500 feet long, descends about three feet. Beginning immediately below the mouth of High-hill river and extending for one-half mile downstream, small rapids and swift-waters make a total descent of about five feet. Five miles above the High- hill, is a stretch of one mile of swift water having an additional descent of five feet. Just below the Cascade rapid is another stretch of swift- water a quarter of a mile in length, with a descent of three feet. Cascade Rapid, situated about 24 miles below Methy portage, has a descent of 16 feet within one mile. The distance by the portage is only two-thirds of a mile. The lower portion of the rapid is 400 feet wide, with low banks ; the upper portion narrows to 200 feet and has high, rocky banks. Le Bon Rapid has a descent of 31 feet. It is situated one mile above the Cascade rapid, and is one and one-half miles long, following the river, but only one mile over the portage road. The river varies in width from 200 to 400 feet and the banks are low on both sides, except at a point half-way down the rapid, where the rocky banks are 40 feet high. There are five islands at this rapid. One-half mile above Le Bon rapid a small rapid, 200 feet long, descends two feet. Big Stone Rapid, one mile above Le Bon, has a descent of 6.5 feet in a third of a mile. The banks are low and the river is 300 feet wide. Aux Pins Rapid, three miles above Big Stone rapid, has a descent of 21 feet; following the river it is about three-quarters of a mile in length but only one-half mile by the portage road. The river here flows between canon-like banks 150 feet high, and the course is slightly sinuous; four rocky islands occur in this rapid. A small rapid, situated one-half mile above the Aux Pins, has a descent of two feet in 300 feet. Natural Power Whitemud Fall is about four miles above the Aux Development Pins rapid, and the same distance below the point Slte where the river crosses the boundary between Alberta and Saskatchewan. The descent is 40 6 feet in a distance of a quarter of a mile. This section of the river has limestone banks, from 50 to 75 feet high, while an island in midstream affords splendid conditions for power development, as the wider channel is not over 200 feet wide. The natural head of 40 6 feet could easily be increased to 50 feet by submerging small rapids above. 234 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The discharge of the river immediately below the Cascade rapid was 2,241 cubic feet per second, in September, 1912; the stream was 363 feet wide, the maximum depth seven feet, and the greatest mean velo- city in any one section 1 -82 feet per second. Lesser Slave River Lesser Slave river drains Lesser Slave lake and falls into the Atha- baska river 70 miles above Athabaska. Originally, it was the chief means of access to the Peace River valley. In 1911, about 1,000 tons of freight, in addition to passengers, were carried over this route, and the traffic had increased enormously before the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia railway was opened. The Lesser Slave river, from its mouth to a point situated 19 miles upstream, or 16 miles overland, is very sinuous and forms a continuous series of small rapids; the total descent is approximately 80 feet. Some of these rapids could doubtless be used for water-power develop- ment. The Dominion Government has endeavoured to improve the navigation of this portion of the river by building wing dams at num- erous points; as this has not had the desired effect, additional surveys have been made with the purpose of improving navigation in a more efficient manner. Discharges taken at Mirror in 1914 gave 2,905 sec- ft. on Sept. 18, and 4,342 sec.-ft. on Oct. 9. DISCHARGE OF LESSER SLAVE RIVER AT SAWRIDGE, ALT A. (Drainage area, 6,520 square miles) Month 1915 May (20-31) June July August September . October November . . December . . Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 2,060 1,942 2.050 .314 2,380 2,060 2,197 .337 2,315 2,060 2,182 .335 2,250 1,782 2,065 .317 2,380 1,474 1,771 .272 1,734 1,418 1,521 .233 1.536 600 942 .144 857 565 669 .103 Pembina River The Pembina river, one of the upper tributaries of the Athabaska, is approximately eighty yards wide and is, ordinarily, quite shallow and easily fordable. In the spring or during a rainy season the depth is sufficient to compel horses to swim. The valley is from 250 to 300 feet below the level of the surrounding country, and gives evidence of greater erosion than would be expected from the present volume of water. Discharge measurements in 1913 at S.W. 20-53-7-5 gave the following: February 20, 53 second feet; March 14, 70; November 19, 77. ATHABASKA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 235 A gauging station was established on this river near Entwistle by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior. The follow- ing is a summary of monthly discharges at this station for 1914: DISCHARGE OF THE PEMBINA RIVER, NEAR ENTWISTLE, ALTA. (Drainage area, 1,858 square miles.) Month 1914 May (8-31) June July August September . October . . , November , December 1915 January . . February . March .... April May June July August . . . September October . . November December Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum Mean Per square mile 2,220 360 1,177 .633 17,260 270 4.348 2.340 2,730 610 1,554 .836 540 270 311 .167 450 210 317 .171 360 240 277 .149 240 110 150 .081 108 36 59 .032 59 17 40 .022 38 9 29 .016 117 39 66 .036 983 126 510 .274 1,265 230 418 .225 10,494 1,780 4,266 2.300 8,252 1,825 4,157 2.237 1,720 465 900 .484 518 377 428 .230 518 377 474 .255 417 86 218 .117 85 61 78 .042 McLeod River In its headwaters the McLeod, a mountain tributary of the Atha- baska, flows over a bed of gravel and stones, with uniform and rather steep grade, but without concentrated falls. The channel is nowhere worn down to bed-rock. Where it crosses range XVII the river is 110 yards wide and, ordinarily, not more than two feet deep at the ford. Although the volume of water is greater than that of the Pembina, the valley is comparatively shallow, being only from 90 to 100 feet deep. At a point on the McLeod river, three miles from Edson, im- mediately above the mouth of Moose creek, a possible power site is reported. The site is at a rapid one-third of a mile in length with a descent of 16 feet. A total head of 30 feet could be obtained by a dam placed at the head of the rapid, and, with an estimated minimum flow of 100 second-feet, over 330 theoretical h.p. could be obtained. 236 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION DISCHARGE OF THE McLEOD RIVER Date Locality Discharge sec-feet ] Sept. 1 Feb 912 16 .. 913 17 . 18 .. 13 . 12 .. 22 .. 10 .. 5 .. 12 .. 22 . 10 .. 28 . 11 . 9 . 26 . 10 .. 22 .. 7 .. 20 .. 17 .. Just below Beaver Dam river 33-52-17-5.... 471 96 Feb N.W. 5-52-18-5 59 Mar. 95 Apr. May June CI 304 II 1,840 II 1,666 Tnly CI 1,731 July July Aug. Aug. II 947 II 653 " 1,670 c< 572 Sept. Oct « 361 CI 267 Sept. Oct 550 493 Oct « 448 « 440 « 237 Dec CI 167 A gauging station was established on this river near Thornton by the Irrigation branch of the Department of the Interior. The follow- ing is a summary of monthly discharges for 1914: MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF THE McLEOD RIVER, NEAR THORNTON (Drainage area, 2,507 square miles) Month 1914 May (18-31) June July August September . . October November . . December . . 1915 January February . . . March April May June July August September . . October November . . December . . Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 1,640 20,584 5,220 1,010 1,450 720 600 150 142 235 788 1,820 33.688 27,220 4,230 1.420 1,510 760 200 790 720 790 480 480 430 208 75 98 81 81 261 560 1,930 2,860 1,150 830 830 225 162 Mean 1,365 7,453 2,144 624 709 571 363 193 122 108 131 556 1,131 7,198 9,720 1,843 1,063 1,050 492 170 Per square mile .544 2.973 .855 .249 .283 .228 .145 .077 .049 .043 .052 .222 .451 2.871 3.877 .735 .424 .419 .196 .068 CHAPTER XIII Eastern Tributaries of Lake Athabaska Black River Black river flows from Wollaston lake to lake Athabaska, in a gen- eral north-westerly direction. Between Hatchet and Kosdaw lakes, in its upper part, it is broken by several rapids, with single descents as great as 20 feet. Farther downstream is Thompson rapid, one of the heaviest rapids in the upper portion of the river; its banks, toward the foot, are low, while the upper section has to be passed by a short portage, 35 yards long, across a point on the north side. Above the portage, almost to the top of the rapid, the banks are from ten to fifteen feet high, and consist of flat-lying sandstone, generally cut away beneath by the water. The total fall in the rapid is approximately 30 feet. Manitou fall, lower down, was so named by the Manitou Fall Indians because the water in one of its channels dis- appears under the rock for a short distance. Two streams tumble over the face of a rocky sandstone ledge into a nar- row channel about 25 feet wide ; thence part of the water rushes to the left in an open channel, while the remainder flows for about 20 yards under the rock; both streams fall into a wide, shallow, rocky basin. The fall is 15 feet in height and is passed by means of a port- age 120 yards long, on the south side. Brink rapid, one mile long, has a total descent of 25 feet, where the water rushes over ledges of sandstone. The banks consist of low, sandstone cliffs and a ridge of sandstone extends along the north side of the river. From this rapid, as far as the head of Hawkrock rapid, is a stretch of one mile and a quarter of quiet water, with banks of sandstone 35 feet high. Hawkrock rapid, just above the mouth of Hawkrock river, has a fall of from eight to ten feet. In its upper part the banks of reddish sandstone are ten feet in height. North rapid, one mile in length, has a total descent of about 15 feet. Like the preceding rapids, it is fairly deep at the head but wide and shallow at the foot. The bed of the rapid is filled with boulders. At the head of Middle lake is a long chain of rapids and falls, with a total descent of 120 feet within a distance of three and one- half miles. The lowest, Elizabeth fall, alone comprises 80 feet of the [237] 238 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION total descent. The river here forms a turbulent rapid one mile in length, broken by heavy cascades and falls from eight to ten feet in height. The north bank, thickly wooded with black spruce and birch, rises gradually toward distant green hills; the slope is underlain by reddish gneiss. The south side of the valley is composed of abrupt, sandstone cliffs, often vertical, rising to a height of 100 feet above the water. Rounded bosses of gneiss also rise in the bends of the south bank, while wooded islands and jagged, granite rocks constantly im- pede and obstruct the foaming torrent. Immediately below Middle lake a series of strong rapids has a total descent of about 160 feet. The lowest rapid is a beautiful cascade, where the water tumbles over a ledge and then rushes in two narrow gorges past a rugged, rocky island. The portage along these rapids is 1 "9 miles long. Cree River Where Cree river, a tributary of Black lake, emerges from the north end of Cree lake, it is 200 yards wide, with sandy bottom and low banks wooded with small Banksian pine and spruce. It soon becomes very rapid, with a current of from six to eight miles per hour, flowing over a bed of sandstone fragments. Six miles below the lake a long rapid, known as Hawk rapid, has a total descent of from 30 to 40 feet within a distance of two miles. For 20 miles, strong rapids succeed each other in an almost con- tinuous series. The river first becomes narrow and swift, often with a current of ten or twelve miles per hour; it then expands gradually into a shallow stream flowing over a wide bed of gravel and boulders. In approximate latitude 58° 28' another heavy rapid, three miles in length, has a fall of about 40 feet. Hills of boulders, varying in height from 100 to 150 feet, rise on each side, and the bed of the stream is formed of boulders that have fallen from the sides. The upper portion of the rapid is deep and narrow, while the lower stretches are wide and shallow. Geikie. River Geikie river is the principal tributary of Wollaston lake. It rises in several small lakes, near the source of Foster river, and flows north- eastward through a drift-covered country, between low, sparsely- wooded banks. For long stretches it is straight and sluggish, having the appearance of a wide, quiet river or chain of long, narrow lakes. From a point situated immediately below the mouth of the Poor- fish river to Big Sandy lake in the upper part, these quiet stretches are broken by numerous rapids flowing over beds of boulders and descending as much as 45 feet. CHAPTER XIV Peace River Peace river, formed by the junction of the Finlay and Parsnip, two mountain rivers, is the largest and longest of the tributaries of the Mackenzie. It rises in and drains a great area west of the Rocky mountains ; continuing eastward, it intersects the axis of that range and drains the country bordering its eastern slopes, through four degrees of latitude. Its length, from the con- fluence of the Finlay and Parsnip rivers to the point at which it unites with the waters flowing from lake Athabaska to form Slave river, is 780 miles, but, measured from Summit lake, the source of its principal branch, is approximately 905 miles. Peace River canon is situated in British Columbia, Peace _ j us t outside of the western boundary of the Peace River Block. The descent of the water in the canon is fairly uniform, except near the head, where there is a fall of approxi- mately 25 feet in one-half mile. This latter descent is concentrated at two chutes over ledges ; one is situated at the head of the canon and the other one-half mile below, with rapids intervening. The narrowest point in the canon occurs at its head, where the distance from bank to bank is only 200 feet. The total descent in the water from the head to the foot of the canon, as obtained by aneroid barometer readings, was found to be 225 feet. The total length from head to foot, following the water, is 18-25 miles. The portage trail, which is 11 miles long, follows very closely a straight line from the head to the foot of the canon. The upper section of this trail passes between two hills, Portage mountain on the south and Bulls Head mountain on the north side, and, except over a distance of about one mile at each end, the trail has an eleva- tion varying between 800 and 1.000 feet above the water level at the lower end of the canon. Deep and Between Smoky River forks and the mouth of Picturesque Battle river, a distance of 108 miles, the general course ey of Peace river is northerly. Its average width in this distance is approximately 400 yards but it expands occasionally to nearly twice this distance. The current has a uniform rate of about [239] 240 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION four miles per hour. The deep valley is, in portions, very picturesque. It is about two miles wide and, at the mouth of Smoky river, the water is not less than 700 feet below the level of the plateau. Toward the north the valley becomes gradually shallow ; at Battle river its bottom is only 600 feet below the plateau. The banks are often scarped and, where composed of sandstone, are precipitous. Below Battle river, as far as the Vermilion fall and rapids, a dis- tance of nearly 200 miles, Peace river is without striking features; the current is less rapid, having a uniform rate of about three miles per hour. The valley decreases in depth to approximately 100 feet, and the sandstone cliffs, which lend variety to the upper stretches of the river, disappear. They are replaced by grassy and wooded slopes, or by the sombre, clay shales of the cretaceous. Islands are more numerous, while the bars are composed of sand instead of gravel. Vermilion Rapids and Chute. — Below Fort Vermilion, Peace river flows in an easterly direction for approximately fifty miles to the Ver- milion fall and rapids. Vermilion fall, like the Cascade rapids on the Athabaska, is caused by the river falling over a low, limestone ledge. This fall is the first obstruction to navigation encountered in descending the Peace river from the Peace River canon. First the rapids occur, extending over a distance of one-half mile, where the river makes a slight bend ; then comes swift water for three-quarters of a mile, succeeded by rapids again for one-half mile and, finally, the sheer drop of the chute. A reflecting level showed the descent in the first rapids to be 10.1 feet. The banks of the river here are from 20 to 30 feet high but, just above the rapids, are much lower. The descent in the other rapid, which is situated immediately above the chute, was found to be 4.4 feet and, in the chute itself, 12.1 feet. Thus, the total descent of the rapids and chute is 26.6 feet within a distance of one and three-quarter miles. The banks in this part are 50 feet high, consisting of hard limestone. The water was rather low when the levels were taken, but it usually falls another two feet in late autumn. The river varies in width at the rapids and chute from one-half to one mile, and the widest point is near the chute. Boyer or Little Rapids. — These rapids are situated about 115 miles below the Vermilion chute. They consist of four pitches, extending over a distance of five miles and separated by slack water. The rapids become merely swift water when the river is at a high stage. When the water is low, the rapids are quite noticeable but, even then, the greatest descent in any one pitch is only eight feet Peace River— Head of Peace River Canon Slave River One of the Fort Smith Rapu PEACE RIVER 24 in three-quarters of a mile, occurring in the pitch farthest downstream. These rapids are of little value from a water-power standpoint. Mr. F. D. Wilson, late post manager for the Hudson's Bay Com- pany at Fort Vermilion, kindly compiled the table and furnished the following interesting information respecting the opening and closing of the Peace River navigation: OPENING AND CLOSING OF NAVIGATION ON PEACE RIVER, AT FORT VERMILION Year Ice began First cross- Ice began First cross- to move ing in boats to drift ing on ice 1890 May 4 May 8 Nov. 16 Nov. 30 1891 Apr. 23 May 1 Oct. 29 Nov. 12 1892 May 11 May 15 Nov. 4 Nov. 8 1893 May 3 May 10 Oct. 31 Nov. 4 1894 Apr. 29 May 6 Nov. 1 Nov. 10 1895 Apr. 25 Apr. 29 Nov. 7 Nov. 15 1896 May 2 May 5 Nov. 7 Nov. 10 1897 Apr. 20 Apr. 26 Nov. 10 Nov. 13 1898 Apr. 23 Apr. 27 Oct. 27 Nov. 1 1899 May 5 May 10 Oct. 20 Nov. 12 1900 Apr. 14 Apr. 20 Nov. 4 Nov. 15 1901 Apr. 26 May 3 Nov. 2 Nov. 6 1902 May 1 May 6 Nov. 4 Nov. 8 1903 May 3 May 13 Nov. 11 Nov. 19 1904 Apr. 17 Apr. 24 Nov. 16 Nov. 30 1905 Apr. 27 Apr. 30 Oct. 23 Nov. 1 1906 Apr. 20 Apr. 22 Nov. 10 Nov. 16 1907 May 6 May 13 Nov. 8 Nov. 13 1908 Apr. 30 May 5 Oct. 28 Nov. 2 1909 May 20 May 22 Nov. 5 Nov. 13 1910 Apr. 25 Apr. 28 Nov. 1 Nov. 9 1911 Apr. 29 May 3 Oct. 31 Nov. 9 1912 Apr. 29 May 1 MONTHLY DISCHARGE OF PEACE RIVER AT PEACE RIVER CROSSING Month 1915 May (28-31) June July August September . October November . December . . Discharge in second-feet Maximum Minimum 165.350 183.400 338,850 95,550 43,800 42,960 42,600 11,140 156,900 129,400 102,700 43.800 23.700 20,950 11,160 10,250 Mean 161,512 144.236 158.518 63.979 31,902 27,468 18,301 10,786 16 CHAPTER XV Slave River and Tributaries of Mackenzie River The Slave river flows from lake Athabaska to Great Slave lake and is virtually the upper portion of the Mackenzie. It carries the waters of the mighty Peace river, of the Athabaska river and of other tributaries of lake Athabaska. It flows slightly west of north, with a total length of approximately 290 miles. For nearly 100 miles below lake Athabaska, it is easily navigable, but its course is then interrupted by a series of rapids, generally known as Fort Smith rapids, which are caused by a gneissic spur from the Laurentian dis- trict to the east. The rapids, five in number, occur between Smith Landing and Fort Smith. The following is a description of each, taken in the order in which they are encountered in descending the river from Smith Landing: Cassette Rapid is situated two miles below Smith Landing, where the river contains numerous small, rocky islands. Levels taken in the eastern channel show a descent of 27 feet. The total length of the rapids in this channel is one and a half miles, but would not be more than one mile measured along the centre of the river. The banks are high and rocky. Second Rapid. — The river here has a wide main channel on the west side, where the descent is concentrated in one chute extending the whole width of this channel. On the east side, there are several small, rocky islands. Levels taken of the different falls in one of the channels between these islands show a total descent of 37*4 feet; between the different pitches are swift waters with a fall of possibly five feet, thus giving a total descent of approximately 42 feet. The total length of the channel between the islands is about two miles, but, as stated above, in the main channel most of the descent is concentrated in one fall. Mountain Rapid, flowing around a point which projects from the west bank of the river, has a descent of 25 feet. Following the river, the rapid extends for about one mile, but across the point (along the portage path) the distance is only 200 yards. Op- posite the point, the river is one-half mile wide, and farther down- 1 242] TRIBUTARIES OF MACKENZIE RIVER 243 stream, three-quarters of a mile. The rocky banks are from 50 to 100 feet high. Pelican Rapid is a continuous stretch of rapids, without any con- siderable concentrated fall. It extends over a distance of three miles, or practically from the foot of Mountain rapid to the head of Drowned rapid. The descent in this rapid is about 10 feet. Drowned Rapid is one-half mile long, with a descent of 13 feet. The stream, three-quarters of a mile wide, has rocky banks 100 feet high on the west side; on the east side, numerous islands occur and the banks are only from 25 to 50 feet high. The distance from the head of Cassette rapid to the foot of Drowned rapid is 15 miles and the total descent, including swift waters between the five rapids above mentioned, which are not in- cluded in the figures given, is about 135 feet. Below the rapids, the banks, which, at first, are about 100 feet high and terraced in places, become lower as one descends the river. Eighteen miles below Fort Smith is the mouth of the Salt river, below which the stream presents few features of interest. Its average width is about one-half mile, but it frequently expands around islands to twice this width. On both sides are level plains which extend as far as the eye can reach and support extensive forests of white spruce and Banksian pine, mingled with larch and rough-barked and smooth-barked poplar. Sandy beaches, bars and islands occur in this part of the river; these are constantly shifting, being built up and removed by the spring freshets. Lockhart River The Lockhart is a short stream connecting Artillery lake with the eastern arm of Great Slave lake. It is only 24 miles in length but the descent in it is very steep. The most important fall on it is Parry fall with a descent of 85 feet but there are five others with descents ranging up to 50 feet. The total descent in this short river has been estimated at 668 feet which gives it an outstanding value as a water-power stream. Hay River Hay river rises near the headwaters of the Fort Nelson river and flows in a north-easterly direction for 300 miles to Great Slave lake. Grassy and partly wooded plains extend northward from Peace river and skirt its southern shores, but do not cross it. This river may be regarded as practically the northern limit of the prairie 244 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION country. Hay river, like Slave river, enters Great Slave lake by several channels at the extremity of a point formed by the deposition of silt. Its banks are low and grassy and the country on both sides is heavily wooded. Ascending the river, the general elevation of the country increases, the valley becomes higher and wider, and border- ing flats make their appearance. The current at the mouth is gentle but, as the river is ascended, increases in rapidity and breaks into rip- ples on the bars. The valley then contracts into a gorge and its high walls, buttressed below by an embankment of fallen fragments, appear to overhang the stream; the latter, reduced in width to 100 feet, dashes turbulently along the boulder-filled channel. The gorge suddenly ceases at Alexandra fall and the river plunges over the hard limestone band, through which the gorge is cut, with a sheer descent of 85 feet. This exceedingly picturesque fall presents a clear, unbroken sheet of falling water. From its base the river flows along rapidly for about one mile to a second fall of about 50 feet, below which are three miles of rapids. At the lower fall, the cliff is broken down near the centre and the descent of the water is interrupted by projecting ledges. Above the fall the valley is almost imperceptible; the stream has failed to produce more than a feeble impression on the hard limestone beds which floor the surrounding country. Liard River The Liard river, one of the principal tributaries of the Mackenzie, has its source west of the Rocky mountains. One of its branches reaches to within 150 miles of the sea and drains the eastern portion of the broken country lying between the Rockies and the Coast range. Its branches extend through four degrees of latitude, from 58° N. to 62° N., and interlock with those of the Yukon, Stikine, Skeena, and Peace rivers. In its upper part, it divides at intervals into three nearly equal streams, the Dease river in British Columbia, the Frances river, and the branch which retains the common name. Rising in the elevated country west of the Rockies, the Liard falls rapidly toward the east. Between the mouth of the Dease and the Mackenzie it descends about 1,650 feet, and is char- acterized by impetuous currents, dangerous rapids and narrow, whirlpool-filled canons. The descent is greatest and the rapids most numerous among and near the Rocky mountains. After leaving the foothills the stream is nearly free from interruptions as far as the junction with the Mackenzie, where a series of strong rapids occurs. TRIBUTARIES OF MACKENZIE RIVER 245 Above the Lower* canon, the current is swift, Characteristics averaging- about four miles per hour and greatly of River Bed exceeding this rate in many reaches. The stream, which is wide and shallow, becomes in places a complete maze of islands and gravelly, half-submerged bars. The Lower canon is six miles above the mouth of the Dease. The full height of the plateau, through which the river here cuts, is about 500 feet, but banks of this height seldom abut directly on the river. The canon is three miles in length, and, at high water, it is said to be necessary to portage the entire distance. Immediately above the mouth of the Dease, the Liard is 840 feet in width. Below the Dease it varies in width from 250 to 400 yards, but expands in places to more than half a mile ; it has a current of four miles and a half per hour. It divides occasionally into a number of channels, enclosing low, alluvial islands, usually well wooded. The rough water at Cranberry portage, four miles above Turn- again river, has a total length of one mile and a half, but there is a reach of comparatively undisturbed water about halfway down. The upper part of the rapid is exceedingly turbulent, as the bed of the river is filled with huge, angular masses of rock, against which the current dashes violently. Two miles below the Turnagain river is the Moun- Irrefular 1 tain Portage rapid, one of the most dangerous rapids Channel { n trie river. The stream here falls over a band of shales irregularly hardened by a system of dykes and worn into a succession of ridges and hollows; the roughened surface thus pro- duced throws the hurrying stream into an indescribable turmoil. The rapids at Brule portage, three miles below Coal river, is two miles long, and is caused by numerous limestone blocks and small islands obstructing the channel. At the lower end, the river is nar- rowly confined by high, perpendicular cliffs. From Brule portage, no obstacles to navigation occur until the Devil portage is reached. This stretch of the river is wide and filled with low islands and bars. At Devil rapid, eight miles below Trout river, the Liard makes a great bend to the northeast through a succession of rapids and canons. At the elbow of the bend, a large fall is situated. At the foot of the curve, the river is confined to extremely narrow limits, being scarcely 150 feet wide, and, as fully a third of this width is occupied by shore eddies, its bed must be eroded to a very great depth. ♦The designation "Lower," given to this canon, is evidently relative to the Upper and Middle canons on the Frances river. 246 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Immediately below the contracted section is a large eddy, where the river expands suddenly to more than half a mile in width. The dis- tance travelled by portage to avoid these rapids is three and three- quarter miles. Below Devil portage, for 30 or 40 miles, the river flows through the Grand canon, comprising a series of short canons separated by expanded basins filled with eddying currents. Twenty-five miles below Devil rapid, the river Rapid of the bends to the north, and, dashing against the cliffs which form the left bank, is deflected again to the east through the rapid of the Drowned. This is one of the most dangerous places on the river ; the water plunges with its whole force over a ledge of rock, which curves outward and downward from the left bank, into a boiling chaudiere behind. Below the, rapid of the Drowned is a long reach, with very swift current; the river is then confined by hard, sandstone banks through a narrow gap in which it forces a stormy passage. In the next four miles the stream, narrowly contracted, flows through five canons and falls over a number of riffles. Three miles of rapid current are encountered before reaching Hell-gate, so named because it is the lower entrance to the turbulent section of the river just described. Emerging from Hell-gate canon, the river dilates and is bordered by large eddies. Below these, it flows swiftly around a large island into a canon-like reach one mile long. The stream here is narrowed to about 150 yards in width, flowing quietly between vertical banks 300 feet high. This canon is the lowest on the river, and thence the stream has an uninterrupted flow. No obstacles to navigation present, themselves until a point 40 miles from the mouth is reached, from which, for a distance of 25 miles down, the stream is bordered by steep, scarped banks from 200 to 400 feet in height, giving the appear- ance of a wide canon. The current in this entire reach is exceed- ingly swift, and, for nearly ten miles, breaks over a succession of strong rapids. With respect to navigation on the Liard, it may be Navigable in stated generally that, above the rapids just referred to, which a small steamboat could possibly overcome by using a line, the river is easily navigable as far as Fort Liard, and thence, up the west branch, as far as Hell-gate. Above Hell-gate, navigation is exceedingly difficult and dangerous even with small boats, owing to the numerous rapids and canons. The Fort Nelson, or east branch of the Liard, is reported to be navigable by small steamers for 100 miles or more above its mouth. TRIBUTARIES OF MACKENZIE RIVER 247 Frances River The Frances river is a tributary of the Liard, flowing into the latter from the north. In ascending the river, the general direction of the Frances, for nine miles from its mouth, is north-northwest. It then bends to the northeast and, in four miles, the lower end of the Middle canon is reached. For the first few miles above its mouth, the Frances is extremely tortuous, so much so that the actual course of the river to the foot of the canon covers 22 miles, while the distance in a straight line is only 11 miles. The Middle canon is three miles in length; the river is hemmed in by broken, rocky cliffs, from 200 to 300 feet in height, for the greater part of this distance. The total fall in the canon is estim- ated at approximately 30 feet. Above the Middle canon, the general course of the river is again north-northwestward for a distance of 12 miles. Most of this section is bordered by low land on both sides. Fifteen miles farther up, the course changes to northeast, cutting across the Tsesiu range. The stream is moderately swift throughout and, in one place called the False canon, is bordered on both sides by low, rocky banks, although no rapids are encountered. Fifteen miles above False canon, the river turns abruptly to the west for four miles, one mile and a quarter of which consists of a series of rapids ; these are rocky and strong, with a total fall of about 30 feet. The banks rise steeply from the river to heights of from 100 to 200 feet, although the rocky cliffs along the water rarely exceed 50 feet in height. This section, named the Upper canon, is the last serious impediment to the navigation of the river. Gravel River Gravel river rises on the eastern slope of the Mackenzie mountains which form the divide between the Yukon and Mackenzie basins. From its source, to its exit from the mountains, it scours bed-rock in a continuous rapid, or flows over boulders which are too large to be carried. It is an extremely swift river throughout its whole length, the velocity being maintained to a great extent even in its lower portion. At the mouth, its waters rush along their original direction for quite a distance across the Mackenzie. While to travel down the river is a fairly easy but dangerous task, the ascent is almost impossible even in a canoe. The descent in the river from the confluence of the Twitya river to the mouth, a distance of some 125 miles, is estimated at 1.350 feet 248 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION or almost 11 feet per mile. The grade is slightly steeper after enter- ing the mountains but otherwise very uniformly distributed without any concentrated falls or rapids. The lowest canon on the river is some eighty-five miles from the mouth. The conditions at this canon and at practically all the others on the river are not favourable for power development. The descent is generally the same as in other places while the banks on the portions of the river immediately above and below the canons are low. From Twitya river to Sekwi canon, a distance of seventy miles, the descent in the river is also uniformly distributed, averaging approximately 12 feet per mile, without any falls or decided rapids. Between Sekwi canon and the headwaters there is a total descent of approximately 2,085 feet fairly uniformly distributed over a dis- tance of forty-five miles. The only concentrated descent in this portion occurs at Canon fall, some thirty miles above Sekwi canon, the water descending 10 feet in a vertical fall. The average temperature on both sides of the Mackenzie moun- tains is very much alike, but the western slopes, of higher elevation and exposed to the prevailing winds, have a comparatively high precipitation, and periods of high winds, while the eastern slopes, being on the lee side, receive a small precipitation, and immunity from high winds. A rough measurement of the Gravel river above its mouth, taken on July 19, 1908, gave a width of 700 feet, a middle depth of 8 feet, and a surface velocity of five miles an hour; the approximate dis- charge being 25,000 cubic feet per second. It is probable that the river shrinks greatly in volume by the end of August, as the snow is then almost completely gone from the mountains, and the rainfall is very light. CHAPTER XVI Churchill River and Tributaries Churchill river, measured from the source of its longest tributary, the Beaver, to Hudson bay, has a length of 1,200 miles, approx- imately. It comprises a long series of very irregular lakes, connected by short and usually rapid reaches. The low banks are thickly wooded with spruce and poplar. Some of the rapids are due to rocky barriers, while others flow over boulders and between banks of till, such as underlies much of the surrounding country. For a considerable part of its course, the river appears to flow near the line of contact of the Archaean and overlying sedimentary rocks, although the topography is modified by the occurrence of prominent glacial features. The absence of a valley, even where the channel might be eroded easily, and the presence of numerous lakes and rapids, show that the river is very new, geologically speaking. For a distance of several miles above Pelican rapid, Many Rapids the river flows from the northwest with a moderate current ; it passes between low, sandy banks overhung with willows, beyond which the country is wooded with poplar. Pelican rapid is a cascade, falling about eight feet over a granite ledge. The north bank, below the fall, is a terrace of sand and bould- ers, 20 feet high. The Upper and Middle Knee rapids flow around a long projection of red gneiss. The Lower Knee rapid is long and shallow. It flows at first over a ledge of coarse, red gneiss, and then over a bed of boulders. The north bank is a cliff, 30 feet or more in height, composed of light gray, sandy till, containing many boulders, and ris- ing to a sandy plain or terrace. Below the mouth of Haultain river, the Churchill flows with a strong current and traverses a wide marsh between long ridges of gneiss. Snake rapid, flowing for one and one-half miles over a bed of bould- ers, connects Souris and Snake lakes. On its north side is a sandy terrace, 15 feet high, which gradually rises until it seems to merge in a low hill of sand and boulders. On the south, also, is a low hill, the [249] 250 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION summit of which is a moderately level plain, covered with Archaean boulders. The Middle Needle fall is caused by the river flowing- over a ledge of gneiss. At the Lower Needle fall, the water descends about four feet over similar rock. Numerous rapids and falls occur between this point and Frog portage ; the greatest single descent is one of 20 feet at Otter fall. From Frog portage to the mouth of the Reindeer river, the Churchill has an average width of approximately one mile. It flows in a north- easterly direction, and its channel contains many rocky islands. The banks of this section of the Churchill are low, but on both sides the land rises gradually for a distance of from one-half to three-quarters of a mile from the water's edge, to heights varying from 100 to 400 feet. The first fall on the Churchill, above the mouth of Reindeer river, is Kettle fall, a steep descent of 17 feet over dark-greenish schist. A portage of 130 yards is made on the north side. At the foot of the expansion, into which Reindeer river falls, is Atik rapid, with a descent of 15 feet. Below, the river is rough for 60 miles, with many dangerous rapids, including the long Wintego rapid, at the foot of Wintego lake. Ten or twelve portages are made along this stretch, the longest being about one-half mile. _. _. From the end of the rough water, at the mouth River Flows . . Through Series of Nemei river, to Pukkatawagan, 120 miles below, of Lakes t jj e Churchill flows for almost the whole distance through lakes, and only four short portages are necessary. Between Pukkatawagan and Southern Indian lake, a distance of approximately 130 miles, the lake expansions are larger, including Granville lake, 50 miles or more in length. In this distance four short portages lead past rapids and falls, one of which, Granville fall, above Granville lake, has a nearly vertical descent of 25 feet. For a distance of 23 miles above the mouth of the Little Churchill, the average width of the Churchill is approximately one-third of a mile. High banks of clay occur alternately on each side. Numerous rapids exist in this section and the total descent in the above distance is about 170 feet, or an average of seven and one-half feet per mile. Rapids are numerous between the mouth of the Little Churchill and the sea, especially in the first 30 miles, and again in the neighbour- hood of the angle formed by the last two stretches of the river at a distance of 40 miles from the mouth. Only one, however, necessitates a portage. This is a steep rapid, which may be called the Portage CHURCHILL RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 251 chute, situated 28 miles below the Little Churchill. The distance over the portage is approximately 175 yards. The total descent in the river, from the confluence with the Little Churchill to the sea, is approximately 400 feet, or an average descent of slightly more than four feet per mile to the head of tide water. Cochrane River In ascending Cochrane river, the channel for the first seven miles and a half is very irregular, being often broken by wooded islands. In places it is about 150 yards wide, with a current of two or three miles an hour ; in other places it is much wider and with very little current, while, towards the upper end of the stretch, are two heavy rapids up which the canoe must be tracked with a tow-line. The banks are low and grassy, and low rocky points project into the water here and there. The surrounding country is low and swampy, underlain by sand and sandy till, and is wooded with small black spruce and larch. A low sandy ridge wooded with Banksian pine, extends along the east bank for a short distance. Seven miles and a half from the lake, the river falls about 20 feet over gneiss. These falls are passed by a portage 420 yards long on the east side. The portage is over a drumlin ridge of silt and boulders. Three-quarters of a mile higher up the stream is a heavy rapid with a fall of eight feet, the water flowing over granite. It is passed by a portage 180 yards long on the west bank, over a neck of land composed largely of boulders. A mile above the portage is a swift rapid a quarter of a mile long, up which canoes must be taken with tow-lines and poles. Two miles above this rapid the canoe-route leaves the river, which is said to be very crooked, with one bad rapid, the total distance by the river being about 17 miles. For the next thirteen miles the current is nowhere very strong, and in the wider places is hardly apparent. The banks are either low or rise in sandy ridges. The river then flows through a number of larger and smaller lakes. Next come more portages, one of which is past a rapid having a fall of eight feet, and lake Du Rrochet is reached. Above this lake, a small double lake, with rocky shores, extends for six miles, beyond which the river flows for two miles, with a strong current, between wooded sandy banks, to a narrow gap, where it cuts through a ridge of sand and gravel. A mile and a quarter above this ridge, the river flows with a rapid current, over a bed of sand and boulders in a moderately straight channel. It then makes a gradual half turn, flowing from the south-west and 252 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION numerous rapids and portages are encountered. Five miles above the upper end of these rapids the river debouches from Drifting lake, above which is a long, rapid portion to its headwater in Wollaston lake. Reindeer River Reindeer river, draining Reindeer lake into the Churchill river, forms one of the largest branches of the latter. The valley through which it flows is an irregular depression, following the trend of the gneiss. The banks are low and the stream rarely impinges against the rocky hills which compose the surrounding country. This stream is 70 miles long, and Reindeer lake, its source, has an area of 2,200 square miles, with an elevation above the sea of 1,150 feet. The lake has a very irregular contour, containing innumerable rocky islands; these and the rocky shores are sparsely wooded with small black spruce. The first fall below the lake is 10 feet in height, flowing over ledges of gneiss. The portage, which crosses a narrow, rocky islet 50 yards wide, is known locally as the Rock portage. The second fall, situated between the next two lakes, is called the Whitesand rapid, on account of the cliffs of sand on the north side, opposite the portage. The portage at Steep-hill rapid crosses a ridge of clay 35 feet in height. The water of the lake above drains toward the east, falling for 20 feet over a steep ledge situated between three islands, at the southeast corner. The sides of the valley are moderately timbered with poplar and a few small white spruce. Below Steep-hill rapid, the river makes a long bend, first to the east and then to the south, passing through a wide lake-like expansion with many islands. The stream narrows at places, in which the current is quite strong, but generally, from the Steep-hill rapid to near the mouth of the river at the Deer rapid, is wide and sluggish. The last interruption to navigation is at Deer rapid, about two miles north of the Churchill river, where there is a fall of about five feet over a ledge of gneiss. Below this rapid is a wide, deep channel with almost imperceptible current. Rapid River Rapid river enters the Churchill from the south, not far below the lake expansion at Stanley mission. It is the outlet of lake La Ronge, a large oblong lake, nearly 35 miles in length, 1,225 feet above sea level and about 150 feet above its confluence with the Churchill. This short stream has a fall, or series of rapids, near the confluence with the Churchill river. CHURCHILL RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 253 Foster River Foster river is very similar in size to the Mudjatik river, but is a much more turbulent stream. Rising in the Foster lakes, it plunges down a series of heavy rapids, over ridges of granite and gneiss, until within a few miles of Churchill river. There it enters a country more thickly covered with drift and more densely wooded. Aban- doning its direct south-westerly course, it follows a long, sweep- ing curve and finally empties into a northern arm of Black Bear Island lake, one of the expansions of Churchill river. For 18 miles below the Foster lakes, the river flows in a deep val- ley and forms an almost continuous series of heavy rapids, rushing over a bed of boulders. Below this stretch, heavy rapids again occur, but these are due to rocky barriers across the stream ; nearer the mouth, the rapids again flow over boulders. The greatest descent is that of the rapid situated farthest down the river, about six miles from its mouth ; the water flows in a heavy double rapid, descending 25 feet, chiefly over a bed of boulders. Mudjatik River Mudjatik river rises in several small lakes and streams in the low, rocky country a short distance north of latitude 57°. It flows almost directly southward for 80 miles and empties into Churchill river, 13 miles below Ile-a-la-Crosse lake. For the greater part of the course, it flows in a shallow, winding channel between level banks of stratified sand. Rocky hills appear on both sides, but seldom close to the river. The stream is obstructed by a few rapids and most of these are caused by accumulations of boulders. Above Grand rapid the river, which is possibly 30 feet wide, emerges from a very well-defined valley, a quarter of a mile in width. A large rapid, flowing over rock and boulders, is situated one- quarter mile above Grand Rapid portage; this has a descent of six feet. At Grand rapid, the water falls eight feet over a ledge of gneiss broken into two steps. A portage, 90 yards in length, passes it on the sandy flat on the east side. Two rapids occur not far above Bear rapid, with descents of 10 feet and 12 feet. Below these the river winds through a sandy plain, to Bear rapid, a swift chute with a fall of about two feet at high water. This rapid is' passed by means of a portage track, 100 yards in length, on the west bank. The rapid is probably caused by a ledge of rock crossing the channel. 254 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Beaver River Beaver river has its source on the Cretaceous plateau, south of lac La Biche. It flows eastward for 230 miles, and then northward for 90 miles, emptying into the south end of Ile-a-la-Crosse lake. In its course northward, from the bend to the foot of Grand rapid, it is a rapid stream, from 150 to 400 feet wide. This portion of the river has low banks, composed of stratified, alluvial clay without boulders. The surrounding country is a level plain, rising from 10 to 25 feet above the river, and well wooded with poplar. Banks of stratified sand soon begin to rise on both sides to a height of 40 or 50 feet, and the stream is broken by rapids flowing over beds of boulders. The banks are lower near the mouth of Waterhen river, an important tributary from the west. They continue low, consisting of clay, for several miles ; they then change to stratified sand, rising to a height of 80 feet. Several small rapids occur in this stretch of the river; the follow- ing is the approximate descent in each, in the order in which they are met in descending the stream from the mouth of Cowan river: Rapid of six feet descent, one of three feet descent, one of two feet descent; distance of five miles without rapids; rapid of two feet descent, one of four feet descent, one of two feet descent, mouth of Waterhen river ; rapid of three feet descent, one of two feet descent, one of three feet descent, one of two feet descent, one of two feet descent, one of five feet descent (one mile long), one of two feet descent, one of four feet descent. Immediately below the rapids enumerated is Grand rapid, the last on this section of the river. ,It consists of two pitches separated by one-half mile of slack water; the lower pitch has a descent of 16 feet within a distance of one mile, while the upper descends 10 8 feet in one-half mile, giving a total descent of 27 feet in two miles. The banks are from 15 to 50 feet high, becoming higher in the upper portion of the rapid. The river is full of boulders and has an average width of 500 feet. The discharge of the river, taken in September, 1912, at a point five miles above the Grand rapid, was found to be 1,913 cubic feet per second ; the water was unusually high for that time of the year. The width of the stream here was 346 feet, the maximum depth seven feet, and the greatest mean velocity in any one section 2/23 feet per second. CHURCHILL RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 255 La Plonge River La Plonge river is a small tributary, entering the Beaver in the lower part of its course ; it is the outlet of a moderately large lake of the same name. On it is the most northerly developed water-power in Saskatchewan. This power site is near the mouth of the river, where a dam has been built, affording a head of about 10 feet. The power is used to operate a saw-mill and a small electric-lighting plant in connection with the Bauval mission. In the summer, nearly 40 horse-power is used by the mill but, in the winter, that amount of power is not always available. Methy River This river rises in Methy lake, at the southern end of the well- known Methy portage, which crosses the divide between the Churchill and Mackenzie watersheds. Methy river follows a very sinuous course in a south-easterly direction ; its waters flow into Buffalo lake, and, ultimately, through the Deep river, to Ue-a-la-Crosse lake. The river is broken by several small rapids, the first of which is situated six miles below Methy lake, and has a descent of ten feet in two- thirds of a mile; the stream here is about 30 feet wide, with banks from five to ten feet high. One-half mile downstream is another small rapid, one-quarter mile in length, with a descent of three feet. Extending for a distance of six miles above the mouth of White- fish river is a succession of small rapids, with a total descent of approximately 40 feet. The greatest fall in a short distance is five feet and the pitches become greater in the lower part. The river, along these rapids, is between 40 and 60 feet wide; the banks are low and marshy in the upper part but somewhat higher (five to ten feet) in the lower section. Situated immediately below Whitefish river, and extending over a distance of two miles, is another series of five rapids, with a total descent of five feet. The discharge of Methy river, taken in September, 1912, was found to be 95 cubic feet per second, at a point one-quarter mile above the mouth of Whitefish river. The river was 53 feet wide at this point, the maximum depth 5 4 feet, and the greatest mean velocity in any one section 57 of a foot per second. CHAPTER XVII Yukon River and Tributaries The Yukon is navigable for steamers from its mouth, on Bering sea, up the Lewes branch as far as Whitehorse rapid. This great stream has an average width in Canada of over 400 yards and, flowing around numerous low, wooded islands and shift- ing bars, has a steady current of about five miles per hour. Its valley is comparatively narrow, with few flats, while the river, sweep- ing from bank to bank in easy curves, washes alternately the bases of the hills on either side. Although the Yukon river proper is free from rapids, many of these exist on several of its tributaries. Various estimates have been made of the discharge of the Yukon by both United States and Canadian engineers, but, until 1911, it had not been found practicable to establish a regular gauging station on this river. In May, 1911, a station was established by the U. S. Geological Survey at Eagle, Alaska. As this town is very near the international boundary, the results obtained are of equal interest to Canada. The following table shows the mean monthly discharges for the years 1911-1913 at Eagle, Alaska: Mean discharge in second-feet Second-feet per square mile Month 1911 1912 1913 1911 1912 1913 January February . . . March .... April May June July August September . October . . . November . December . . 21.000 15,000 11,000 12,000 156,000 184.000 178.000 139,000 106.000 60,000 37.000 28,000 21.000 15.000 11,000 12,000 125,000 160,000 147,000 127,000 73.600 51,000 37.000 28,000 21.000 15,000 11,000 12,000 117,000 199.000 164,000 133,000 90,000 55,000 37,000 28.000 0.172 .123 .090 .098 1.28 1.51 1.46 1.14 .869 .492 .303 .230 0.172 .123 .090 .098 1.02 1.32 1.20 1.04 .603 .418 .303 .230 0.172 .123 .090 .098 .959 1.63 1.34 1.09 .738 .451 .303 .230 A maximum discharge was observed on May 22, 1911, when the discharge was 253,000 second- feet. In the summer of 1887, Dr. G. M. Dawson found the flow at fort Selkirk to be 66,955 cubic feet per second. Water-marks indicated [256] YUKON RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 257 that in the preceding spring the flood discharge had been at least 167,400 c. f. s. The engineers of the Dominion Water Power branch are now making a reconnaissance examination of the water-powers of the Yukon territory preliminary to a thorough investigation of its water resources. Porcupine River The Porcupine heads near the Yukon river, approximately in latitude 65° 30' N., and after describing a great semi-circular curve to the northeast, falls into the same river a hundred and fifty miles farther down. At its most easterly point it approaches within eighty miles of the Mackenzie, but is separated from it by the main range of the Rocky Mountains. Its total length approximates 500 miles. From its headwaters in three small lakes the Porcupine flows north- ward as a fair sized stream in a valley one mile wide, the bottom of which is well timbered. The descent in the river in its extreme upper portion is very steep, 200 feet per mile being estimated in some places. The river has numerous tributaries and rapidly increases in size. Immediately above the Fishing branch, the descent is fairly steep and estimated at 400 feet in eight miles. The river leaves the moun- tains opposite mount Dewdney, twenty miles below the Fishing branch, the descent being 300 feet in this distance. There are no dangerous rapids on the river which, everywhere, flows with a swift current over a bed of lime gravel. Below its exit from the mountains it winds through an undulating and wooded country, the banks being nowhere more than 100 feet high and generally of clay with black shale ex- posures. Above lat. 66° 30' the river is too swift for steamboat navi- gation but below this point, no difficulty would be found for moderate sized craft as the current becomes very slow and the descent in the river almost inappreciable. From Bell river to Driftwood river, a distance of over forty miles by the course of the river, the Porcupine has a general north-westerly trend, but makes a couple of minor bends to the north-east. Its width varies from one hundred and fifty to two hundred yards, and its current barely averages two miles an hour. The valley is generally rather wide and shallow, but at one point about ten miles below Bell river, becomes somewhat contracted, and for some miles has the appearance of a wide canon. The banks here are high and steep, and are formed of broken fragments of hard quartzite. Below the contraction it resumes its usual character. Below Driftwood river the Porcupine makes a sudden bend of several miles to the north, and then turns west to the head of the Ramparts. The distance between these two points, measured along 17 258 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION the tortuous course of the river, exceeds seventy-five miles. The river in this reach has a width of from 200 to 300 yards. No rapids occur, and the current does not average over two miles an hour. The Porcupine while passing through the Ramparts contracts con- siderably, and in places does not exceed seventy-five yards in width. Its current is more rapid than in the upper part, and was estimated to run at the rate of from three to four miles and a half an hour. Short riffles, with a much greater velocity than this occur occasionally, but no rapids or other obstructions are met with, which would prevent the navigation of the stream by small steamers. In the upper part of the Ramparts the banks rise steeply from the water's edge on both sides to heights of from three to five hundred feet. Klondike District The Klondike gold fields have two important water-power devel- opments which have been in use for some time. From the descrip- tion of these, it may be judged that good water-power sites are not lacking in this district, but, unfortunately, little information is avail- able except regarding those in actual use. This district is situated on the east side of the Yukon river, and comprises approximately 800 square miles in the vicinity of the mouth of the Klondike river. At present most of the gold mining is done by companies which have spent millions of dollars in equipment and in- stallation, and are obtaining the gold mainly by dredging and hydrau- licking, the dredges usually being operated by electrical energy gen- erated by water-power. Yukon Gold ^e Yukon Gold Company's hydro-electric plant Co.'s Develop- is on the Little Twelve-mile river, one-half mile from its junction with the Big Twelve-mile or Chandindu river. Water is available from two sources, the "Little Twelve- mile and Tombstone rivers. It is diverted from these rivers at points six miles and ten miles, respectively, from the power plant and carried to the plant by means of flumes ; a static head of 710 feet is obtained, which is reduced to 680 feet under full load conditions. The equipment consists of three units of 54-in. single runner Pelton wheels, each direct-connected to a 625-k.w. revolving field gen- erator running at 450 r.p.m. The load is very fluctuating, vary- ing from 200 to 2,000 k.w. The electrical energy is generated at 3-phase, 60 cycles, 2,200 volts, and the voltage is stepped up to 34,000 volts ; at this voltage it is transmitted to three sub-stations, two on Bonanza creek and one on Hunker creek. At the sub-stations it is stepped down to 4,400 volts and delivered to the eight dredges and various other mining machinery. At the point of consumption it is further reduced to 440 volts to operate the motors. COM MISSION OF CONSER VATION, SEPTEMBER OCTOBER S £X FT SEPTEMBER OCTOBER LITTLE TWELVE-MILE RIVER, YUKON HYDROGRAPHS FOR SEASONS 1909-12 YUKON RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 259 An additional line, 27 miles in length, is now under construction, to supply another sub-station at Gold-run creek. A feature of greater interest connected with the Artificial operation of this company is the giant ditch used to convey water for hydraulicking purposes. The main ditch receives its supply of water from the system supplying the power station on Little Twelve-mile creek. It comprises 64 miles of main line, composed of 15 miles of flume, 37 miles of ditch and 12 miles of pipe line, crossing five depressions. It has a capacity of 1,250 cubic feet per second and delivers water under a head of 500 feet at the Lower Bonanza hills. The Bonanza extension is 6 miles in length, has a capacity of 750 cubic feet per second, and crosses three depres- sions. The total length of the ditch system and extensions is 75 miles. A reservoir, known as the Bonanza dam, is used in connection with this system. As its name implies, it is on Bonanza creek, and has a capacity of 43,600,000 cubic feet, covering an area of approx- imately 40 acres. It is stated that sufficient water for operating is usually available from May 15 to October 10; water not used at the power plant is diverted into the main ditch. „ , „ , The Canadian Klondike Power Company's power- North Fork . , . . . - T . . . , of Klondike house is near the junction of the North fork and River Klondike river. The water is brought from the North fork, over a distance of six miles, through penstocks. The head obtained is 228 feet. There are two units, each consisting of a 5,000-h.p. Morris turbine, direct-connected to a 3,000-k.w. gener- ator. The electrical energy is generated at 3-phase, 60 cycles, and is transmitted 25 miles to dredges operating in the Klondike, Bonanza and Hunker valleys. Stewart River The Stewart is one of the main tributaries of the Yukon. It rises in the unexplored Pacific-Arctic watershed ranges lying between the heads of the Peel and Pelly rivers, and flows in a general westerly direction toward the Yukon valley. From Fraser falls to its mouth, a distance of nearly 200 miles, it is a large stream, seldom less than 150 yards in width and often more than double this breadth. It is navigable by ordinary shallow-draught steamers to Fraser falls. From the Mayo river to its mouth, the current flows from three to five miles an hour with occasional accelerations on the bars. Above Mayo river, the current decreases to two to three miles an hour and bars are almost entirely absent. At the Fraser falls, the Stewart flows for a 260 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION third of a mile with great velocity through a narrow canon bounded by vertical walls of hard quartzose schist. The word "falls" is a misnomer, as the grade in the canon is fairly uniform and the total descent is estimated to be only 30 feet. Above the falls the river is interrupted by occasional short riffles for several miles, but, farther up, its course is reported to be clear to the main forks, a distance of about 60 miles, and up the North branch for a considerable stretch beyond. The East branch is reported to be a rapid stream constantly interrupted by rapids and canons. The principal tributaries of the Stewart below Fraser falls are the McQuesten and Mayo rivers, both fair sized streams, and Clear creek from the north, and Crooked river, Lake creek and Scroggie creek from the south. Pelly River The total length of the Pelly, following the course of the river from the Pelly lakes to the confluence with the Lewes, is 350 miles. A measurement in the summer of 1887 by Dr. G. M. Dawson indicated that the discharge at "Pelly Banks" was 4,898 cubic feet per second. The elevation at Campbell portage, 30 miles below the lakes, is approx- imately 2,965 feet, while that at the confluence is 1,555 feet, giving a total descent of 1,410 feet or 4.4 feet per mile. A considerable portion of the descent, however, occurs in numerous small rapids. Many islands are encountered along the course of the river, which follows two general directions, the first bearing N. 55° W., the second, N. 87° W. These are parallel to the principal orographic features, respectively, of the upper and lower parts of the country traversed, and indicate the main slopes of the region. Just below the mouth of Hoole river, a rapid 600 feet long has a total fall estimated at ten feet. From this rapid to Hoole canon, the stream is swift and contains several small rapids. The banks and beaches of the Pelly, above Hoole river, are gen- erally silty or muddy, although the strength of the current is sufficient to produce well-washed gravel-bars in midstream. Below Hoole river, the banks and beaches are as a rule gravelly, due to the swifter flow. At Hoole canon, the river bends to the north-eastward and is con- fined between rocky banks and cliffs, about 100 feet in height. The descent in the canon is 20 feet in a distance of three-quarters of a mile, measured along the river, or one-half mile by portage. The Pelly, between the canon and Ross river, is swift and con- tains numerous small rapids. For slightly more than half the distance between the Ross and Glenlyon, the river continues to flow rapidly amid many islands and gravel-bars; the remaining portion is com- paratively tranquil, with the exception of the two rapids in the im- YUKON RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 261 mediate vicinity of the Glenlyon. The first occurs at an S-shaped bend, two miles east of the Glenlyon, while the second is immediately below the mouth of that stream. The upper rapid is wide and rather shallow, with rocky impediments. It is easily run with a canoe, but passage by steamers, except those of light draught, is dangerous at low stages of the river. The current in the second rapid strikes directly on the face of a rocky bank on the right of the river, forming a heavy, confused wash, but is otherwise unimpeded and deep. For a distance of 20 miles below the Glenlyon river, the Pelly is unusually free from abrupt bends, and islands are few. It is bordered on the south by the Glenlyon mountains, the summits of which exceed 5,000 feet in height. Twenty miles from the Glenlyon, the river turns abruptly north- ward, following an S-shaped bend, called the Detour, and cutting completely through the ridge which has previously bounded it on that side. As far as the lower end of the Detour, the current is rather swift, with a number of small rapids, although none is of such a character as to impede navigation. The Granite canon, below the mouth of the Macmillan, is nearly four miles in length, with steep, rocky, scarped banks and cliffs, from 200 to 250 feet in height. In the canon are several minor rapids, but the water is deep, and, except for isolated rocks, navigation would be quite safe for steamers, even at a low stage of water. Macmillan River The Macmillan river has a total length of about 285 miles. In the summer of 1887, Dr. Geo. M. Dawson determined the discharge at its mouth, 9,796 c.f.s. It divides at 150 miles above its mouth into two nearly equal branches, known as the North and South forks. The North fork carries the most water, and has a length of about 135 miles. The South fork is probably of nearly equal length. The main river, in the first fifty miles, varies in width from 300 to 500 feet, the current seldom exceeding three miles an hour. About fifty miles above the mouth, there is a stretch of rapid water five or six miles in length, above which the current is again generally slack for a further distance of fifty miles, although a few riffles occur. In the upper fifty miles, the current becomes much swifter, flowing at a rate of from three to five miles an hour. The swiftest stretches occur at places where the stream has recently broken through the necks of ox-bow bends, and so shortened its course. The greater portion of the river is easily navigable, except at low water, by small steamers. The grade of the Macmillan is estimated at from one to two feet 262 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION per mile in the lower portion of the river and from two to four feet in the upper portion. The average grade throughout probably amounts to about three feet to the mile and the total fall from the "forks" to the Pelly is estimated at 450 feet. The North and South forks are nearly equal in size, but the former carries a much larger volume of water. The North fork is an exceed- ingly rapid stream and bears more resemblance to a mountain torrent than to an ordinary river. Between the forks and Cache creek, a distance of about 70 miles following the windings, the river falls about 12 feet to the mile. The current is uniformly swift throughout, running at the rate of from five to eight miles an hour. The channel in places is filled with boulders, and strong riffles are fre- quent, especially for some miles above and below the mouth of Husky Dog creek, but no strong rapids necessitating portages occur below Cache creek. Two and a half miles above this is the Big Alec rapid, a rough bedrock rapid a quarter of a mile in length. The South fork at its entrance to the main river is 250 feet wide ; the current is slack for several miles above its mouth. For the first twenty-five miles, following the windings of the stream, the average grade is about three feet to the mile; from this to the canon the grade is probably five feet. The speed of the current varies from two to five miles an hour. The canon is 58 miles from the Forks, and about half a mile in length, the river breaking into three rapids on its course through it. Beyond the cation the valley widens out, the grade increases and the river runs swiftly around sharp bends and resembles the North fork in character during the remainder of its course. Ross River The Ross is one of the principal tributaries of Pelly river. Rising in the western slope of the divide between the Mackenzie and Yukon basins, it flows in a general southwesterly direction. Discharge, at its confluence with the Pelly, in the summer of 1887, was 4,900 feet per second. For six miles above its mouth it is broken by swift water, the total descent in this distance being approximately 60 feet. Above this point, it flows for about seventy-five miles with moderate current, and several shallow riffles. At False canon, some twenty miles from the mouth, the descent is inappreciable although the current is quite swift: the banks imme- diately above the canon being low, it would be difficult to develop power. From this point to Prevost canon, approximately 70 miles above, the descent in the river averages 2.5 feet per mile. Prevost YUKON RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES 263 canon offers better conditions for power development ; the descent in it is 20 feet in one mile and banks are of steep rock. There are two other rapids a short distance below and one eight miles above the canon over which boats can only pass after being- unloaded. The current in this portion of the river is everywhere very swift. Sheldon lake, twenty miles above Prevost canon, is the limit of boat navigation in low water, but in high stages, Wilson lake, forty-five miles beyond, might be reached, the latter being only thirty miles from the divide. The canon, 15 miles above Sheldon lake, offers no power possibilities as there is only swift water with no appreciable descent. Above Wilson lake to its source the stream assumes a very steep descent but the flow is so restricted as to exclude power development. As an example of the grade in its upper portion it is estimated that the stream descends some 600 feet in the first ten miles from the divide, and the descent in the next 30 miles below is approximately 825 feet. Lewes River The headwaters of the Lewes include several lakes, notably, Atlin lake 2,200 feet above sea and Tagish and Bennett lakes, 2,148. It flows in a north-westerly direction, joining the Pelly river at Selkirk to form the Yukon river. Immediately below the headwaters of the Lewes is lake Marsh, connected with Tagish lake by a wide, tranquil reach of river, five miles in length. Lake Marsh is 20 miles in length, with an average and very uni- form width of about two miles. The valley, of which this lake forms the centre, is very wide ; the country in the immediate vicinity of the lake is low, consisting of terrace-flats, or low, rounded or wooded hills and ridges. In the summer of 1887, the discharge of the Lewes above the mouth of the Teslin was 18,664 c.f.s. ; below the Teslin, it was 30,100. „ r , .. , About 30 miles below lake Marsh, the Whitehorse Whitehorse Rapid and Miles rapid and Miles canon together form the most Canon formidable obstacle to the utilization of the Lewes as a route into the interior, constituting a series of rapids two and three- quarter miles in length. The canon is cut through horizontal, or nearly horizontal, basalt, and is not more than 100 feet in width ; vertical cliffs, averaging 50 feet, and never exceeding 100 feet in height, rise at the sides. It opens out into a basin in the middle but, elsewhere, the river is inaccess- ible from the banks. Terraced hills rise above the basalt walls on each side of the valley, being particularly abrupt on the west bank. Although the river flows through the canon with great velocity, it is unimpeded in its course, and is, therefore, not very dangerous to run with a good boat. 264 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Between the Whitehorse and the foot of the canon, the river is very swift. The descent in the canon and Whitehorse rapid, covering the whole stretch of rapid water, is 49 feet. Additional fall, if nec- essary, can easily be obtained by damming the river at the head of the canon. Its width here is about 90 feet, and it is enclosed between nearly vertical basalt walls. Lake Laberge, the lowest lake-expansion on this river, is 27 miles below Whitehorse; it is 31 miles long and from one and a half to five miles wide. It lies nearly north-and-south, but is somewhat irregular in outline and does not present the parallel-sided form and uniform width characteristic of the mountain lakes. Five-finger rapid, situated 55 miles above the mouth of the Lewes, is caused by the presence of several rugged, rocky islands which obstruct the river. The rapid is only a few yards in length, where the water flows swiftly between the islands. The channels are deep and unobstructed. Below the main rapid, is a second minor rapid, which appears to be somewhat stony. From its mouth to Five-finger rapid, the course of the Lewes is nearly straight, flowing north-westerly. In this portion of the river the current is swift throughout. Teslin River The Teslin river is the largest tributary of the Lewes. It is a large stream, averaging about 125 yards in width when confined, but expanding around islands. It has a total length of nearly 100 miles. The current is moderately swift for the first 70 miles above the mouth, varying from three to five miles per hour, with occasional accelera- tions where bars cross the stream. Thirty miles below Teslin lake, the grade lessens and the current decreases to less than two miles per hour. No rapids occur on the Teslin, but bars are frequent, and, on some of these, the water is so shallow in autumn as to interfere with navigation. Discharge at its mouth, in the summer of 1887, 11,436 cubic feet per second. Atlin River Tagish lake receives the waters of Atlin lake through one of its southern branches in British Columbia called Taku arm. Atlin river, the short stream connecting Atlin lake with the Taku arm, is reported to possess water-power possibilities. It is three miles in length, following its windings, with a descent of 38 feet, but the short rail- way between the two lakes leading over a low ridge is only two miles long. CHAPTER XVIII Coppermine, Hood, Dubawnt, Ferguson and Kazan Rivers The Coppermine river rises in approximate lat. 66°, long. 110°, flows south to lac de Gras, thence west and northwest to Coronation g-ulf ; it is between 400 and 500 miles in length. The stream is swift but shallow and is broken by numerous rapids; most of these, how- ever, can be descended in canoes under the guidance of expert canoe- men. The river ice breaks up about the first of June and forms again about the first of October. From Point lake the river falls into Red Rock lake, over a rapid 100 yards wide, and flows thence into a smaller lake. Below this lake is a succession of rapids, extending for three or four miles, and bounded by rocky banks. Beyond the rapids, the stream expands to about 300 yards, flowing with a slower current. Rapids and calm water then alternate as far as the mouth of Fairy river, where the rapids end. Approximately 90 miles farther downstream, at the bend where the river resumes its northerly course, it narrows and forms a series of rapids. This section of the river flows between high ranges of mountains and the banks are of mud and clay. At the Rocky Defile rapid, near the mouth of the Kendall river, the Coppermine rushes turbulently for three-quarters of a mile in a deep, narrow and crooked channel ; the banks, which resemble stone walls, rise to a height of 80 feet. For a short stretch the river is shoaly, below which it again becomes swift, flowing between banks of sand and gravel over numer- ous, shallow rapids. Above and below Escape rapid, it flows between high, sandstone banks and is full of shoals and swift rapids. Bloody, fall occurs about ten miles from the mouth of the river ; it is a shelving- cascade, about 300 yards long, having a descent of 12 feet. Both banks consist of high walls of red sandstone, Hood River Hood river flows into Arctic sound, one of the inlets south of Coronation gulf. It is from 100 to 200 yards wide near its mouth, with high, steep, clay banks and many sandy shoals. Ten miles above its mouth is a cascade from 18 to 20 feet high, caused by a ridge of rock. [2651 266 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION For a distance of seven or eight miles above this cascade, the river is full of shoals and rapids, until the foot of Wilberforce fall is reached. This fall occurs in a narrow chasm with almost perpendicular walls rising to a height of 200 feet. The river precipitates itself over the rock, forming two very picturesque falls in close proximity. The upper fall is approximately 60 feet high and the lower one over 100 feet, while the total descent at this point probably exceeds 250 feet. Dubawnt River The Dubawnt river rises in Wholdaia lake, at an altitude of 1,290 feet above the sea. It flows north-north-eastward for 285 miles, follow- ing its curves, to Dubawnt lake, descending in this distance approxim- ately 790 feet. For 175 miles of the course, it comprises the quiet water of larger or smaller lakes ; the 1 10 miles of running water thus has an average descent of slightly more than seven feet per mile. The chan- nel is shallow, and both banks and bed are mainly composed of boulders. Its total length, from the head of Wholdaia lake to the head of Chesterfield inlet, is 750 miles. From Wholdaia lake the river flows in two channels, and, after a course of two miles and a half, opens into a small, irregular lake, with low, sandy or stony shores ; the underlying gneiss shows at but few places. From the north-western side of the small lake, the river flows as a rapid stream, 250 yards wide, with an even bed of boulders, but so shallow that in summer there is insufficient water for canoes. Groves of stunted black spruce are found here and V^etation* there; the trees are from six to fifteen feet high and usually much expanded at the base. Larches, scat- tered among the spruce, are much the tallest and largest trees in the groves. Their trunks, from eight to ten inches in diameter, are spirally twisted in the grain. Below the rapid portion above referred to is another small lake, with low, treeless, grassy shores and occasional sandy beaches. Beyond this again is a long, tortuous rapid, with a descent of about 12 feet, where the stream is crossed by a rfdge of rock. At the foot of the rapid is a short stretch of quiet water. For five miles below this quiet water the river is very swift. The banks are low and grassy, and the country is flat and sandy or boggy ; hills are rarely seen, while the underlying rock is nowhere exposed. The river then expands into an oblong lake, three miles in length ; below the lake a long rapid, terminating in a swift chute over a rocky barrier, has a total descent of about 20 feet. NORTHERN RIVERS OF CANADA 207 Ptarmigan rapid is a long, swift chute, at the outlet of Hinde lake, passable by skilful canoemen. Ten miles downstream the river flows in a heavy rapid, between morainic hills ; the sides of the channel are formed of walls of angular fragments of rock piled up and shoved back by the ice of the spring. At the foot of the rapid, the river expands into Below Boyd g OV( j \ a ^ e> 21 miles long. For seven miles below Boyd lake, the stream skirts hills of boulders, with a rapid at every bend, and here, in the bottom of the valley, occurs the first exposure of rock seen for many miles. For three miles and a half farther down, the stream flows through a low-lying country, diversi- fied by small sandhills, boulders and broken rock. For the next five miles it flows in devious channels, usually with a swift current, at one place breaking into a swift rapid. The banks are gently rounded, stony slopes, green in parts with grass and moss. At the outlet of Barlow lake a heavy rapid descends about 12 feet ; the banks consist of large boulders of red gneiss. A heavy rapid three miles long, with a descent of about 55 feet, is situated below Carey lake ; the upper portion of the rapid is divided by a low, stony island. Below the rapid the river continues to flow in a north-easterly direction for several miles; there are stony, grassy slopes to the southeast and a glaciated rocky shore to the northwest. The river flowing from Markham lake is wide, and in places rather shallow, with a swift current. After a course of a mile and a half, it empties into the southeast side of Nicholson lake. From the north end of Nicholson lake, it flows northward for two miles and a half down a heavy rapid, with a descent of about 40 feet; toward the foot of the rapid the bank is formed by abrupt cliffs of reddish, sandy till, filled with boulders, and steep walls of gneiss. Near the foot of the rapid the stream turns eastward, and for about six miles flows in the bottom of a valley from 150 to 200 feet deep. The banks are composed of gneiss, while several narrow ridges of sand and boulders extend through the valley parallel to the sides. The river then becomes more diffuse and irregu- Dubawnt lar ; after flowing for several miles it divides into a Lake number of channels, as it enters an oblong lake, four and a half miles long. Between this lake and Dubawnt lake there are several short rapids over low ridges of gneiss. Dubawnt lake is a large body of clear, cold water, at an approximate altitude of 500 feet above sea-level. In August, 1893, it was covered with ice except near the shores. 268 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION The outlet of Dubawnt lake is about 200 yards wide. It descends two slight rapids, and then, with a current of four miles per hour, flows through a wide and almost level plain, underlain by reddish till con- taining small pebbles and boulders. The channel rapidly deepens, with steep, green banks, and the stream rushes over long, swift rapids which test the dexterity of expert canoemen. Seven miles below Dubawnt lake, the river suddenly contracts, and for two miles dashes, as a foaming torrent, down a narrow gorge about 25 yards wide, descending 100 feet in the distance. The northwest bank is an almost continous wall of rock ; the southeast bank is a steep, sandy slope, with numerous rocky points projecting into the gorge. At the foot of this heavy rapid, the river empties into Grant lake, which is seven miles long. On August 19, 1893, this lake was partly covered by an unbroken field of ice. For a distance of eight miles below Grant lake, the river is from 200 to 400 yards wide, with a current of from three to six miles per hour. The low banks are composed, at first, of stratified gravel, but afterwards of rough masses of gneiss. At the end of this dis- tance is a heavy rapid, full of large boulders, caused by the stream flowing over a band of rock. The river then expands into three small lakes, below which, for three miles and a half, the current is very swift ; at one point there is a fall of ten feet, over a ledge. A portage 250 yards in length passes this fall on the south side. Wharton lake, situated one mile and a quarter below the last- mentioned rapid, is 21 miles long and its greatest width is about seven miles. Below Wharton lake the river flows at first east- ward, and then southward for four miles to a small lake. In this dis- tance occur two rapids, with descents of 15 and 6 feet respec- tively. Five miles below the small lake is a rapid with a descent of 20 feet, passed by a portage 400 yards long. At the foot of the port- age the river turns at right angles and flows northward through low country for seven miles as a wide, shallow, rapid stream. From Lady Marjorie lake, the stream flows north- Lady Marjorie westward for two miles to a swift rapid, falling over Lake a ridge of granite, with a total descent of about 20 feet. Fifteen miles below Lady Marjorie lake, the stream narrows sud- denly to a swift rapid, between walls of rock; below this, for several miles, it flows in a well-defined channel 200 yards wide, with steep banks of boulders and till, gradually increasing from 50 to 100 feet in height. Twenty-six miles below Lady Marjorie lake, a narrow dyke of green diabase crosses the river, forming a heavy rapid, called Loudon rapid ; for the next five miles, the stream continues to flow NORTHERN RIVERS OF CANADA 269 north-westerly, with a current of four miles per hour. The banks, from 50 to 100 feet in height, are often scarped. The river has all of the characteristics of a prairie stream; rolling prairie extends on both sides, and steep banks of till descend to the water. Aberdeen lake is 45 miles in length and about 16 miles wide in its broadest part, with an area of from 200 to 300 square miles. Schultz lake, which is 24 miles long, receives the Dubawnt river at its western end. From this lake the water flows northward for one mile and a half, descending a swift but deep rapid with a fall of five feet. It then enters a gradually deepening valley, and flows at the rate of six or seven miles per hour, between banks of stony till, thence south to Baker lake, which is approximately 45 miles long, and into Chesterfield inlet. Thelon River The Thelon is reported to rise in lakes northeast of lake Atha- baska, but its upper portion still remains unexplored. It flows north for the greatest portion of its course, turning sharply to the east in its lower course before entering Beverly lake. Above Eyeberry lake the river flows through prairie stretches, interspersed with spruce and tamarack groves. In this as well as in the portion below the lake a few rapids are encountered. Below the mouth of the H anbury river it flows for 224 miles to its mouth, the average width being 250 yards, the depth, 6 feet, and the current running three miles per hour. Over this entire portion, although several points with swift current are met, none of these can be called rapids as they may easily be passed in canoes. Ferguson River Ferguson river rises in Ferguson lake, in latitude 63°, about 20 miles east of the north end of Yathkyed lake ; it flows east-south-east- ward, parallel to Chesterfield inlet and at right angles to the course of Kazan river, directly into the west side of Hudson bay. Its total descent from source to mouth is about 400 feet, and its total length approximately 180 miles. In its lower portion it flows through a country of bare, rocky hills, but the lakes in its upper section lie in the midst of undulating, grassy prairie. Below Kaminuriak lake the stream flows very rapidly for a third cf a mile, with a descent of about four feet ; then it opens into a small lake, below which it flows in two channels, enclosing a large, flat, grassy island. The eastern channel is wide, and its cur- rent sluggish as far as the head of a heavy, crooked rapid : there it is obstructed by a trap dyke, over which the water falls in an irregular 270 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION cascade, with a descent of 15 feet. At the foot of this cascade the western channel again joins the eastern. Farther downstream two small lakes are met, and the river flows rapidly from the end of the second lake north-eastward for two miles to a rocky gorge. It then turns south-eastward for two miles and a half among bold, rocky hills ; reaching a heavy rapid, the water rushes through a narrow, obstructed channel between steep walls of diorite. Below this rapid, it flows eastward for two miles, in a straight chan- nel, with steep, rocky banks, and then traverses a small lake, whose outlet descends a rocky rapid for three-quarters of a mile. At the foot of the rapid, a portage, 800 yards in length, follows the east bank past another rapid which flows over boulders and jagged points of rock. Beyond the portage the river is swift but sufficiently deep for canoes; it flows between banks of rock, to a small fall which can be run with half-loaded canoes. Below this demicharge the river opens into Quartzite lake. Ten miles below Quartzite lake, the river breaks over a ledge of rock passed by a portage of 400 yards. Beyond this it traverses a small lake, and flows rapidly through till-covered country, studded with low hills of boulders, to a swift chute, rushing through a narrow gap in a high ridge. The stream is then broken by two shallow rapids, and enters the northwest end of a narrow lake about six miles and a half long. This is the lowest lake on Ferguson river; from its south-eastern end, the river continues its very rapid course south-eastward for eight miles. Turning abruptly eastward, it flows with an easy current in a wide channel, with ridges of boulders roughly parallel to it on the south and a low escarpment of till about a mile distant on the north. For two miles farther eastward, it continues with varying current to a strong, crooked rapid, one-third of a mile long, over a bed of rock. Below this rapid, which can be traversed by canoes without much difficulty, is one-half mile of smooth water, to the head of another short rapid with a fall of ten feet. For three-quarters of a mile below this rapid, the river has a mod- erate current, after which it contracts and flows swiftly between steep walls of granite and trap. Immediately below this short gorge, it spreads over a wide bed of rounded pebbles, and, flowing swiftly for two miles and a quarter, passes through a rocky gap, and empties into Hudson bay at the head of Neville bay. NORTHERN RIVERS OF CANADA 271 Kazan River The Kazan river rises in Kasba lake, which lies 50 miles east of Wholdaia lake and at an elevation of 1,270 feet. From this lake, the river flows for 220 miles north-north-eastward, parallel to the course of the Dubawnt river, to Angikuni lake. Throughout this distance the sloping shores are composed chiefly of boulders or boulder- strewn till. From Angikuni lake, the river turns sharply eastward for 90 miles, thence northward for 35 miles to Yathkyed lake. Below Yathkyed lake it has a length of probably 90 miles, to its mouth on the south side of Baker lake, giving it a total length of 490 miles. From Kasba lake the river flows with a slight current, over a bed of boulders to a lakelet. Below this it enters a well-defined channel, which varies in width from 100 to 300 yards, and rushes down a series of swift, tortuous rapids. These extend for a mile and three- quarters to the head of a cascade, with a descent of 15 feet. Thence, the river, traversing two small lakes, continues swift, in a shallow but well-defined, winding channel with wooded banks of sand or boulders, until the foot of the slope is reached at Ennadai lake. The descent from Kasba lake, a distance of 16 miles in a straight line, is approx- imately 170 feet. For two miles below Ennadai lake, the Kazan forms a heavy rapid, flowing over a bed of boulders. From the bend at the foot of this rapid, it flows swiftly eastward in a shallow channel over a bed of pebbles and boulders, descending about 200 feet in a distance of 17 miles, measured in a straight line. A short distance below Sandy Hill lake, the river bends sharply to the north and continues to flow very rapidly for two miles ; then it gradually widens and the current slackens, until, at several sandy ridges, it empties into the south end of a narrow lake, bordered by stony ridges. The water discharges on the east side of this lake in a swift rapid over a rocky cascade. From the outlet of Angikuni lake, the river flows eastward for 44 miles, with a constantly varying current; at times it rushes headlong down a narrow channel, and, again, spreads out over a wide bed of boulders, packed by the ice into as even a pavement as the size and shape of the boulders permit. In two places the river expands into small lakes. At a point 30 miles below Angikuni lake, it falls 20 feet over a ridge of gneiss, beyond which it flows with a rapid current to a second fall. Below this is a heavy cascade, through a narrow, rocky gap. where the river enters a gorge ; the depth of the gorge, 60 feet, repre- sents the total descent from the head of the upper fall, a distance of a mile and one-half. 272 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION For 17 miles the river is an almost continuous, heavy rapid, at the end of which is a portage, one-half mile long. This portage is on the south bank and passes rough water, where the river drops in a series of cascades over rocky ledges, descending about 20 feet. Below this rocky portage, the stream flows rapidly eastward for five miles ; it then bends to the north, and continues for ten miles to flow over a bed and between banks of boulders, with a strong current. At the end of this ten-mile reach, it expands into a small lake two miles long; the outlet of the lake is a heavy rapid, 140 yards long, with a fall of ten feet over a ridge of gneiss. For five miles and a half, the stream continues with a moderate current in a channel which bends toward the west, until it rushes with a very strong current between rocky islands, and thence, in a low fall, over a rocky ledge. Below the islands, it widens and becomes less rapid, flowing between sandy banks. Ten miles beyond is a place called by the Eskimos "Palelluaw," where the river is deep and narrow. Below Palelluaw the river remains deep, with a slackening cur- rent, and the banks of sandy slopes are replaced by rugged walls of angular boulders. Kazan river gradually widens to a bell-shaped mouth, with no trace of a delta deposit, where it enters Yathkyed lake. From this lake it flows north into Baker lake, but has been explored only for a distance of twenty-five miles, to a point where the portage to the headwaters of the Ferguson river is made. In these twenty-five miles two rapids and several small lakes occur, and a high fall is reported farther down at a short distance above the mouth of the river. Appendix I TABLE OF WATER-POWERS ON SASKATCHEWAN RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES AND STREAMS FLOWING INTO LAKE WINNIPEG Reference numbers preceding the names of power sites correspond to numbers on Water-power map in pocket. Power site Winnipeg river 1. Pine .... 2. Du Bonnet M McArthur . . . Upper Seven ters Lower Seven ters Sis- Si, c (Pinawa channel ' (Upper Pinawa 6. Slave fall 7. Point du Bois Whitemouth river: 8. Whitemouth fall 9. Below town of Whitemouth Roseau river: 10. Near Dominion City Possi- ble avail- able head in feet Red river : 11. Lockport, Gov. dam Souris river: 12. Above Souris Assiniboine river: 13. Currie Landing . . . 14. Millwood 37 56 18 29 37 39 18 26 45 20 20 Horse-power Theoretical minimum available j 50,400o I 84,000 b J 76,200 a 1127,000 b f 24,500o I 40,900 6 f 13,200 a I 39,500 b \ 16,800 a I 50,500 6 35,500 16,400 J 35,500 a I 59,100 b \ 61,400 a [ 102,000 b 102 it 102 i 68 a 3,400 g 92 e 242 q 123 e \ 370 g I Used it pre- sent 1,200 47,000 Remarks A preliminary head of 46 feet could be de- veloped at first. Flow through Pinawa channel has been deducted in cal- culating h.p. avail- able. *Winnipeg Electric Ry. plant. tWinnipeg Municipal electric plant. At mouth of river. Three miles below town. Local report ; not sur- veyed. One mile above town. Seven miles east of Brandon. Abandoned mill site. the river, (a) Shows possible h.p. for the minimum natural flow of the river, assumed as 12,000 second-feet. . . . . . - . (b) Shows possible h.p. for the minimum regulated flow ot assumed as 20,000 second-feet. . *34,000 h.p. installed ; 28,200 h.p. now (May, 1916) .in use. t47,000 h.p. installed; 25,000 h.p. now (May 1916) in use. tFor footnotes c to ;'; see end of Appendix I, p. 280. [273] 18 274 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Power site Possi- ble avail- able head in feet Horse-power Remarks Theoretical minimum available Used at pre- sent Minnedosa river: 15. Two miles from mouth 30 40 45 47 20 25 24 10 10 10 19 19 56 52 10 10 15 685/ 910/ 1,030/ 1,070/ 455/ 570/ 100 ^ 250 g 100 £ 227 s 22 h 22 h 64 h 59 h 74 e 74 e 5,100 e 800 150 50 Brandon Electric Lt. Co. Not used in 16. Four miles from mouth 17. Eight miles from 18. Eighteen miles from mouth 19. Thirty-five miles from mouth 20. Minnedosa BlRDTAIL CREEK: ( l A mile helow 21. \ At Birtle [ Birtle Minnedosa Power Co. Capacity installed, 450 h.p. 22. 12 miles above Birtle Shell river: Flour and grist mill. Valley river: 24. Sec. 18, Tp. 26, Rg. 19 25. Sec. 16, Tp. 26, Rg. 20 26. Sec. 31, Tp. 25, Rg. 21 27. Sec. 17, Tp. 25, Rg. 22 Mossy river: 28. At Winnipegosis 29. At Fork River Waterhen river: 30. Meadow portage This site is not on the river, but is on the portage route be- tween the two lakes. The normal head is 18 feet but may 'be re- duced to 15 feet by storms. APPENDICES 275 Possi hie I -lorse-power I\. €iTi dries Power site able The oretical Used head min imum at pre- in feet ava liable sent Swan river : 31. At Swan River 14 40 h Dauphin river : 32. V/ 2 miles from mouth 16 28 6,200 e 10,800 e 33. 4 miles from mouth 34. 20 miles from mouth ey 2 2,500 e Fairford fiver: 35. At Fairford 8 3,100 e Manigotagan river: /Wood fall 33 j 112 e 560 / (Includes raising na- ( tural head 15 feet. 36 . P^ar fall 8 ' ' 27 e 136/ 1st rapid above 41 e Includes four mile? I Poplar fall .... 12 [ 208/ of rapids above. 37. 4th rapid above ' 102 c Includes two miles of Poplar fall 30 ; 510/ \ Ale rapids above. [12 miles from r,Q | mouth Includes three miles 12 208/ of rapids above. °°" 1 15 miles from v mouth ; 6i Remarks Calgary Power Co's. hydro-electric plant. Calgary Power Co's. hydro-electric plant. Should not be consid- ered for power pur- poses on account of the scenic value of the waterfall. Other scheme using head of 500 feet also possible. Heads would be created by dams in connection with storage project, with the flow sub- ject to storage re- quirements. This site would be flooded out by pro- posed storage pro- ject. 130 Electric plant. These two sites may be combined giv- ing a head of 50 feet. APPENDICES 279 Possi- ble Horse-power ivail- Remarks Power site able Theoretical Used head minimum at pre- in feet available sent BUNDMAN RIVER: 103. At mouth 30 200 Lacombe electric plant; have steam auxiliary. Belly river: 104. Sec. 33, Tp. 8, Rg. 24 1,200 Approximate estim- ate. St. Mary river: 105. Sec. 23, Tp. 1, Rg. 25t 238 3,400 e Intake 7 m. distant. See text re limita- tions due to irriga- tion. Lee creek: 106. Cardstont 127 Intake 4 m. distant. Tin CREEK : 107. Tp. 1, Rg. 28t . . 349 Intake 4 m. distant. Waterton river: 108. Sec. 24, Tp. 1, Rg. 30t 50 Oil creek : 109. Sec. 23, Tp. 1, Rg. 30 250 392 j Blakiston brook : 110. Sec. 5, Tp. 2, Rg 30t 158 • Intake 5 m. distant. SOUIHFORK RIVER : (Sec. 35, Tp. 6, Rg. 1 45 100 350 e 800 e C Heads -[ created 111.-,' Sec. 6, Tp. 6, Rg. 1 Sec. 24, Tp. 6, Rg 40 320 e .by dams. Mill creek: Mountain Mill 30 80 d Head created by dam. Crowsnest river: 112. Near Lunclbreck 40 270 e N. Saskatchewan river: 113. Crooked rapid* . . . 27 3,100 3 m. long. 114. Horseshoe and Stony rapids* . . 15 1,700 \y 2 m. long. 115. Steep Creek rapid* 18 2,000 2 m. long. 116. Cole fall and rapids 28 3,200 5 m. long, under con- 117. Rocky rapid (above struction. Edmonton) 85 28,000 / Sturgeon river: 118. Near mouth 23 250 Fort Saskatchewan electric plant. t The economic development of these sites is questionable. 280 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Possi- ble avail- able head in feet Horse-power Power site Theoretical minimum available Used at pre- sent Bkazeau river: 119. 300 ft. below Southesk river . . . Cline river: 120. Near mouth McLeod river (tributary of Athabaska river) : 121. Near Edson 62 100 30 f 700 4 m. long. 2nd Last Lime- 122.- stone rapidt . . 3rd Last Lime- 15 51,000 87,000 1 m. long. stone rapidt 10 51,000 57,900 •54 m. long. 4th Last Lime- stone rapidt . . 10 51.000 57,900 l'/2 m. long. Lower Limestone rapidt 8 51,000 46,300 ]/$ m. long. 123. - Upper Limestone rapid 25 51,000 144,700 Yi, m. long. ' Lower Long- 124. spruce rapid . . Upper Long- 52 51,000 301,000 4 m. long. l spruce rapid . . 40 51.000 231,500 2 m. long. ' 1st Kettle rapid 2nd Kettle rapid . 3rd Kettle rapid 40 51,000 231,500 3 m. long. 125. 21^2 51,000 124,500 V 2 m. long. H.B. Ry. 17 51,000 98.500 crossing. 100 yards long. ( 1st Gull rapid .. 20 51,000 115,800 Vi m. long. Head could be raised to 126 - | 2nd Gull rapid . . 20 51,000 115,800 30 feet. 500 yards long. 3rd Gull rapid . . 21 51,000 121,500 350 yards long. 1 4th Gull rapid . . 17 51,000 98,500 Y% m. long. 127. Overfall rapid* .. 25 51,000 144,700 y 2 m. long. 128. Chain-of-islands chute 4J4 50,000 25,500 300 yards long. Pos- sible head 8 feet. 129. Grand rapid 20 50,000 113,500 160 yards across portage. Possible head 26 feet. 130. M'anitou rapid . . . 25 50,000 142,000 Head created by dam. 131. Red Rock rapid .. 12 50.000 68.000 900 yards long. 132. Over-the-hill rapid 9*4 50.000 54,000 Possible head 13 feet. 133. Bladder rapid uy 50.000 65.500 900 yards long. 134. Whitemud fall . . 30 50,000 170,000 500 yards across 135. Ebb-and-flow rapid 9V 7 50,000 54,000 portage. 136. Whiskey Jack portage 35 50.000 200.000 * The estimated flow and h.p. given for the Nelson river are based on a flow of 50.000 second-feet just below lake Winnipeg, t Not favourable for development. X Also called Birthday rapid. 284 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Estimated low water Avail- Head flow during able Power site (in open season theoreti- Remarks feet) (May to Nov.) Second-feet cal h.p. (Mav to Nov..) Hayes river: 137. 23 m. below "The Rock" 35* 1.600 6,350 | 6350J 850 Heads to be created 138. 7 m. below "The by dams ; river Rock" 35* 5 1,600 1,500 about 250 ft. wide. 139. The Rock fall .... 140. Whitemud fall . . . 5 1,500 850 f Rapid, 18 m. above ... 1 "The Rock" ... 14 M Chute, 20 m. above I "The Rock" .. 5 1,300 7-10 11 1,300 1.620 200 yards long, in- | 'Rapid, 22 m. above 142.]: "The Rock" .. 1 Muskeg rapid . . . cluding rapids. 10 1.300 1,480 450 yards long. 8 1,200 1,090 300 yards long. f Chute, 2]/ 2 m. above Muskeg idi J rapid 10 1,200 1,360 250 yards long. 14,J - 1 Rapid, Sy 2 m. above Muskeg v rapid 5 5 1,200 1,000 680 570 110 yards long. l' Yellowmud rapid 200 yards long. Lower Drum 144 ■< rapid 10 1,000 1,130 500 yards long. I Middle Drum rapid 7 12 1,000 1,000 800 1,360 200 yards long. *■ Upper Drum rapid 320 yards long, in- cluding rapids be- low. |' Trout fall 11 750 940 250 yards long, in- cluding rapids be- 5 ' 1 Rapid, 1 m. above I Trout fall .... low. 8 750 680 300 yards long. 146. Rapid, 2V 2 m. above Oxford lake 6/ 2 350 260 100 yards long. 147. Rapid, 3 m. above Pine lake 7 200 160 200 yards long. 148 Rapid, 8 m. above Pine lake 5 200 110 Head could be in- creased by dam % m. below in cati- on-like part of river. 149. Robinson fall 56 170 1,080 3/4 m. across portage. * Aneroid observations show a descent of some 285 feet on the Hayes river between "The Rock" and the mouth of the Fox river, a distance of thirty-five miles. Heads would have to be created by dams; the height of the two given here are only arbitrarily chosen and other similar ones are possible in this reach. See general description of the river, p. 115. APPENDICES 28* Estimated low water Avail- Head flow during able Power site (in open season theoreti- Remarks feet) (May to Nov.) Second-feet cal h.p. (May to Nov.) Athabaska river : ( Mountain rapid . 8 11,500 10,500 1 m. long. 150. 1 5 m. above Mount- ain rapid 15 11,500 19,500 4 m. long. f Cascade rapid . . . 7 11,500 9,000 1 m. long. Little Cascade 151. \ rapid 10 11,500 13,000 2 m. long. 1 Rock rapid 12 11,500 15,500 \y 2 m. long. l.Crooked rapid . . 13 11,500 17,000 \\/ 2 m. long. [Long rapid 28 11,500 36,500 3 m. long. 152- Middle rapid ... 20 11,500 26,000 \ l / 2 m. long. 1 Boiler rapid .... 25 11,500 32,500 3 m. long. 153. Brule rapid 8 11,500 10.500 V 2 m. long. (Rapid at Pt. Brule 154. \ Rapid 2V 2 m. 1. above Pt. Brule 10 11,300 12,500 2 m. long. 10 11,300 12,500 1 m. long. 155. Grand rapid 54 11,000 67,000 Zy 2 m. long, includ- ing rapids imme- diately above and below. 156. Major rapid 6 11,000 7,500 y 2 m. long. 157. 7 m. below Stony rapid 8 11.000 10.000 1 m. long. 158. Stony rapid 5 11,000 6,000 y 3 m. long. 159. Pelican rapid and rapid above 17 11,000 21,000 2 l / 2 m. long. 160. 7 m. below Lesser Slave river 10 9,500 10,500 3/6 m. long. 161. Tp. 58. Rg. 21, W. of 5th 80 4.000 36,000 Over 1 m. long. 162. Tp. 56. Rg. 21, W. of 5th 42 20 4,000 400 19.000 900 163. Athabaska fall . . . Clearwater river : ( Cascades rapid . . 164. -| Le Bon rapid . . . 16 1.120 2.000 1 m. long. 31 1,120 3.900 \y 2 m. long. 1 Bigstone rapid 7 1,120 900 i/| mile long. 165. Aux Pins rapid . . 21 1,120 2,700 y 2 m. long. 166. Whitemud rapid . 41 1,120 5,200 y m. long. Head can easily be raised to 50 ft., increasing h.p. in proportion. Lesser Slave fiver: C 2V 2 m. from mouth* 8 2,200 2,000 \y m. long. 167. \ 7V? m. from month* 6 2,200 1,500 1 m. long. 1 9 m. from mouth* 15 2,200 3.700 2 X A m. long. These descents are taken from a profile plotted from levels taken by the Department of Public Works, and show the steepest portions of a series of ranids extending: over a distance of nearly twenty miles from the mouth of the rapids extending over a distance of nearly Lesser Slave river, with a total descent of 80 feet 283 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Estimated low water Avail- Head flow during able Power site (in open season theoreti- Remarks feet) (May to Nov.) Second-feet cal h.p. (May to Nov.) Lesser Slave river — Con. ( \2y 2 m. from 1Ae I mouth* ! 10 °- \ W/ 2 m. from 13 1,000 1,480 1 m. long. ( mouth* s 1,000 910 1 m. long. Stony river: 169. Stony fall 75 200 1,700 McLeod river (See App. I p. 280) Peace river : 170. Boyer or Little rapidt 8 24 m. long. 171. Vermilion fall and rapid 26 24,000 71,000 1^4 m. long. 172. Peace Canon rapidst 225 11,000 282,000 18 m. long follow- ing river; 11 m. across portage. Slave river** : (" Drowned rapid . . 173. \ Pelican rapid [.Mountain rapid . 13 70.600 104,000 l / 2 m. long. 10 70,600 80,000 3 m. long. 25 70,600 200,000 1 m. long following river; y% m. across portage. f'Rapid above 174. \ Mountain rapid (Cassette rapid . . . 42 70,600 336,000 2 m. long. 27 70,600 216,000 1 m. long. Black river§ : 175. 8 m. above mouth 8 5,900 5,400 2,000 ft. long. 176. Below Middle lake 160 5.900 107,000 2 m. long. 177. Elizabeth fall ... 120 5,900 80,000 ZVz m. long. 178. 8 m. below Porcu-i pine river 25 2,900 8.200 3,000 ft. long. 179. North rapid 15 2,900 5,000 1 m. long. 180. Hawkrock rapid . 10 2,900 3,300 181. Brink rapid 25 2,900 8,200 * These descents are taken from a profile plotted from levels taken by the Department of Public Works, and show the steepest portions of a series of rapids extending over a distance of nearly twenty miles from the mouth of the Lesser Slave river, with a total descent of 80 feet. t Not suitable for development. + In Hritish Columbia. ** The five rapids enumerated under the Slave river are known collectively as the Fort Smith rapids; they extend from Smith Landing to Fort Smith, a distance of some 16 miles, and the total descent between these two points, includ- ing swift waters between rapids, would be in the neighbourhood of 135 feet, with 1,080,000 h.p. § The descents in the rapids and falls on this river are taken from a report by J. B. Tyrrell of the Geological Survey (1896). APPENDICES 287 Power site Head (in feet) Estimated low water flow during open season (May to Nov.) Second-feet Avail- able theoreti- cal h.p. (May to Nov.) Remarks Black river— Con. : j'Manitou fall 1QO (Thompson rapid . 18 ~- | 2 m. above I Thompson rapid 183. Above Kosdaw lake 184. Above Waterfound 15 30 8 20 10 12 14 18 40 35 45 35 35 20 18 30 12 15 18 2 2.900 2,900 2,900 2,900 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 900 900 3,200 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 15,400 14,200 5,000 10,000 2,600 6,600 1,700 2,000 2,400 3,100 4,100 3,600 14,000 6,000 6,000 3,400 3.100 5,100 2,000 2,500 31,000 3,200 350 ft. long. 1 m. long. ( Above Crooked lake iqc J 1H m - above i8 M Crooked lake Below Hatchet V lake CreE river* : 186. 9 m. above Bad- water river 187. Hawk rapid GeikiE river* : 188. Below Poorfish | 1,000 ft. long. In two rapids. 3 m. long. 2 m. long. 1 m. long. (2y 2 m. above ion 1 Poorfish river ' 1 4 m. above Poor- V. fish river (Above White- ion ' spruce rapid .. iyU - \ Whitespruce y 2 m. long. 2 m. long. In two rapids. 34 m. long. 191. 5 m. below White- spruce rapid . . . 192. 2nd rapid below Whitespruce 193. 5 m. above Big Sandy lake Churchill RivERt : 194. Below Southern Indian lake .... 195. Above Southern Indian lake *The descents in the rapids and falls on these rivers are taken from a report by J. B. Tyrrell of the Geological Survey (1896). tThe descents for numbers 194-213 are taken from observations by Wm. Mclnnes of the Geological Survey (1906). 288 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Estimated low water Avail- Head flow during able Power site (in , open season theoreti- Remarks feet) (May to Nov.) Second-feet cal h.p. (May to Nov.) Churchiu. river— Con. : 196. Leaf rapid 8 14,200 13,000 197. Above Leaf rapid 2 14,200 3,200 (Granville fall ... 25 13,300 38,000 198. \ Above Granville { fall 5 13,300 7,600 (Rapid 19 13,300 29,000 Portage, 8 chains 199. long. \ Rapid 15 13,300 23,000 Portage, 3 long. chains 200. Below Pukkatawa- gan lake ........ 4 12,400 5,600 201. Rapid 2 12,400 2,800 202. Redstone rapid 15 12,400 21,000 203. Below Loon river 6 12,400 8,500 204. Two rapids 7 12,400 10,000 1st rapid above Nemei river . . 14 12,400 19,700 2nd rapid above 205. Nemei river . . 11 12,400 15,500 3rd rapid above Nemei river . . 8 12,400 11,200 4th rapid above Nemei river . . 11 12,400 15,500 Knife rapid 11 12.400 15,500 206. Rapid Above Knife rapid 8 12,400 11,200 5 12,400 7,000 W intego 9 12,400 12,700 1st rapid above 207.- Wintego 2nd rapid above 3 12,400 4,200 ;. Wintego 25 12,400 35,000 3rd rapid above 208. ~ Wintego 4th rapid above 9 12,400 12,700 ■ Wintego 4 12,400 5,600 209. { Atik rapid \ Kettle fall 15 12,400 21,000 17 7,200 14.000 210. Grand rapid 16 7.200 13.000 9 i , f Keg rapid *"• I Island rapid .... 7 7,200 5.700 9 7,200 7,300 212. Pine rapid 7 7,200 5,700 213. Grave rapid 4 6,400 4,600 214. Otter fallf 20 6,400 14.500 V-. m. long. 215. Birch fallt 8 6,100 5,500 800 ft. long. 216. Above Black Bear Island laket 6 6,100 4,100 350 ft. long. t The descents in these are taken from Department of Interior (1888). a report by T. FaWcett of the APPENDICES 2K9 Power site Head (in feet) Estimated low water flow during open season (May to Nov.) Second-feet Avail- able theoreti- i cal h.p (May to Nov.) Remarks Churchill river — Con. : 217. Lower Needle fall* 218. Pelican rapid* .... 219. Rapids above Mud- jatik river 4 8 I 5 8 u 5,500 4,700 4,100 4,100 4,100 2,500 4,300 | 2,300 3,700 2,800 250 ft. long. 1,700 ft. long. Rkindeer river t : 220. Deer rapid 221. Steep Hill rapid 222. Devil rapid 223 jWhitesand rapid " (Rock rapid 5 20 9 20 10 5,000 4,800 4,200 4,200 4,200 2,800 11,000 4,300 9,500 4,800 Rapid river: 224. Fall and rapid above mouth .... 50 260 1.500 Includes a vertical fall of 30 ft. Foster river} : 225. 6 m. above mouth 226. 10 m. below Sandy 25 15 5 10 650 650 650 400 1,800 1,100 400 500 900 ft. long. 1,800 ft. long. 227. 3 m. below Sandy 400 ft. long. 228. 30 m. above Sandy Mudjatik river* : 229. Bear rapid 230. 5 m. above Bear 2 12 10 8 6 fl 500 500 500 300 300 300 300 300 100 700 600 300 200 170 170 110 300 ft. long. 231. 10 m. above Bear ( Grand rapid 232. \ l A m. above (. Grand rapid . . 233. 3 m. above Grand 270 ft. long. 300 ft. long. 300 ft. long. 150 ft. long. JThe descents in these falls and rapids are taken from a report by J. B. Tyrrell of the Geological Survey (1896). 19 290 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Estimate*. low water Avail- Head flow during able Power site (in open season theoreti- Remarks feet) (May to Nov.) Second-feet cal h.p. (May to Nov.) Beaver river: 234. Grand rapid 27 650 2,000 2 m. long. 235. Rapids above Grand rapid* t 1,500 Utilization of total power conjectural. La Peonge river : Beauval 10 Saw mill and electric light for Beauval mission. Methy river: 236. Above Whitefish rivert 40t 50 230 Utilization of total 237. 6 m. below Methy power conjectural. lake 10 50 60 2 / 3 m. long. ♦Succession of rapids extending over a distance of some 22 miles, with descents of from 2 to 6 feet; the h.p. given is a rough estimate of the total power available in these. tSuccession of rapids extending over a distance of 6 miles, the greatest descent in any one rapid being 5 feet. Appendix III TABLE SHOWING THE DESCENTS ON STREAMS WHERE LACK OF INFORMATION PREVENTS ESTIMATING FLOW Note: — There are other rapids and falls on some of the rivers given, but definite figures are only available as enumerated below. See general descrip- tion of rivers in the first part of the report. Power site Grass river: 238. Lynx fall 239. Sasagiu rapid 240. Wapishtigau fall 241. Wekusko fall 242. 3 m. below Reed lake oai /5 m - below Elbow lake Z4J - \4 m. below Elbow lake BURNTWOOD RIVER: 244. Manasan fall (Wapishtigau fall Kepuche rapid Waskatigau rapid /Taskinigup rapid 246. \ Waskwatin fall (' Gate rapid Leaf rapid One mile above Leaf rapid . Two miles above Leaf rapid f2nd Driftwood rapid ........ 248. \ 1st Driftwood rapid ( Clay rapid f Flathill rapid 249. \ Eagle rapid I Carrot rapid Dubawnt river: 250. Foot of Schultz lake 251. 2 m. below Lady Marjory lake 252. 11 m. below Wharton lake ... ~r, /3 m. below Wharton lake ... aa - U m. below Wharton lake ... 254. 134 m. above Wharton lake . . 255. 1 m. below Grant lake 256. Foot of Nicholson lake 257. 10 m. above Carey lake 258. Foot of Carey lake 259. Foot of Barlow lake 260. 3 m. above Hinde lake 261. 11 m. above Hinde lake Head in feet 5 20 20 6 15 10 100 40 15 55 12 20 12 Remarks 160 yards long. 400 yards long. 320 yards long. 220 yards long. 300 yards long. Portage at lower part 400 yards long. 250 yards long. 2 miles long. 2V 2 miles long. 3 miles long. [2911 292 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Power site Kazan river: 262. 64 m. below Angikuni lake 263. 47 m. below Angikuni lake 264. 30 m. below Angikuni lake 2fr /2 m. above Ennadai lake ' \ 5 m. above Ennadai lake 2^: /9 m. below Kasba lake . . ' (.8 m. below Kasba lake . . . 267. 4 m. below Kasba lake . . . Ferguson river: 268. 3 m. above mouth 269. 2 m. below Kaminuriak lake Head in feet Hay river : 270. Alexandra fall Frances river: 271. Middle canon 272. Upper canon Lewes river: 273. Miles canon and Whitehorse rapid PELLY river: 274. Hoole canon 275. Rapid below Hoole river Coppermine river: 276. Bloody fall Hood river: 277. Rapid 10 m. above mouth 278. Wilberforce fall Backs river: 279. Rapid below lake Franklin 280. Foot of Beechey lake . . . 135 49 15 18 250 Remarks 140 yards long. Yz m. long. V/ 2 m. long. Short rapid. Irregular cascade. Two sheer descents of 85 feet and 50 feet, one mile apart, with three miles of rapids below. 3 miles long. Rocky banks up to 300 feet high. 1% miles long. Rocky banks 5 to 200 feet high. Canon, 100 feet wide, banks 50 feet high. At rapid, banks are 20 feet and under. Total length of canon and rapid, 2^4 miles. Portage Y 2 mile lorg, mile by river. 200 yards long. 300 yards long, sandstone banks. High In two falls close to each other. Series of cascades two miles long. APPENDICES 293 Power site Head in feet Remarks LOCKHART RIVER I 281 Parry fall 85 10 47 25 50 15 60 20 10 60 60 213 50 7 60 45 30 10 50 [ Fall below Anderson fall ( Fall above Anderson fall 283. Harvey fall 284. Casba fall Hoarfrost river (tributary of Great Slave lake) : 285 Beverley fall Hanbury river: oon /'Fall below Helen fall ** 7 - \Helen fall f Ford fall Portage 2 miles long. ' Ulacdonald fal1 9 89 Fall f Rapid Portage y 2 mile long. Portage % mile long. iTimber rapid Tyrrell river : 291 Fall Portage 400 yards long. Portage 500 yards long. Appendix IV UTILIZED WATER-POWERS IN THE YUKON Power site Head in feet Power used at present (h.p.) Remarks Little Twelvemile river: 292. Near Twelvemile river North fork Klondike river: 710 228 2,700 10,000 Yukon Gold Co. Canadian Klondike Power Co. Appendix V MONTHLY PRECIPITATION (in inches)— MANITOBA (Taken from reports of the Meteorological Service) w Year Jan. Feb. Mar. \pr. .99 May ~97 June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 1907 2.12 .27 1.12 1.54 3.98 3.90 .69 .40 .72 .18 1908 .44 1.80 1.83 1.75 3.01 3.11 1.76 2.44 1.89 2.21 .55 .65 1909 .73 .76 2.67 1.58 1.25 1.54 3.84 4.75 .60 .52 .89 3.99 £P 1910 .25 1.56 1.65 1.49 1.65 2.38 .80 2.14 2.75 1.08 1.27 1.87 » 1911 .43 .71 .28 2.57 6.38 2.27 2.96 2.33 2.43 1.84 .59 .59 c 1912 .30 .18 .30 2.25 3.59 .91 6.11 1.64 5.49 1.15 .11 .78 g 1913 .75 .61 .36 .41 .53 3.27 2.09 4.71 1.27 .77 .75 .26 1914 .79 .83 .59 .75 1.65 1.46 7.14 2.05 2.28 2.22 .72 1.40 Aver- age for 40 years .97 .69 1.25 1.54 2.01 3.44 3.33 2.34 1.92 1.52 1.08 .73 .72 1907 2.36 .93 1.38 1.51 .76 1.23 1.47 1.63 1.08 .69 .27 1908 .39 2.50 1.80 1.71 2.57 3.60 .71 2.27 .61 2.12 1.07 .98 1909 .70 .59 .90 1.98 4.06 1.62 3.62 .96 .38 .59 .90 1.97 1910 .22 .70 1.73 1.71 1.12 1.18 1.14 1.44 2.21 1.12 1.05 1.41 a 1911 1.26 .97 .21 1.86 3.35 1.31 .98 2.04 1.45 1.60 1.20 1.24 T3 1912 .85 .85 .05 1.60 2.02 .45 4.58 2.46 3.93 1.21 * .75 O 1913 1.20 1.40 1.50 .57 .54 .83 1.01 3.59 1.19 1.10 .25 .20 3 1914 Aver- age for 17 2.00 2.60 1.00 1.22 1.51 1.71 1.31 1.17 2.20 .51 2.10 1.30 years .83 .71 1.22 1 .55 1. 11 1.05 2.02 3.20 2.84 2.03 1.76 1.23 1.04 .82 1907 2.45 .25' 2.75 2.51 2.45 6.24 .82 .20 .35 .20 1908 .30 .75 1.40 1.24 2.14 2.97 2.22 2.09 1.73 .77 .68 1.20 1909 1.10 .90 1.30 1.11 2.53 2.62 3.20 .38 1.03 .47 1.57 2.70 1910 .20 .30 1.61 .54 1.06 2.09 2.00 1.04 1.91 .03 2.10 1.10 o 1911 1.90 .70 .10 .30 2.68 1.97 2.91 5.84 1.43 1.60 .60 •o 1912 .30 .30 .27 1.56 2.94 .24 6.46 1.17 3.46 .24 .10 1. 00 CO 1913 1,10 .60 .50 .35 1.04 2.34 1.70 3.56 .68 .73 .29 .00 PQ 1914 Aver- age ; for 27 1.65 .30 .10 2.52 2.28 2.24 1.87 1.02 2.47 1.54 .70 1(1 years .83 .86 .86 .86 .75 1.30 l707l~57 3.03 2.33 1.89 1.25 .66 .81 .59 1907 1 23 .30 3.98 2.76 3.27 1.39 .36 .36 .26 1908 31 59 .72 1.31 2.09 2.68 3.20 2.83 1.53 .48 .74 .28 1909 45 1 85 .71 1.60 1.53 1.84 3.11 1.23 1.13 .45 .72 1.22 •n 1910 03 .30 .82 1.46 1.07 2.63 1.60 1.73 1.48 .18 1.52 .76 O 1911 1 19 .94 .23 .62 2.87 3.05 2.05 5.42 2.77 1.86 .83 .47 1911 .40 1.00 .40 1.30 3.56 .80 4.89 1.24 2.49 2.65 2.90 « 1912 .40 1.60 .65 1.14 1.11 2.50 .40 .90 10 1913 1.40 .30 .00 .05 2.87 1.35 1.55 2.33 .95 c 1914 1.20 .43 .60 .25 2.05 .40 Aver- CQ age for 7 1 1 I 1 years .72 .54 1.13 .93 1.74 1.90 1.68 1.79 i-i' o 1908 .90 .20 .17 .87 1 j 2.51 .66 .55 .75 .15 y 1909 .70 .30 .45 1.90 1.62 3.28 .95 * * to 1910 * * * * .04 .30 .25 .70 * * jx 1911 Ih o 1912 3.0 1.20 U CO 1908 4.01 .46 5.66 .48 .91 1.60 .92 O 1909 1.27 1.60 3.52 .53 .48 3.64 .91 1.88 2.02 1910 .40 .30 2.20 .42 .57 .28 3.04 2.22 .11 J? • 1911 .13 .60 .40 2.61 .85 1.04 2.50 & 1912 3.61 .63 2.53 .60 1.33 .30 .80 o 2 1913 .10 .10 .10 1.97 4.67 3.76 .45 2.30 CO 1911 .40 .20 .52 2.64 1.21 2.23 2.35 1.92 .70 £ 1912 .02 .14 .49 .32 .73 1.22 4.3912.61 3.54 .82 1.55 .60 V 1913 1.17 .27 .06 .76 1.51 3.22 2.42 1 2.92 .99 .61 .33 .13 1914 1.40 .28 .62 1.02 2.80 .57 2.78 1.44 .65 1.98 1.20 .27 : Trace of precipitation, too small to measure. 296 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY PRECIPITATION (in inches)— SASKATCHEWAN OS Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. \ May June - July Aug. 4.92 Sept. Oct. Nov 1 Dec. 1907 2.45 .40 1.75 .40 1 .61 .89 2.31 .37 .10 * 1.25 1908 .30 1.00 1.00 1 1.03 ! 3.17 3.94 2.01 2.48 1.41 1.45 .30 .30 1909 .35 .15 .10 1.60 i 5.64; 1.29 11.05! .78 .51 .121 .40 .50 1910 .45 .20 2.23 1.5312.021 3.54 .90 2.03i -45 .14 1.57 .40 1911 .80 .40 .20 .50 2.40 2.0412.60 3.35 1.29 1.49 .27! -20 c3 1912 .20 * .40 .99 4.85 .74 2.16 2.63 1.98 .86 .20| .60 > 1913 .20 * .35 1.19} 5.60 .90 1.68 1.62 .74 .20 .00 W 1914 1. 10 .90 .30 1.62i 4.851 1.57 2.17 .39 .30 .40 .22 Aver- age i ! for 12 ! years .66 .57 1.17 .87 2.68; 2.15 1.58 2.57 1.35 .54 .39 .78 1907 i .50 .20 1.20 1.94 .79 5.72 1.41 2.68 1.49 .07 .40 .60 1908 .30 2.00 2.05 2.20 1.62 2.10 1.55 1.46 0.98 1.29 .70 .60 1909 .70 .80 1.18 2.85 2.81 : 1.00 7.09 2.45 .29 .53 1 1.95 .80 1910 .40 .85 2.65 2.26 3.07! 4.65 1.59 1.81 .43 .22 '1.30 .80 1911 2.10 .30 .28 .53 3.01 3.18 2.49 2.42 3.31 1.89 .1.93 .40 "5 1912 .50 .30 .70 1.01 4.83 .56 3.31 1 1.85 4.61 .14 .55 .90 jj 1913 1.15 1.10 1.40 .38 2.24 5.51 2.26 3.64 1.50 1.62 1.00, 1914 1.70 .12 1.20 3.07 2.76 2.63 3.14 .45 1.58 1.71 .45 o Aver- age for 22 years .24 .32 1.09 1.08 1.94 3.26 2.95 2.34 1.57 .72 .98 .73 1910 .40 .35 .85 .20 2.66 4.18 J4 1911 i et 1912 2.06 .47 .20 .40 g 1913 1.45 1.60 .55 .10 .52 2.91 5.10 2.47 .60 .44 W 1914 .29 1.72 .98 .58 .73 .95 .91 1907 .70 .03 .30 .75 .85 j 4.52 2.10 3.26 .90 .06 .17 .16 1908 .16 .48 .48 .991 .98! 5.33 1.55 1.44 .18 1.37 .29 .25 1909 .13 .28 .59 1.34 i 2.96i 2.24 7.52 3.26 .14 .50 .67 .65 1910 .14 .28 .98 .37 2.88 ' 3.15 .96 2.90 .27 .24; .77 .77 rt 1911 .63 .24 .40 .48 3.63 2.89:3.42 2.90 .57 1.56 1.38 .45 C 1912 .14 .11 .09 .53 2.17! 1.91 1.37 1.87 1.57 .29 .09 .55 to 1913 .30 .11 .49 .03 .95! 3.72 2.82 4.09 .47 .72 .15 .10 Pi 1914 Aver- age for 27 .84 .25 .74 .30 2.22 3.99 1.29 .81 .29 .92 .24 .09 years .38 .32 .47 .74 2.00 3.29 .97 1.66 1.01 .69 .52 .10 .61 1907 3.20 1.10 1.80 1.65 1.89 3.36 3.75 5.28 .65 .01 T20 1908 .50 1.20 1.60 .88 .99 4.06 0.49 1.99 0.46 1.35 .70 .71 1909 .90 .70 .60 .74 2.65 4.02! 6.50 1.67 1.17 .33 1.25 1.60 1910 .03 .08 1.69 .22 2.20 ; 2.65! 1.04 2.53 1.00 .15 .10 1.60 _c 1911 .27 .11 .15 2.33 3.59 i 3.82 2.05 2.81 1 1 .05 1.20 .07 .60 "S. 1912 .09 .07 .04 .21 i 3.91 ! 1.91 2.87 3.50! 2.08 | .61 .10 .04 CO 1913 .08 .06 .50 .22 .48 2.13 2.25 2.88 .27 .82 .02 .02 6 1914 1.05 .45 .85 1.03 .36 3.28 .39 .92 .96 1 2.02 .98 .45 Aver- age for 26 years .72 .47 .70 1.24 2.14 3.37 2.25 2.52 .85 .70 .19 .51 Trace of precipitation, too small to measure. APPENDICES 297 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION (in inches)— SASKATCHEWAN.— Continued Aug.' Sei> Oct. Nov. Dec. 1907 1.20 * .80 .30 .55 2.12 1.48 2^58 1 1.04 .01 .05 ~2S 1908 .10 .75 .63 .64 .65 5.48 1.22 2.00; 0.33 1.65 .25 .45 1909 .80 .32 .45 .15 2.39 1.76 6.14 .23 .57 1.54 .771 .75 1 1910 .30 .20 .40 .25 .79 2.26 2.18 2.19, 1.55 .27 .151 .50 5 1911 2.60 .40 .30 1.54 |2.40 5.07 1.87 3.18! .56 .00 .70 .80 3 1912 .60 .06 3.07 3.43 2.71 2.74 2.96 .27 .45 .60 ■S 1913 1.00 1.00 .25 .28 .35 2.92 2.14 2.58 1.69 .49 .65 .10 * 1914 .90 .40 .48 .40 1.65 1.88 .85 .41 1.44 2.60 1.05 .60 en Aver- age for 18 years .49 .42 .59 .37 1.59 2.51 2.54 2.17 1.46 .72 .50 .64 1907 .46 1.82 .55 1.69 2.53 2.21 4.13 1.08 .56 .15 1908 .40 2.15 .35 2.82 .58 7.36 .36 3.03 0.53 1.63 1.13 1.81 1909 .77 .75 .55 1.02 .58 4.34 3.90 1.18 1.37 .97 1.40 1.90 _,_, 1910 .81 .45 .31 .40 .69 .34 1.37 .69 .79 .16 1.21 .18 « 1911 2.00 .41 .11 .79 1.75 3.09 1.98 2.99 1.77 .04 2.26 1.10 £ 1912 .10 1.03 .25 1.79 2.77 5.31 2.75 2.16 .56 > .90 1.07 < 1913 .80 .80 1.20 .17 .79 1.98 4.76 3.59 2.53 .88 .31 .11 (J 1914 .71 .06 .61 1.34 2.54 2.01 1.15 .80 1.12 1.37 1.10 .56 C Aver- £ age for 28 years .87 .73 1.03 .82 1.54 2.63 2.42 2.53 1.44 .86 .97 .76 1907 .13 .07 .52 .13 .30 1.54 2.26 2.58 2.13 .04 .01 .40 1908 .46 1.01 1.66 .31 1.21 7.60 0.65 1.58 1.23 .85 .85 .04 1909 .22 .02 .20 .40 1.49 2.88 3.57 .33 .58 .63 .82 .70 1910 .20 .10 .20 .19 2.35 1.53 .96 1.08 1.46 .18 .30 .20 •o 1911 1.30 .50 .10 .50 2.60 7.14 3.39 2.23 1.29 .11 .81 .50 .2 1912 .02 .01 .20 .03 1.80 1.18 5.35 2.74 2.06 .55 .40 .50 _> 1911 .44 ..56 1.04 1.06 5.03 2.63 2.17 4.36 .89 .51 .61 .17 as 1912 .60 .08 .34 2.05 1.42 4.31 5.20 2.75 2.80 1.09! .68 * M 1913 1.28 .56 .50 .21 2.27 3.91 .61 5.19 .87 .66 .97 * o 1914 Aver- age for 29 years .93 .27 .76 .60 .52 2.64 2.52 2.18 1.11 1.82 2.73 :/b .46 .55 .74 .69 2.48 3.27 2.61 2.52 1.24 .50 .72 .54 1907 1.64 .56 1.55 1.63 3.33 2.80 1.90 4.26 2.62 .96 1.22 1.11 1908 1 10 1 03 1.58 1.66 4.14 2.61 1.06 1.74 1.41 1.87 1.18 1.71 1909 3 94 1.38 .78 .92 1.49 1.81 2.68 .99 1.18 .70 4.67 1.02 1910 46 1.94 1.59 1.19 .63 2.77 .46 2.97 1.06 1.36 .99 .90 1911 3 ]?, 65 .54 1.15 1.35 2.84 1.38 3.76 1.14 .56 1.64 1.04 to 1912 94 .20 .32 1.35 1.06 3.02 5.03 3.94 1.03 1.81 1.41 .37 c 1913 1 71 4S 1.42 1.58 1.34 2.29 .91 2.85 2.24 1.23 2.38 .0o PQ 1914 Aver- age for 18 years 2.54 .25 .90 1.90 1.46 1.81 1.11 .59 2.56 1.69 2.60 .28 1.12 .81 1.48 1.06 2.69 3.47 2.66 2.37 1.75 1.14 1.67 1.17 Trace of precipitation, too small to measure. APPENDICES 299 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION (ir inches)— ALBERTA- —Coniinuec Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July \ug. Sep. \ Oct. ^ov. Jec 1907 1.30 .60 1.00 .90 1.70 5.33 3.93 4.49 7.03 .43 "Too .40 1908 * * 1.00 .55 3.63 10.38 1.77 2.15 .15 1.86 .00 .40 1909 .25 .40 .90 1.45 4.11 3.79 5.19 1.10 1.06 1.59 .35 .80 1910 .30 1. 00 .70 .00 1.20 4.19 1.9515.25 1.84 .45 .70 .40 >, 1911 .30 .40 1.55 1.00 3.90 4.50 2.63 6.47 1.43 .92 .65 .50 Ui 1912 .10 .10 .40 1.62 2.89 2.68 5.46 1 3.95 2.23 1.91 .70 .20 J3 1913 1.30 .50 1.00 .30 1.74 8.98 1.19 3.62 .34 .36 .50 .00 "S 1914 1.30 .40 .80 .40 .79 3.74 1.55 2.11 2.46 1.50 1.70 .60 Q Aver- age for 12 I I l l i years .40 .45 .81 .85 3.24 5.30 2.85 3.78 1.74 1.04 .62 .41 1907 1.04 .27 .49 1.60 3.09 2.79 4.66 1.32 .19 .11 .56 1908 .31 .57 1.17 .57 2.58 5.36 2.33 1.71 .59 1.48 .91 .31 1009 .49 .49 .11 .91 2.96 1.85 3.25| .89 .06 .30 1.23 .34 1910 .16 .46 .77 .38 1.20 2.72 2.25 2.87 2.01 .51 .67 .93 o 1911 1.18 .31 .39 .45 1.95 3.80 5.83 4.49 .98 .51 .52 :26 1 1912 1.15 .16 .40 1.57 2.35 3.03 4.76 4.41 1.12 .73 .40 .10 1 1913 2.49 .63 .55 1.02 .79 3.66 4. 35 4.81 .50 .50 .06 .18 •0 1914 1.04 1.07 .35 .38 1.81 8.53 3.24 2.52 2.94 1.07 .85 1.49 W Aver- age for 30 1 years .71 .74 .77 .84 1.76 3.41 3.75 2.32 1.50 .76 .85 .67 .80 1908 .60 1.20 .85 1909 .85 .20 .70 1.30 3.24 2.52 2.11 1.01 .07 .57 2.05 .60 rt ' 1910 .55 .03 .71 1.12 3.04 4.8212.11 1.85 1.41 .50 1.04 X 1911 .92 .48 1.16 .34 1.87 5.48 2.30,2.02 1.38 .38 .50 .20 a 1912 .65 .26 .50 1.13 .72 1.72 2.65 12.56 .72 .74 .23 .54 < 1913 1.35 .40 .49 .92 .79 4.82 6.81 2.64 .60 .68 .25 .10 1914 .53 .12 .66 .43 .17 7.05 2.82 1.31 1.63 1.63 .27 1.07 Aver- age for 6 years 1908 .86 .10 .34 .59 1.20 .81 .21 1.32 1.33 4.11 3.59 1.94 1.84 .98 1.35 .94 .63 .64 .15 .63 bo .22 2.92 2.38 ^65 _c 1909 1.20 .50 .15 .81 2.65 1.35 1.54 1.71 1.02 .90 1.80 .40 o 1 1910 .28 .08 .70 .50 1.54 1.98 1.70 1.24 1.15 .27 .65 1.06 1911 1.65 .40 .50 .15 1.29 2.67 4.08 1.76 3.02 .75 .90 1912 .80 .15 .30 .95 .80 .71 1.24 1.24 .59 .59 .30 .95 4> 1913 2.10 1.85 1.60 5.08 1.01 2.91 .77 1.10 .30 .60 2 Aver- U age cd for 6 a! years 1.02 .53 .57 .52 1.53 2.45 1.99 1.78 1.32 .70 .66 .76 H 1908 .60 .65 1909 .80 1.04 1.90 1.21 1.37 1.52 .43 .50 1.10 .55 S 1910 .30 .15 .57 .30 1.19 2.97 3.41 .59 1.93 .59 .30 .30 .9" 1911 * .15 .86 .38 .28 1 94 1.79 2.57 .39 .24 .60 .65 (J 1912 .10 .40 .70 1.03 .75 2.31 .58 Aver- o age to for 10 years .79 .54 .70 .53 .64 1.44 2.68 1.79 1.32 .81 .86 .67 * Trace of precipitation, too small to measure. 300 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION MONTHLY PRECIPITATION (in inches)— ALBERTA — Co 1 tinned V Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July A.ug. Sep. Oct Nov. Dec. 1908 .83 .25 .73 1.27 .33 2.72 2.05 1.56 .87 .46 1.33 .23 1909 .78 .20 .73 1.15 2.06 .97 2.43 1.96 1.25 .47 * S 1910 .20 .20 1.12 .83 .50 1.30 .84 .85 .98 .40 .85 1.18 1911 91 35 1 45 1.85 .7?, 2.81 1.81 1.96 1.78 .15 .75 .23 'p 1912 .15 .60 .10 .74 .25 .53 3.32 .90 .70 .57 1.60 t- 1913 .m .40 .30 .30 1.88 .69 .51 .53 1.89 .10 .30 .40 > 1914 .50 3.00 .67 3.48 1.38 « Aver- o age for 8 years .47 .37 .77 .87 .84 1.78 1.63 1.52 1.33 .42 .73 .52 * Trace of precipitation, too small to measure. APPENDICES 301 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION (in inches) YUKON AND NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA V u J2 Oh Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June I July Aug. Sept 1 Oct. i Nov. Dec. B o 1910 .25 .41 93 .40 .93 1.89 1.45 .43 1911 .75 .55 .65 .90 2.03 1.01 1.53 L45 .54 1.71 1907 * 3.49 .53 .13 * .03 .43 .80 .88 1908 .29 45 1.35 .07 .15 0.48 0.22 0.41 1.84 1.01 1.4b .28 H 1909 .40 .38 1.23 .33 .47 .55 1.44 1.42 1.68 1.55 .92 .40 >H 1910 .54 .63 .96 .89 .28 1.18 3.28 .92 .27 .43 .96 1. 11 1911 65 i n .58 .35 1.38 .72 1.31 1.12 1.12 1.28 .79 (« 1912 48 60 10 .80 .04 .61 1.17 1.85 .47 .41 .68 .94 1913 1 42 1 03 .28 1.01 1.45 1. 01 1.30 2.70 1.63 1.60 1914 .70 .55 .56 .7 .49 1.02 .45 1.89 .34 .63 .lb u Aver- age for 8 years .56 1.11 .76 .23 .41 1.06 .63 1.29 1.10 1.14 1.06 1.16 :n 1907 1 5.3 34 88 .85 1.93 1.28 2.34 4.09 2.60 .62 1908 ,71 1 00 .71 .32 1.43 1.23 2.43 1.08 1.25 .69 1.48 1.96 1909 30 48 1 21 .64 .81 2.66 2.10 .81 2.40 .96 .67 1.17 H 1910 1 31 22 68 1.68 .19 1.44 .82 1.67 1.34 1.67 1.46 .60 t* 1911 1 V, 91 .77 1.30 1. 68 .87 1.37 1.39 .86 1.60 1.0b 1.70 1912 20 1 05 .60 .00 .38 .75 2.43 1.12 2.09 o 1913 67 1.12 .25 .60 .07 1.20 .10 .82 1.43 S 1914 .95 1.04 1.73 1.73 1.59 1.21 .10 .70 .08 Q Aver- age for 12 years .88 .69 .53 .53 1.01 1.12 2.02 1.58 1.90 1.32 1.17 1.15 H 1907 55 52 1,45 .08 .27 3.03 5.10 1.63 .86 .26 .90 .30 >H 1908 10 08 .23 .01 1.40 0.72 0.47 1.70 1.75 .85 .45 «i 1909 45 .30 .40 2.55 .64 .87 1.98 2.34 1.37 1.10 .30 .08 1910 .18 .06 .30 .02 .03 .66 4.67 1.36 .50 .10 .S3 w Aver- 4J age -C for 4 £ years .32 .24 .59 .67 .58 1.32 3.92 1.4a 1.11 .80 .59 .28 * Trace of precipitation, too small to measure. Appendix VI. Water-Power Legislation The rivers and streams of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories are under the control of the Dominion Government. The disposal and use of the water-powers in these pro- vinces and territories are regulated by Section 35 of the Dominion Lands Act, and by regulations established thereunder by Orders-in- Council. The following is the text of Section 35 of the Dominion Lands Act of 1908 as subsequently amended, followed by a copy of the Water-power Regulations* made under provisions of Subsection 2 of above section. Dominion Lands Act Section 35, Dominion Lands Act, 7-8 Edward VII, Chapter 20, as amended by Section 6, Chapter 27, of 4-5 George V. 35a Lands which are necessary for the protection of any water supply or lands upon which there is any water-power, or which border upon or being close to a water-power will be required or useful for the development and working of such water-power, shall not be open to entry for homestead, for purchased homestead, or pre-emp- tion, or be sold or conveyed in fee by the Crown, but may only be leased under regulations made by the Governor in Council. 2. Subject to rights which exist or may be created under the Irrigation Act, the Governor in Council may make regulations: (a) * These regulations were made to apply to all forest reserves and parks by order of His Excellency the Governor-General in Council dated June 6, 1911, and by order of His Royal Highness the Governor-General in Council dated August 2, 1913, in virtue of the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17 of the Dominion Forest Reserves and Parks Act. These regulations were made to apply to all school lands by order of His Royal Highness the Governor-General in Council, dated the 9th of February, 1915. By virtue of the provisions of the Railway Belt Water Act, 2 George V. Chapter 47, and the Railway Belt Water Act, 1913, 3-4 George V, Chapter 45. all water within the Railway Belt of British Columbia is administered under and in accordance with the provisions of the Water Act, 1909, and amendments thereto, by the Province of British Columbia, except only the territory included within Dominion Parks. [302] APPENDICES 303 for the diversion, taking or use of water for power purposes, and the granting of the rights to divert, take and use water for such purposes, provided that it shall be a condition of the diversion or taking of water that it shall be returned to the channel through which it would have flowed if there had been no such diversion or taking, in such manner as not to lessen the volume of water in the said channel; (b) for the construction on or through Dominion or other lands of sluices, races, dams or other works necessary in connection with such diver- sion, taking or use of water; (c) for the transmission, distribution, sale and use of power and energy generated therefrom; (d) for the damming of and diversion of any stream, watercourse, lake or other body of water for the purpose of storing water to augment or increase the flow of water for power purposes during dry season; (e) for fix- ing the fees, charges, rents, royalties or dues to be paid for the use of water for power purposes, and the rates to be charged for power or energy derived therefrom. 3. Any person who under such regulations is authorized to divert, take or use water for power purposes, or to construct works in con- nection with the diversion, taking or use of water for such purposes, shall for the purposes of his undertaking have the powers conferred by the Railway Act upon railway companies, including those for the acquisition and taking of the requisite lands, so far as such powers are applicable to the undertaking and are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the regulations thereunder, or with the authority given to such persons under such regulations — the provi- sions of the said Railway Act giving such powers being taken for the purposes of this section to refer to the undertaking of such person where in that Act they refer to the railway of the railway company concerned. 4. All maps, plans and books of reference showing lands other than Crown land necessary to be acquired by any such person for right of way or other purposes in connection with his undertaking shall be signed and certified correct by a duly qualified Dominion land surveyor. 5. Such maps, plans and books of reference shall be prepared in duplicate, and one copy thereof shall be filed in the office of the Min- ister at Ottawa, and the other shall be registered in the land titles office for the registration district within which the lands affected are situated. 6. The Minister, or such officer as he designates, shall in case of dispute, be the sole and final judge as to the area of land which may be taken by any person without the consent of the owner for any purpose in connection with any water-power undertaking. 304 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION WATER-POWER REGULATIONS Regulations established and approved by His Excellency the Governor- General in Council dated June 2, 1909, June 8, 1909, April 20, 1910, January 24, 1911, June 6, 1911, August 12, 1911, and by His Royal Highness the Governor-General in Council dated August 2, 1913, and February 9, 1915, in virtue of the provisions of subection 2 of section 35, of the Dominion Lands Act, 7-8 Edward VII, Capter 20, and of the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17 of the Domin- ion Forest Reserves and Parks Act, 1-2 George V, Chapter 10, to govern the granting and administration of water-power rights in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and in the Northwest Territories, and in Dominion Parks within the Railway Belt of British Columbia, and of all school lands. 1. Under these regulations the word "works" shall Definition of be held to mean and include all sluices, races, dams, weirs, tunnels, pits, slides, flumes, machines fixed to the soil, buildings and other structures for taking, diverting and storing water for power purposes, or for developing water-power and render- ing the same available for use. 2. Every applicant for a license to take and use Mode of water for power purposes shall file with the Minister ppica o Q £ ^ interior a statement in duplicate setting forth:— (a) The name, address and occupation of the applicant. (b) The financial standing of the applicant so far as it relates to his ability to carry out the proposed works. (c) The character of the proposed works. (d) The name, or if unnamed, a sufficient description of the river, lake or other source from which water is proposed to be taken or diverted. (e) The point of diversion. (/) The height of the fall or rapid of such river, lake or other source of water at high, medium and low stages, with cor- responding discharges of water per second, reckoned approx- imately in cubic feet. (g) A reasonably accurate description, and the area, of the lands required in connection with the proposed works, such lands, if in surveyed territory, to be described by section, township and range, or river or other lot, as the case may be, and a statement whether such lands are or are not Dominion lands. APPENDICES 305 (h) If such lands be not Dominion lands, then the applicant shall give the name of the registered owner in fee, and of any registered mortgagee or lessee thereof, and of any claimant in actual possession other than a registered owner, mortgagee or lessee. (t) The minimum and maximum amount of water-power which the applicant proposes to develop, and the maximum amount of water which he desires for such purpose. (/) Sketch plan showing approximate locations of the proposed works. (k) Elevations of head water and tail water of the nearest exist- ing works, if any, below and above the proposed works. (/) Particulars as to any water to be taken, diverted or stored to the detriment of the operation of existing works, if any. (m) Particulars as to any irrigation ditches or reservoirs, or other works for irrigation within the meaning of The Irrigation Act, in use or in course of construction within the vicinity of the proposed works, and which might affect or be affected by the operation of the proposed works. 3. If the applicant be an incorporated company, the Application by statement shall, in addition to the foregoing informa- a Company ^ ^ f<)rth _ (a) The name of the company. (b) The names of the directors and officers of the company and their places of residence. (c) The head office of the company in Canada. (d) The amount of subscribed and paid-up capital, and the pro- posed method of raising further funds, if required, for the construction and operation of the proposed works. ( .„„„ _ Geological Survey, Report, Vol. IV, 1888-1889— part D. Department of the Interior, Report for 1889— part VIII. Qu'Appelle River — , . . „ ' Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements I ro- gress Reports since 1911. Rapid River (Sask.) — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. VIII, 189o-96— part D. Red River (Man.) — , _, ' Geological Survey, Report, Vol. IV, 1888-89— parts A and E. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources I aper U. S. Geological Survey, Water Supply Papers, Hudson Bay Basin, Pro- gress Reports since 1902. . Minnesota State Drainage Commission, Water Resources Investigation (1909-12). Red Deer River (Awa.)— Department of the Interior, Report for 189>— part III, p. 66. Geological Survey, Report, 1882-84— part C. Geological Survey, Report, Vol. II, 1886— part E. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch. Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1910. Red Deer River (Man.)— Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91-pzrt E Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Papet No. 7. Red Deer Lake (Man.) — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91-part E Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, U ater Resources Paper No. 7. Reindeer River — _ Geological Survey, Report, Vol. VIII. 189o-96— part D. Geological Survey, Report for 1879-80— part C. Reindeer Lake — Geological Survey, Memoir No. 30. Geological Survey, Report, Vol. VIII. 1895-96— part D. Geological Survey, Report for 1879-80— part C. 318 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Rolling River — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91— part E. Roseau River — Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 7. Rosebud River— Department of the Interior, Report for 1895 — part III, p. 68. Ross River (Yukon) — Geological Survey, Report No. 1097, 1910. St. Mary River— Department of the Interior, Report for 1895— part III, p. 114. Geological Survey, Report, 1882-84— part C. Department of the Interior, Topographical Survey, Report for 1908-09, p. 212. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1909. U. S. Geological Survey. Water Supply Papers, Hudson Bay Basin, Pro- gress Reports since 1903. Saskatchewan River — Report by IV. Ogilvie. D.L.S., for the Water Power branch of the Depart- ment of the Interior, 1910. Geological Survey, Memoir No. 30. Department of Public Works, Report on Lower Saskatchewan Navigation, by E. A. Forward, 1909 (Cedar lake to Grand rapid). Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91— part E. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Papers Nos. 5, 7 and 11. Department of the Interior. Water Power branch, Annual Report for 1912-13. North Saskatchewan River— City of Prince Albert, Report on Cole Fall, 1909. Geological Survev, Report, Vol. II, 1886— part E. Department of Public Works, Report for 1910— part IV. p. 168. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1911. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch. Annual Report for 1912-13. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 16. South Saskatchewan River — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. I, 1885— part C. Geological Survey, Report, 1882-84— -part C. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1911. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Annual Report for 1912-13. Sheep River — Department of the Interior, Report for 1895— part III, p. 76. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1909. Shell River (Man.)— Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 7. Slave River — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. IV, 1888-89— part D. SouRrs River — Geological Survey. Report, Vol. IV, 1888-89— part E. Geological Survey, Report, Vol. XV, 1902-03— part F. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1910. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 7. TT J (Mouse river) U. S. Geological Survey. Water Supply Papers, Hudson Bay Basin, Progress Reports since 1903. APPENDICES 319 S out h fork River— Department of the Interior, Topographical Surveys, Report for 1908-09, p. 229. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1909. Spray River — Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1910. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 2. Stewart River (Yukon) — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. XIII, 1900— part A. Sturgeon River (Alta.) — Geological Survev, Report, Vol. II, 1886— part E. Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1912. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch. Annual Report for 1912-13. Swan River — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91— part E. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 7. Swan Lake — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91— part E. Swift Current Creek— Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro gress Reports since 1909. Teslin River — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. XI, 1898— part A. Thelon River — Department of the Interior, Report by J. W. Tyrrell, 1901. Tib Creek Department of the Interior, Topographical Surveys. Report for 190S-09, p. 219. TwelvEmilE River (Yukon) — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. XIV, 1901— part B. Valley River — _, Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91— part E. Department of the Interior. Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 7. \\ 'aterhen River (Man.) — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91— part E. Geological Survey, Report, Vol. IV, 1888-89— part A. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 16. Waterton River— Department of the Interior, Report for 1895— part III, p. 109. Geological Survev, Report, 1882-84— part C. Department of the Interior, Topographical Survey. Report for 1908-W>, Department of the Interior, Irrigation branch, Stream Measurements Pro- gress Reports since 1909. Waterton Lake — „ _ ^ . , inno nn Department of the Interior, Topographical Survey, Report for 1908-09, p. 221. Whitemouth River (Man.) — Department of the Interior, Water Power branch. Water Resources Paper No. 7. 320 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION Winnipeg River — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. IV, 1888-89— part E. Geological Survey, Report, Vol. XI, 1898— part G. Department of the Interior, Topographical Survey, Report for 1907-08, p. 174. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Papers Nos. 3 and 7. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Annual Report for 1912-13. Department of the Interior, Water Power branch, Water Resources Paper No. 16. Winnipeg (Lake) — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. XI, 1898— part G. Winnipegosis (Lake) — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. V, 1890-91— part E. Yukon River — Geological Survey, Report, Vol. Ill, 1887-88— part B. Geological Survey, Report, Vol. XIV, 1901— part B. INDEX Page ADJOINING rapids, Big Black river 97, 277 Adjoining rapids, Pigeon river. .. 90 Alberta, boundary 233 boundary waters of 158 monthly precipitation of 299 Southern 158, 183 Southwestern 143 Alberta Railway and Irrigation Co. 158, 159, 164 Alexandra fall, Hay river 244 Ambursen dam. Prince Albert.... 136 Anchor point, Saskatchewan river 121 Anderson fall, Lockhart river 293 Andv lake 54 Angikuni lake 271, 291 Angling lake, East • • 74 Angling lake, North 74 Arctic sound 265 Artillery lake, N.W.T 243 Asessippi, Man 62, 274 Assiniboine, Man 57 Assiniboine river 31, 42, 46, 47, 53, 54, 55, 61 discharge near Brandon 45 at Headingly 46 at Millwood 44 metering stations on 30 no power developments 43 power available 44 power sites on 273 Athabaska fall 230. 285 Athabaska, Alta 227, 234, 280 precipitation at 299 Athabaska, lake 239, 269 eastern tributaries of 237 Athabaska river 2, 4, 140, 227, 229, 230, 234, 235, 242, 280 discharges of 230, 231 drainage and estimated flow.... 280 estimated water-powers 285 watershed of 100 Athabaska River and Tributaries, water-powers of 227 Atik rapid, Churchill river ...250, 288 Atlantic drainage 12 Atlin lake 263, 264 Atlin river 264 Aux Pins rapid 233, 285 BACKS river, descents of rapids and falls 292 Baker lake 269, 272 reconnaissance of 196 21 [32 Page Balsam rapid, Pigeon river.. 87, 88, 276 Balsam rapid, Poplar river 96, 276 Banff, Alta 220, 225, 278 discharge of Spray river near... 225 precipitation at 103, 124, 298 Bankhead, Alta., discharge of Cas- cade river at 223 Barlow lake 267, 291 Barrier chute, Winnipeg river ... 13 Barrier river 79 Barrows, Man 79 Baskerville, Man 30 Bassano, Alta 179, 183 dam at 178, 206, 277 discharge of Bow river near 183 Battenburg, Alta 139 Battleford, Sask 132, 137 precipitation at 297 Battle lake 137 Battle river 136, 239, 240 discharge at Battleford 137 Bayne, G. A 70 Bear rapid, Mudjatik river 253, 289 Beauford lake 54 Beauval mission 290 Beaver creek 38 Beaver Dam river 236 Beaver river 249, 254 drainage and estimated flow .... 282 estimated water-powers 290 Beechey lake 292 Belanger river 81, 98 Bell, Dr. Robert, examination by.. 102 Bell river 257 Bellows Falls, Mass., referred to . 24 Belly river 154, 164, 169 discharge at Standoff 165 Middle fork of 164 North fork of 164 power site on 279 Bennett lake 263 Berens river 81, 91. 92, 99, 100 power sites on 276 precipitation at 295 Bering sea 256 Beverley fall 293 Beverley lake 269 Biche, lac la 254 Big lake, Sturgeon river 139 Big Alec rapid 262 Big Black river 81, 96. 97, 98 power sites on 277 Big Cascade, Athabaska river 228 L] 322 INDEX Page Big Sandy lake, N. Saskatchewan 238, 287 Big Stone rapid 233, 285 Bigstone river 123 Birch fall, Churchill river 288 Birch lake, Burntwood river 113 Birdtail river 30, 57 power sites on 274 Birthday rapid 101, 108, 283 Birtle, Man 57, 274 Black lake 282 Black river 237 drainage and estimated flow 282 estimated water-powers 286 Black Bear Island lake 253, 288 Blackfalds, Alta., discharge of Blindman river at 153 Blackfoot crossing, Bow river.... 178 Blackfoot Indian reserve 175 Bladder rapid 101, 110, 283 Blakiston brook, Alta 169 power sites on 279 Blindman river 150, 152 discharge at Blackfalds 153 power sites on 279 Bloodvein river 81, 86 North and South branches of... 86 Bloody fall, Coppermine river .... 292 Boiler rapid 228, 230, 285 Bon, le, rapid, Clearwater river. 233, 285 Bonanza creek 258 Bonanza valley 259 Bonnet, lac du 21 Bonnet, du, fall 22, 26, 273 Bottle lake 54 Boundary Waters Treaty 158 Bow fall, a scenic feature 197 Bow Fort power sites 196, 278 Bow lake, reconnaissance of 196 storage basin 197, 200 topographical survev of 196 Bow river ..2, 3, 4, 141, 143, 153, 164, 184, 187, 190, 214, 218, 219 benefits of storage 198 concentrated falls utilized 209 conditions to be met 207 discharge at Calgary 179 discharge near Bassano 183 discharge near Morley 181 discharge near Namaka 183 dual use of water of 193 effect of regulations at power sites 198 effect of storage on discharge.. 201 existing developments on 208 general description of 194 hydro-electric development 194 importance to development of district 208 power and storage investigation 195 power developments 205 power producing section 194 power sites 197, 277 Page Bow river — Con. storage developments 195, 205 topographical surveys 196 Bow River Above Calgary, water- powers of 193 Bow River Below Calgary, water- powers of 178 Bow River basin 193 flow from storage 202, 204 precipitation 201 recommendations 207 reconnaissance of 196 storage possibilities 197 effect of storage 199 Boyd lake 267 Boyer or Little rapids, Peace river 240, 286 Brandon Electric Light Co 55, 274 Brandon, Man. 30, 42, 43, 46, 53, 55, 274 precipitation at 294 power available 44 Brazeau lake 140, 141 Brazeau river 129, 140, 141 discharge of 141 power site on 280 Breckenridge 30 Brewster creek, reconnaissance of 196 Brink rapid, Black river 286 British Columbia . .1, 9, 239, 244, 264, 286 precipitation 301 Brochet, du, lake 251 Brokenhead river 100 discharge table 82 power possibilities 81 metering station on 81 Brule portage, Liard river 245 Brule rapid, Athabaska river 228, 230, 285 Buffalo lake, Alta 151, 255 Buffalo-pound lake 59 Bullfrog lake, Man 83 Burnham, G. H 43 Burntwood lake 112 Burntwood river 100, 112 descents of rapids and falls on.. 291 CACHE creek 262 Calgary 187, 179, 193, 194, 201, 214, 216, 224, 277 Bow river above 193 Bow river below 178 discharge of Bow river at 179 discharge of Bow river at Lange- vin bridge 180 discharge of Elbow river near.. 191 discharge of Nose creek near.. 189 estimated cost of power at 205 importance of Bow river to . . 208 lighting of 209 power for municipal lighting... 194 power lines to 211, 214 power sub-stations 211 NDEX 323 Page Calgary — Con. precipitation at 103, 124, 298 profile of Bow river above.... 196 storage basins on Bow river above 197 Western limit of dry belt 205 Calgary Irrigation Co 206 Calgary Hydraulic Co 206 Calgary Power Co ....9, 182, 194, 208, 209, 219, 220, 278 storage dam of 197 Calgary Water Power Co 277 Campbell portage 260 Canada Cement Co 211 Canada, boundary waters of 158 re Milk river 159, 175 Canadian engineers 256 Canadian Klondike Power Co. ^. 293 development of 259 Canadian Northern railway 31, 36, 62, 64, 66, 74, 77, 79 Canadian Northwest 24 Canadian Pacific railway 27, 36, 59, 77, 147, 194 bridge at Kananaskis 196, 212 Edmonton branch of 189 Canadian Pacific Railway Co 178, 179, 194, 209 hotel 197 irrigation canal 175 irrigation of lands by 206 Carcross, Yukon, precipitation at 301 Cardston, Alta 162, 279 discharge of Lee creek at 163 discharge of St. Mary river near 160 gauging station at 159 Carey lake 267, 291 Caribou chute, Lower Pigeon river 90 Caribou fall, Manigotagan river 84, 275 Caribou lake, Man 83 Caribou rapid, Pigeon river 90 Carrot portage, Burntwood river.. 112 Carrot rapid, Burntwood river 291 Carrot river 122 Casba fall, Lockhart river 293 Cascade portage, Manigotagan river 84 Cascade power project 220 Cascade rapid, Athabaska river . . 230, 240, 281, 285 Cascade rapid, Clearwater river 233, 285 Cascade river 195, 219 discharge at Bankhead 220 power section 198 power site on 278 Cassette rapid, Slave river 242, 286 Castle ( Southf ork) river 171 Castle Rock mountain 216 Cathead rapid, Big Black river.. 97, 277 Cedar lake 121, 125 Chain-of-islands rapids 101, 283 Chain-of-rocks rapid, Nelson river 101, 110 Challies, J. B 2, 5, 10, 81. 193 Chandindu river 258 Page Channel island, precipitation at 103 Chaplin, Sask., precipitation at... 296 Charles fall, Manigotagan river.. 85, 275 Cherry coulee, Alberta 143 Chesterfield inlet 266, 269 Chief mountain 162 Child Portage rapid, Berens river 94, 276 Churchill river 252, 253 and tributaries 249 drainage and estimated discharge 282 estimated water-powers 287 watershed of 100 Clay portage, Burntwood river . . . 112 Clay rapid, Burntwood river 291 Clear creek 260 Clear lake 54, 56 Clearwater river 141, 227 228, 232 discharge of 142 drainage and estimated flow.... 282 estimated water-powers 285 Cline river, power site on 280 Coal river, tributary of Liard . . 245 Coast range 244 Cochrane river 251 Cole falls (Saskatchewan river) .9, 279 development of 136 Commission of Conservation. .1, 2, 3, 81 Cook lake 293 Coppermine river 265 descents of rapids and falls .... 292 Corner chute, Pigeon river 89 Coronation gulf *. 265 Cowan river 254 Cowley, Alta 171 discharge of Castle (Southfork) river at 171 discharge of Oldman river at.. 154 Cranberry lake 114 Cranberry portage, Liard river . . 245 Crane rapid, Berens river 95, 276 Cree lake, Sask 238 Cree river 238 drainage and estimated discharge 282 estimated water-powers 287 Crooked lake, Black river 287 Crooked rapid, Athabaska river.. 228, 230, 285 Crooked rapid, Berens river 94, 276 Crooked rapid, N. Saskatchewan river 130, 279 Crooked river 260 Cross lake, Nelson river ..101, 102, 111 Cross lake. Saskatchewan river.. 121, 123, 125 Crowsnest river 154, 172 discharge near Lundbreck 173 power sites on 279 Cumberland lake. Sask 123, 124 Currie Landing, Man 43, 44. 273 power available at 44 Cushing bridge, Bow river 179 Cypress hills 147 324 INDEX Page DAUPHIN lake 71, 72, 74 Dauphin, Man., precipitation at . . 295 Dauphin river 64, 65, 100 power sites on 275 Dawson, Dr. G. M 256, 260, 261 Dawson, Yukon, precipitation at . 301 Dease river, B.C 244, 245 Deep river 255 Deer rapid, Reindeer river 252, 289 Demi-charge rapid, Saskatchewan river 121, 125 Denis, Leo G 87, 92, 97, 99 Detour, the, Pelly river 261 Devil creek 220 Devil portage, Liard river 245 Devil rapid, Liard nver 245 Devil rapid, Nelson river 101 Devil rapid, Reindeer river 289 Devils Head mountain 216 Dewdney, mount 257 Dickson canon, Hanbury river.... 293 Didsbury, Alta., precipitation at. 299 Dominion City, Man 30, 36, 37, 273 Dominion Government 1, 4, 10, 11, 31, 208, 234 Drifting lake, Cochrane river 252 Drifting river 74 Driftwood rapid, Athabaska river 229 Driftwood rapid, Burntwood river 112, 291 Driftwood river 257 Drinkwater, Sask 59 Drowned, rapid of the, Liard river 246 Drowned rapid, Slave river 243, 286 Drowning Man ford 143 Dryden, Ont 12 Dubawnt lake 266, 267, 268 Dubawnt river 265, 266, 269, 271 descents of rapids and falls of 291 Du Bonnet fall, Winnipeg river. 21, 26, 273 Du Brochet, lake, Cochrane river 251 Duck mountain ......61, 68, 71, 74, 77 Dunvegan, precipitation at 124 Dutch creek 154 EAGLE, Alaska, discharge of Yukon river at 256 Eagle rapid, Burntwood river.. 112, 291 East branch, Shell river 61 East river 101, 103 Eastern crossing. Milk river 159 Eau Claire Lumber Co 194, 208 Eau Claire power plant 208 Ebb-and-flow rapid, Nelson river 101, 111, 283 Edmonton ....129, 130, 131, 132, 136, 279 precipitation at 103, 124, 299 Edmonton branch, C. P. Ry 189 Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia railway 234 Edson, Alta 235, 280 Page Eight-foot fall, Winnipeg river.. 20 Elbow, South Saskatchewan river. 144 Elbow, The, Battle river 137 Elbow lake, Grass river 114, 291 Elbow river 4, 187, 190, 201 discharge near Calgary 191 headworks on 205 power site on 278 storage basin 197 Electro-chemical processes 23 Elizabeth fall, Black river 237, 286 Elphinstone, Man 53, 54 Emerson branch, C. P. Ry 36 Emerson, Man 30, 31, 32 End mountain 216 English river 13, 86 drainage area of 12 Ennadai lake 271, 292 Entwistle, Alta., discharge of Pem- bina river at 235 Erie, lake 103 Erwood, Sask 79 Escape rapid, Coppermine river... 265 Eskimos 272 Estevan branch, C. P. Ry 47 Estevan, Sask 49 precipitation at 295 Etomami chute. Berens river ... .94, 276 Etomami river 79, 92, 99 Exshaw, transmission lines to.. 211, 214 Eyeberry lake 269 FAIRFORD, Man 64, 65 Fairford river 64, 65 discharge at Fairford 67 power site on 275 Fairholme range 216 Fairy river 265 False canon, Frances river 247 False canon, Ross river 262 Family lake, Berens river 92, 95 Family lake. Pigeon river 87 Fawcett, T., report by 288 Ferguson lake 269 Ferguson river 265, 269, 272 descents of rapids and falls .... 292 Finlay river, B.C 237 Fir river 79 First rapid, Berens river 92, 276 First rapid. Pigeon river 87, 91 First rapid. Poplar river 96, 276 Fish Creek, Alta 178, 187, 205 discharge near Priddis, Alta. . . 18S Fisher river .64, 71. 99 Fishing branch, Porcupine river.. 257 Five-finger rapid, Lewes river . . . 264 Flag rapid, Berens river 93, 276 Flathill portage, Burntwood river 112, 291 Flatrock rapid, Berens river 92, 276 Flying Post rapid, Saskatchewan river 121, 122 INDEX 325 Page Ford fall, Hanbury river 293 Fork river 71, 72 Fork River, town of 274 Fort Alexander, Man 83 Fort Chipewyan, Alta., precipita- tion at 299 Fort Frances 12, 13 Ford Liard 246 Fort Nelson river 243, 246 Fort Saskatchewan 139, 279 Fort Selkirk 256, 263 Fort Smith 242, 243, 282, 286 Fort Smith rapid, Slave river 286 Fort St. John, B.C., precipitation at 301 Fort Vermilion 240 Hudson's Bay Co. post at 241 precipitation at 300 Forty-mile creek, reconnaissance of 196 Forward, E. A 124, 125 Foster lakes 253 Foster river 238, 253 drainage and estimated flow 282 estimated water-powers 289 Fox river 115, 281, 284 Frances river 244, 247 descents of rapids and falls.... 292 Franklin, lake 292 Fraser falls, Stewart river 259 Freeman, J. R 23 Frog portage, Churchill river 250 GATE rapid, Burntwood river, 113, 291 Gauthier, Man 53 Geikie river 238 drainage and estimated discharge 282 estimated water-powers 287 Geographic Board 153, 164 Geological Survey ..1,2, 70, 75, 80, 102, 229, 286, 287, 289 Geological Survey Report 70 Geological Survey, United States 159, 256 German fertilizer processes 24 Ghost power site, Bow river . . 197, 278 Ghost river 197, 201, 216 discharge of at Gillies ranch... 216 reconnaissance of 196 Gilbert Plains 74 Gillies ranch 216 Glenlyon river 261 Goat mountain 224 Golden Eagle rapid, Grass river.. 114 Gold-run creek 259 Government power proposals .... 19 Gow, D. B 69, 75 Grahame (steamer) 228 Grand canon, Liard river 246 Grand fall, Churchill river 288 Grant lake ...268, 291 Grand rapid, Athabaska river.. 227, 228, 229, 230, 281, 285 Grand rapid, Beaver river 290 Page Grand rapid, Mudjatik river, 253, 254, 289 Grand rapid, Nelson river 101, 109, 283 Grand rapid, Saskatchewan river 3, 121, 124, 125, 126 Grand du Bonnet fall, Winnipeg river 22 Grand Forks, N. Dak 31 Grandview, Man 74 Granite canon, Pelly river 261 Granville fall, Churchill river 250, 288 Granville lake, Churchill river ... 250 Gras, lac de 265 Grass rapid, Berens river 92 Grass rapid, Pigeon river 88, 276 Grass river 114 descents of rapids and falls . . . 291 Gravel river 247 discharge measurements 248 Great lakes 101 Great Slave lake 227, 242, 243, 244 Grenfell, Sask, precipitation at . . 296 Grindstone portage, Burntwood river 112 Grave rapid, Churchill river 288 Grove rapid, Hanbury river 293 Guerin, Thomas 69 Gull creek, Alta 152 Gull lake, Blindman river 153 Gull lake, Nelson river 101, 108 Gull rapid, Nelson river 101, 107, 108, 283 Gunisao lake, Manitoba 98, 100 Gunisao river, Manitoba 98-99 HANBURY river 269 descents of rapids and falls 293 Hartney, Man 47 Harvey fall, Lockhart river 293 Hatchet lake, Black river 237, 287 Haultain river 249, 282 Hawk chute, Pigeon river 90, 275 Hawk rapid, Cree river 238, 287 Hawkrock rapid, Black river ..237, 286 Hawkrock river 237 Hay river 243, 292 Hayes river 100, 115 drainage and estimated flow ... 281 estimated water-powers 284 Headingly, Man 30 discharge of Assiniboine river at 46 Hector lake, reconnaissance of.... 196 Heddery river 282 Helen fall, Hanbury river 293 Hell-gate rapid, Liard river 246 Hendry, M. C 11, 193, 196, 207 High chute, Pigeon river 276 High rapid, Big Black river 97, 277 High rapids, Pigeon river 89 High-hill river 233 High River, Alta 184 discharge Highwood river at . . 184 Highwood range 184 Highwood river 178, 184, 186 discharge at High River 184 326 INDEX Page Hinde lake 267, 291 Hinsdale 159 Hoarfrost river, descents of rapids and falls 293 Hogarth creek 224 Holyoke, Mass., referred to 24 Hood river, N. W. T 265, 292 Hoole canon, Pelly river 260, 292 Hoole river 260, 292 Horseshoe fall 194, 201, 219, 278 hydro-electric plant at 194, 209 monthly mean flow 200 power lines from 211 power site 196 Horseshoe rapid, North Saskatche- wan river 279 Hudson bay, 6, 12, 101, 129, 249, 269, 270 Hudson Bay junction 64 discharge of Red river at 80 Hudson Bav railway 102, 107 Hudson's Bav Co 124, 136, 228 Hunker valley 259 Husky Dog creek 262 ILE-A-LA-CROSSE lake 253. 255 Indian reserve, Poplar river 96 Interior, Dept. of, 5, 9, 10, 30, 81, 100, 102, 124, 137, 139, 144, 154, 159, 162, 164, 166, 168, 193, 220, 288 International boundary 12 International Joint Commission .13, 158 Iron creek 137 Irrigation at favourable water sea- sons 206 Irrigation Branch, 2, 49, 58, 59, 132, 137, 139, 142, 144, 151. 154, 158, 159, 162, 164, 166, 168, 171, 173, 175, 184, 186, 187, 190, 214, 216, 218, 223, 224, 235 Irrigation, effect of storage upon 205 Irrigation propositions 205 Island rapid, Berens river... 92, 94, 276 Island rapid. Big Black river.... 97, 277 Island rapid, Churchill river 288 Isle lake, Alberta 138 JACKFISH lake 54 Jackpine rapid, Nelson river ..111, 112 Jasper, Alta., discharge of Atha- baska river near 231 Job creek, Alta 140 Johnston creek, reconnaissance of 196 Johnston, J. T 10 Joli Fou rapid, Athabaska river . . 229 Julius muskeg 27 Jumpingpound creek 214 KAMINURIAK lake 269, 292 Kamloops, B.C 9 Kamsack, Sask., precipitation at.. 296 Kananaskis, Alta, discharge of Bow river near 182 discharge of Kananaskis river near 219 Page Kananaskis bridge 194 Kananaskis dam, discharge capacity 213 Kananaskis fall ...... 194, 196, 198, 219 hydro-electric plant at ..194, 211, 214 power lines from 211 power site 196 Kananaskis lake 196, 218 Kananaskis river 194, 196, 218 discharge near Kananaskis 218 power sites on 197, 278 Kanistota rapids, Grass river 114 Kasba lake 271, 292 Kazan river 265, 269, 271 descents of rapids and falls . . . 292 Keg rapid, Churchill river 288 Keizer. D. A 72 Kendall river 265 Kenora, Ont 9, 12, 27 precipitation at 103 Kepuche rapid, Burntwood river.. 291 Keokuk, Iowa 214 Kettle fall, Churchill river ....250, 288 Kettle rapid, Berens river 92 Kettle rapid, Nelson river 101, 104, 106. 107, 283 Kettle river, Manitoba 100 Kimball, Alta 158 discharge of St. Mary river at.. 160 gauging station at 159 Kississing river 282 Klondike district 258 Klondike river 258 North fork of 259 utilized water-power on 293 Klondike valley 259 Klotz, Dr. Otto J 101, 124 Knee lake, Hayes river 118, 281 Knife rapid, Churchill river 2S8 Knife rapid, Hayes river 119 Kosdaw lake, Black river 237, 287 Kowtunigan lake, Bloodvein river. 86 LABERGE, lake 264 Lacombe, hydro-electric plant at 153, 279 Lady Marjorie lake 268, 291 Lake creek 260 Lake Louise power plant 209 Lamprey falls (Winnipeg river) . . 17 Langevin bridge, discharge Bow river at, near Calgary 180 La Plonge river 255 estimated water-power 290 Last Limestone rapids, Nelson river 105, 283 Last Limestone lake 57 Laurentian country • 11 Laurentian plateau 6, 100 Laurie, lake 74 Lawrence, Mass, referred to /•+ Layton ranch, discharge of Lee creek at }J« gauging station at l° z INDEX .327 Page Leaf rapid, Burntwood river ..113, 291 Leaf rapid, Churchill river 288 Leaf river, Man 96 Le Bon rapid, Clearwater river, 233, 285 Lee creek, Alta 162 discharge at Cardston 163 discharge at Layton ranch .... 163 power site on 279 Lesser Slave lake 234 Lesser Slave rapid, Athabaska river 285 Lesser Slave river 227, 230, 234 discharges 234 drainage and estimated flow 282 estimated water-powers 285 Lethbridge 158 discharge of Oldman river near 156 Lewes river 260, 263, 264 descents of rapids and falls .... 292 discharge 263 Lesser Slave river 229 Liard river 244 Limestone rapid, Nelson river.. 102, 106 Limestone river 100, 106 Little rapid, Peace river 286 Little Bloodvein river 86 Little Bow ditch, Alta 184 Little Bow river 154 Little Cascade rapid, Athabaska river 228, 230, 285 Little Churchill river 250, 251 Little du Bonnet fall 22 Little Goose Lake rapid, Pigeon river 88 Little Grand rapid, Athabaska river 229 Little Grand rapid, Berens river 91, 95, 276 Little Red Deer river 150 Little Saskatchewan river 52 Little Twelve-mile river 258, 259 utilized water-power on 293 Little Waterhen river 67 Liver rapid, Berens river 94, 276 Livingston, A 48 Livingstone range 154 Livingstone river 154 Lockhart river 243 descents of rapids and falls 293 Lockport, Man 32 Long current, Pigeon river 89, 276 Long lake 54, 83, 84 Long rapid, Athabaska river 228, 230, 285 Long rapid, Big Black river ....97, 277 Long reach, lake Winnipegosis ... 67 Long river 38 Long Lake chute, Berens river... 95 Long-spruce rapid, Nelson river . . 102 Loon river 288 Loudon rapid, Dubawnt river 268 Louise creek, Alta 209 Page Louise lake 209 power site at 278 Lowell, Mass., referred to 24 Lower canon, Liard river 245 Lower Bonanza hills 259 Lower Caribou rapid, Pigeon river 275 Lower Drum rapid, Hayes river, 118, 284 Lower Hawk chute, Pigeon river. 89 Lower Knee rapid, Churchill river 249 Lower Limestone rapid, Nelson river 283 Lower Longspruce rapid, Nelson river 106, 283 Lower Needle fall, Churchill river 289 Lower Seven Sisters fall ....21, 26, 273 Lumsden, Sask 58 Lundbreck, Alta 172, 279 Lynx fall, Grass river ....114, 115, 291 Lynx rapid, Pigeon river 91, 275 MACDONALD fall, Hanbury river 293 Mackenzie basin 262 Mackenzie mountains 247, 248 Mackenzie river 227, 239, 242, 244, 247, 257 Mackie ranch, discharge of Milk river at 177 Macleod, Alta., precipitation at . . 103, 124, 298 Macleod river 154 Macmillan river 261 Major rapids, Athabaska river, 229, 285 Manasan fall, Burntwood river, 113, 291 Manasan river 113 Manchester, Mass., referred to . . . 24 Manigotagan river 84, 100 discharge tables 85 metering station on 81 power sites on 275 storage and power possibilities. 84 surveys of 84 Manigotagan settlement 84 Manitoba, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12. 13, 31, 36, 38, 42 47, 68, 76, 80, 97, 121 monthly precipitation in 294 Manitoba boundary, referred to... 77 Manitoba Hydrometric Survey.... 5, 6, 10, 12, 17, 27, 62, 69, 85, 103, 125 Manitoba, lake 42, 64, 65, 68 Manitoba, northern 100 Manitoba Power Survey 43, 53, 66, 70, 72. 124 Manitou fall. Black river 237, 287 Manitou rapid, Berens river 95 Manitou rapid, Nelson river .... 101, 103, 109, 283 Marine and Fisheries, Dept. of... 7 Markham lake 267 Marsh lake 263 Mary lakes 158 Mayo river 259 McArthur fall 21, 26, 273 328 INDEX Page McCarthy's ranch, Sask 59 Mclnnes, Wm 287 McLean, D. L 10, 11 McLeod river 235 discharges 236 estimated water-powers 286 power site on 280 McMurray, Alta 230, 232 McQuesten river 260 McRae, J. B 11 Meadow portage 66, 67 power possibilities 69, 274 Medicine Hat 143, 144 precipitation at 298 Medicine river 150 Melfort, Sask 79 Melita, Man 47 Methy lake 255, 290 Methy portage 232 Methy river 255 drainage and estimated flow . . . 282 estimated water-powers 290 Meteorological Service 7, 294 stations in Manitoba 8 Metishto river 114 Middle canon, Frances river ..247, 292 Middle lake, Black river 237, 286 Middle rapid, Athabaska river . . . 228, 230, 285 Middle Drum rapid, Hayes river, 118, 284 Middle Knee rapid, Churchill river 249 Middle Needle fall, Churchill river 250 Miles canon, Lewes river 263, 292 Miles, E. S., discharge measure- ment by 103 Milestone, Sask 59 Milk river 158, 175 discharge at Mackie ranch, Alta 177 discharge at Spencer lower ranch 176 division of water 175 North branch 175 South branch 175 Milk River canal 159 Mill creek, power site on 279 Millwood, Man 30, 43, 273 power available at 44 Mink rapid, Big Black river 97, 277 Minnedosa, Man 53, 54, 56, 68, 274 precipitation at 53, 294 rainfall records at 75 Minnedosa river 3, 42, 52, 54 discharge near Riverdale 56 metering stations on 30 power developments 55 power sites on 274 Minnedosa Power Co 55, 56, 274 Minnesota 30, 32, 36 drainage area of Red river in.. 31 Minnewanka dam, control by Dept. of Interior 220 method of development 222 storage provided by 220 Page Minnewanka lake.. 9, 195, 201, 219, 220 available storage in basin 200 joint benefit of storage 220 power site 197 storage basin 197 storage and power dam 219 topographical survey of 196 Minot, North Dak 50 Mirror, Alta 234 Mission power site, Bow river.. 197, 278 Mississippi river 214 Missouri coteau 59 Missouri drainage basin 175 Mist mountain 184 Mitchell, C. H. & P. H 196 Mitchell, C. H., recommendations of 207 report by 222 Moberly rapid, Athabaska river... 230 Montana 158, 164 Moorhead, Minn., precipitation at 103 Moose creek 235 Moose lake, Man 83 Moose lake, Saskatchewan river.. 125 Moose portage, Berens river 276 Moose portage, Burntwood river.. 112 Moosejaw creek 30, 59 discharge at McCarthy's ranch . . 60 Moose Jaw, Sask 59 Moosenose, on Nelson river 107 Moose-nose rapid, Burntwood river 113 Moose Portage chute, Berens river 93 Morden, Man., precipitation at.... 294 Moreland, Sask 59 Morley, Alta 141 discharge of Bow river near ... 181 regulated flow at 206 Mossy river 64, 71 discharge table 73 power sites on 274 storage possibilities 72 Mountain rapid, Athabaska river.. 228, 230, 285 Mountain rapid, Slave river 242 Mountain Mill power site, Mill creek 279 Mountain Portage rapid, Liard river 245 Mudjatik river 253 drainage and estimated flow.... 282 estimated water-powers 289 Muskeg rapid, Hayes river 117, 284 Muskrat lake, Man 83 NAMAKA, Alta 178 discharge of Bow river near. . . . 183 Narrow Rock chute, Pigeon river 90, 275 Narrows, the. Saskatchewan river. 122 Neche, N. Dak 39 Nelson, B.C 9 Nelson river 2, 6, 101, 103 discharges 103 drainage and estimated flow . . 281 INDEX 329 Page Nelson river — Con. estimated water-powers 283 navigation of 102 power possibilities on 104 precipitation in drainage area of 102 Nelson river and tributaries 100 Nemei river 250, 288 Netmending rapid, Berens river... 92 Neville bay 270 Niagara Falls 24 Nicholson lake 267, 291 Nightowl rapid, Berens river 91, 95, 276 Nordegg river 140 North lake 12 North rapid, Black river 237, 286 North America, lakes of 103 Northern States 100 North Dakota 30, 38, 42, 46, 47 drainage area of Red river in . . 30 North Heart river, drainage and estimated flow 282 North Saskatchewan river ..3, 121, 129, 136, 139, 140, 141, 229 discharge at Edmonton 132 discharge at Prince Albert 134 divisions of drainage area 130 power possibilities 129 power sites on 279 Northwest Territories 1 Nose creek 189 discharge near Calgary 189 Norway House, Man 102, 111 precipitation at 103, 295 Nut mountain 42 OAK lake 54 Oakbank, Man 27, 36 Ochre river 71 Ogilvie, William 102, 103, 124, 125 Oil creek, Alta 168 discharge measurements 168 power site on 279 Okotoks, Alta., discharge Sheep river, near 186 Oldhouse (Lower and Upper) rapid, Berens river 93, 276 Oldman river ....153, 164, 169, 171, 172 discharge of at Cowley 154 discharge of at Lethbridge 156 Ontario 12 Ontario, lake 103 Ontario and Minnesota Power Co. 13 Opal range 218 Opegano lake, Burntwood river... 113 Ottawa 6 Otter fall, Winnipeg river 5, 14, 15 Otter fall, Churchill river ....250, 288 Overfall rapid, Nelson river 101, 109, 283 Over-the-hill rapid, Nelson river . . 101, 110, 283 Oxford lake, Hayes river.. 118, 119, 284 Page PACIFIC— Arctic watershed 259 Paint lake— Grass river 115 Painted Moose chute, Berens river 95, 276 Palelluaw, Kazan river 272 Palliser range 216 Parks branch, jurisdiction of .-.. 220 Parry fall, Lockhart river 243, 293 Parsnip river 239 Pasqua, Sask 59 Pasquatina point 122 Patrick, K. S 48 Patterson, E. B 124 Peace canon, Peace river 282, 286 Peace river 2, 4, 239, 242, 243, 244 drainage and estimated flow 282 estimated water-powers 286 opening and closing of naviga- tion on 241 Peace River Block, British Columbia 239 Peace River canon, British Colum- bia 239, 240 Peace River crossing, Alta., pre- cipitation at 299 Peace River landing 282 Peace River valley 234 Peacock rapid, Pigeon river 88, 276 Peacock rapid, Lower, Pigeon river 88 Peel river 259 Pekiska river, Alta 184 Pelican lake 39 Pelican rapid, Athabaska river, 229, 285 Pelican rapid. Big Black river... 97, 277 Pelican rapid, Churchill river. .249, 289 Pelican rapid, Slave river 243, 286 Pelican river 227 Pelly lakes 260 Pelly river 260, 261, 262 descents of rapids and falls 292 Pelly Banks 260 Pembina river (trib. of Red river) 31, 38 discharge at Neche, N. Dak. . . 40 power possibilities 39 precipitation in basin of 39 Pembina river, tributary of Atha- baska ". 234 discharges 235 Phoenix Brick, Tile and Lumber Co. 84 Pigeon river 81, 87, 92, 100 power sites on 275 Piaawa channel, Winnipeg river.. 14, 18. 19, 20, 273 Pincher creek 154 Pine canon, Bow river 178 Pine fall (Winnipeg river) 22, 26 Pine lake, Hayes river 119 Pine power site, .Winnipeg river. 273 Pine rapid. Churchill river 288 Pineimuta, lake 65 Pipestone creek 80, 141, 196 Pipestone fall, Nelson river Ill 330 INDEX Page Pipestone lake, Nelson river . . . 101, 104, 111 Pipestone rapid, Nelson river 112 Pipestone river 79 Pirie, Alexander 103 Playgreen lake, Nelson river ..101, 111 Plonge, la, river 255 Point Douglas, Winnipeg 18 Point-du-Bois 5, 13, 15, 17, 24, 273 Point-du-Bois fall 9, 17 Point lake 265 Poorfish river 238, 282, 287 Poplar fall, Manigotagan river ..84, 275 Poplar rapid, Pigeon river 91, 275 Poplar river 81, 96 Indian reserve on 96 power sites on 276 Porcupine hills, Alta 169 Porcupine mountains 64, 68, 77 Porcupine river 257, 286 Portage chute, Churchill river 250 Portage mountain 239 Portage la Prairie 43 Power proposals, government 19 Prairie Provinces 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 281 Pratt & Ross, Messrs. 15, 77 Precipitation records, Manitoba... 8 Prevost canon, Ross river ....... 262 Priddis, Alta., discharge of Fish creek near 188 Prince Albert, Sask ..9, 129, 130, 131, 132, 134, 229, 277 precipitation at 103, 124, 297 Prout lake 54 Ptarmigan lake . 196 Ptarmigan rapid, Dubawnt river.. 267 Public Works Dept, Dominion . . . 66, 69, 72, 102, 103, 126, 277, 285, 286 Public Works Dept. Manitoba. .48, 57 Pukkatawagan lake, Churchill river 250, 288 QU'APPELLE river 30, 42, 57, 59 discharge at Lumsden 58 Quartzite lake 270 RACEHORSE creek 154 Radnor, Alta 196, 198, 201 power site on Bow river at . . 197, 278 Railway Commissioners, Board of 4 Rainy lake .....12, 13 Ramparts rapid, Porcupine river.. 257 Rapid river 252 drainage and estimated flow . . . 282 estimated water-powers on 289 Rapid City, Man 53 Rat river 31 Raven river 150 Red Deer lake 79, 80 storage available 80 Red Deer, Alta 150, 152, 278 discharge of Red Deer river at 151 Page Red Deer river (Alberta) 137, 143, 144, 149, 150 discharge at Red Deer 151 power possibilities 150 power sites on 278 Red Deer river (Manitoba), 42, 64, 68, 79 storage possibilities 80 discharge tables 80 water-powers on 79 Red river 30, 31, 32, 36, 39, 100 discharge at Emerson, Man. ... 32 discharge at Grand Forks, N. Dak. 33 metering stations on 30 power site on 273 principal tributaries of 31 rise and fall of 32 water-power possibilities 32 Redearth creek, reconnaissance of 196 Redoubt lake, reconnaissance of.. 196 Red River vallev 31, 38 Red Rock lake 265 Red Rock rapid, Nelson river 101, 110, 283 Red Rock rapid, Saskatchewan river 121. 125 Redstone rapid, Churchill river... 288 Reed lake, Grass river 114, 291 Regina, eastern limit of dry belt.. 205 precipitation at 296 Reindeer lake, Churchill river 252 Reindeer river 250, 252 drainage and estimated flow . . . 282 estimated water-powers 289 Relation of power and irrigation.. 206 Ridgeville branch, C. N. Ry 36 Riding mountain 57, 68, 71. 74 Riding Mountain forest reserve, 52, 57 Riverdale, Man 30, 53 Rivers, Man 53 Road rapid, Berens river .... 276 Road Portage rapid, Berens river 93 Robinson fall. Hayes river, 119, 120, 281 Rock lake 39 Rock portage, Reindeer river 252 Rock rapid, Athabaska river 228, 230, 285 Rock rapid, Reindeer river 289 Rockv mountains, 3, 100, 124, 129, 140, 141, 149, 186, 190, 194, 207, 227, 239, 244, 257 Rocky rapid, North Saskatchewan river 129, 130, 279 Rocky Defile rapid, Coppermine river 265 Rocky Mountain House 129, 141 Rocky Mountains forest reserve . . 3 Rocky Mountain slope 2 Rocky Mountains National park . 9, 193, 194, 195, 220, 221, 224 Rolling River, Man 53 Ronge, lake la, Sask 252 INDEX 331 Page Roseau river 30, 31, 36 discharge at Baskerville 37 discharge at Dominion City ... 37 estimate of flow 37 metering stations on 30 power possibilities 36 power site on 273 Rosebud river 151 Ross, D. A 13 Ross island, Nelson river 101 Ross river 260, 262 Rouleau, Sask 59 Round Lake rapid. Pigeon river.. 90 Roundtent chute, Berens river ..92, 276 Roundtent rapid, Upper, Berens river 93 Rundle mountain 224 Russell, Man 62, 68 Ruttan, Col. H. N 13 SADDLE peak 216 Salt river 243 Sandisland chute, Berens river, 94, 276 Sandy creek (Foster river) 289 Sandy lake 54 Sandy river 282 Sandy Hill lake 271 Sasaginnigak lake, Man 86, 87 Sasagiu rapid, Grass river 291 Saskatchewan 42, 46, 122, 233 boundary waters of 158 precipitation in 296 Saskatchewan river 3, 4, 100, 121, 122, 131, 273 discharge at The Pas 127 discharge near head of Grand rapid 127 power sites on 277 water-power available 125 Saskatoon 9, 144, 277 discharge of South Saskatchewan river at 145 precipitation at 124, 297 Sault Ste. Marie 24 Sawridge, Alta 234 Schultz lake 269, 291 Scroggie creek 260 Sea fall, Nelson river 112 Seal island, Nelson river 104, 105 Sea River fall, Nelson river ..101, 103 Second rapid, Slave river 242 Seine river 31 Sekwi canon, Gravel river 248 Selkirk, Man 31, 98 Setting lake, Grass river 114 Seven Sisters falls, Winnipeg river 19 Seven Sisters rapids, Whitemouth river 27 Sharpstone chute, Berens river ..93, 276 Shawinigan falls, Que 24 Sheep river 184, 186, 187 discharge near Okotoks, Alta. . . 186 Page Sheldon lake 263 Shell river j p 42, 61 power possibilities 62 power sites on 274 Shellmouth, Man 61 Sheviin, Man 62 Shining fall, Pigeon river 87, 276 Shorewood rapid, Berens river 94 Short creek 74 Shortcut chute, Berens river 94 Silver fall, Winnipeg river 22 Sinclair's ranch, Sask 147 Singoosh lake 75 Sinnot, Man 81, 82 Sipanok channel, Saskatchewan .river 123 Sipiwesk lake, Nelson river 101, 103, 104, 119 Skeena river 244 Skunkfeet rapid, Big Black river, 97, 277 Slave fall, Winnipeg river 5. 20, 26, 273 discharge of Winnipeg river at. 16 Slave river 2, 224, 239, 242, 244 drainage and estimated flow . . . 282 estimated water-powers 286 Slide rapid, Pigeon river 90, 91, 275 Small Devil rapid, Nelson river . . 109 Smith, Cecil B 43 Smith, H. B 70 Smith landing, Alberta 242, 286 Smoky river 229 drainage and estimated flow . . . 282 Smoky River forks 239 Smoothrock rapid, Berens river.. 94, 276 Snake creek 77 Snake lake, Churchill river 249 Snake rapid, Churchill river 249 Snowflake creek 38 Souris lake, Churchill river 249 Souris, Man 47, 48, 273 Souris river 30, 42, 46 discharge at Minot, N. Dak 50 discharge near Estevan 49 discharge near Wawanesa 48 metering stations on 30 power sites on 273 small drainage area of 47 Southern Alberta Land Co 178 dam of, on Bow river 277 Southern Indian lake, Churchill river 250, 287 Southesk river 140, 141, 280 Southfork river 154. 171 discharge near Cowley. Alta. . . 171 power sites on 279 South Indian lake 282 South Saskatchewan river 3, 121, 130, 131, 136, 143, 147, 153 discharge at Medicine Hat 144 discharge at Saskatoon 145 Speakman, R. E 43 332 INDEX Page Spencer's ranch, discharge of Milk river at 176 Split lake, Nelson river 101, 102, 104, 109, 281 Sprague, Man 36, 37 Spray fall. Spray river 278 Spray lakes 196, 224 storage basin 197 Spray river 196, 224 discharge near Banff 225 power site on 278 Spruce lake 54 Squaw creek 54 Squaw rapid, Saskatchewan river 122 St. Albert, Alta 139 Standoff, Alta 164 discharge of Belly river at .... 165 St. Andrews dam 31 St. Andrews rapid, Red river . . 32 Stanley mission, on Churchill river 252, 282 St. Ann, lake, Alta 138 St. Boniface, Man 43 Steep Creek rapid, North Saskat- chewan river 277 Steep-hill rapid, Reindeer river 252, 289 Stewart river 259 Stick chute, Berens river 93, 276 St. James, Man 30 Stikago rapid, Grass river 114 Stikine river 244 St. Lawrence, river 101 St. Martin, lake 64, 65 St. Mary river 154, 157, 161, 164 apportionment of waters of .... 159 discharge at Kimball 160 discharge near Cardston 160 power available 158 power site on 279 Stony fall, Stony river 286 Stoney Indian reserve 214 Stoney pack-trail, Alta 149 Stony rapid, Athabaska river ..229, 285 Stony rapid, North Saskatchewan river 279 Stony river, estimated water- powers 286 Strevel, Man 74 Stuart lake 54 Stuartburn, Man 36 Sturgeon bay 65, 66 Sturgeon fall, Pigeon river 91, 275 Sturgeon river 138 discharge at St. Albert 139 discharge near Fort Saskatchewan 140 power site on 279 Sturgeon Skin chute, Pigeon river 89, 276 Sturgeon-weir river 123 Summit lakes 239 Superior, lake 12, 100 Swampy lake, Hayes river 116, 118 Page Swan lake 39, 76. 77 Swan River, Man 62, 77, 78, 275 Swan river 61, 64, 68, 77, 79 discharge measurements 78 discharge tables 79 power possibilities 77 power site on 275 Swift Current, Sask 147 Swift Current creek , 147 discharge at Sinclair's ranch . . 14/ discharge at Swift Current 143 TAGISH lake 263 Tail creek, Alta 151 Taku arm, Tagish lake 264 Tasking-up portage, Burntwood river 113 Tasking-up rapid, Burntwood river 291 Teslin lake 264 Teslin ri\er 263, 264 The Four chutes, Nelson river.. 112 The Gap, Oldman river 154 Thelon river 269 The Pas 122, 123, 124, 125 discharge of Saskatchewan river at 127 precipitation at 295 The Rock rapid, Hayes river 115, 116, 117, 284 The Two chutes, Pigeon river.. 91, 275 Thirty-foot fall, Winnipeg river . 17 Thistle creek 141 Thomas, lake 54 Thompson rapid, Black river . . .237, 287 Thornton, Alta., discharge of Mc- Leod river at 236 Thunder lake, Poplar river ....96, 276 Tib creek, Alta 169 power site on 279 Timber rapid, Hanbury river .... 293 Tombstone river 258 Tongueflag river 184 Trout fall, Hayes river.. 118, 119, 284 Trout river 245 Tsesiu range 247 Turnagain river 245 Turtle cascade, Manigotagan river 84. 275 Turtle lake, Man 83 Turtle mountain 38, 39 Turtle river 71, 86 Twelve-mile river (Yukon) 293 Twitya river 247, 248 Tyrrell, J. B 102, 286, 287, 289 Tyrrell river, descent of fall on . . 293 UNITED STATES 164, 175, 256 boundary waters of 158 U. S. Geological Survey ..33, 39, 40, 50 Upper canon, Frances river 247, 292 Upper Drum rapid, Hayes river, 118, 284 Upper Knee rapid, Churchill river 249 INDEX 333 Page Upper Longspruce rapid 106, 283 Upper Seven Sisters fall ....21, 26, 273 VALLEY river 61, 64, 68, 71, 74 discharges of 76 power possibilities of 75 power sites on 274 storage possibilities of 75 Valley River station 74 discharge of Valley river at . . 76 Value of Winnipeg River powers, future economic 23 Vancouver, B. C 9 Vandalia 159 Vermilion chute, Peace river 282 Vermilion fall and rapids, Peace river 240, 286 Vermilion river 71, 130, 131 WAPIKWACHEW (or White Forest) rapid, Grass river .. 114 Wapishtigau fall, Grass river ..114, 291 Wapishtigau fall, Burntwood river 291 Waskatigau portage, Burntwood river 113. 291 Waskwatin fall, Burntwood river 113, 291 Waskwatin lake, Burntwood river 113 Waterfound river 282, 287 Waterhen Indian reserve 69 Waterhen lake 68, 69 Waterhen river 67, 68, 69, 70, 254 discharge 70 power site on 274 Water Power branch 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 30, 64, 100, 102, 121, 124, 126, 150, 190, 195, 208, 220, 222, 257 Water-power rights, application . . 4 Water-powers of Canada 1 Water-powers of Winnipeg river. 10 Water rapid, Berens river 93, 276 Water Resources branch, U. S. Geological Survey 40 Water Resources Paper No. 2.. 193, 207 Water Resources Paper No. 3 10 Water Resources Paper No. 7 . . . 5 Waterton lake, Alta 166, 168 Waterton river 166 discharge at Waterton mills 166 power site on 279 Wawanesa, Man 30, 47, 48 Wekusko fall, Grass river ....114, 291 Wekusko lake 114 Western Canada 100 Western Canada, water-power mat- ters in 196 Western Electric Light and Power Co 43 Western tributaries of lake Win- nipeg, water-powers of 64 metering stations of 64 West river 101, 103, 104 Page Weyburn, Sask 46 Wharton lake 268, 291 Wheel rapid, Athabaska river . . . 229 Whisky Jack portage, Nelson river .101, 102, 103, 112, 283 Whitebeaver rapid, Berens river.. 94, 276 Whitefish river 255, 282 estimated water-powers 290 Whitehorse rapid, Lewes river, 263, 292 Whitehorse, Yukon, precipitation at 301 Whiteman rapid, Berens river 95 Whitemouth district, Man 12 Whitemouth, Man 5, 28, 273 Whitemouth falls 27, 273 Whitemouth lake . .- 27 Whitemouth river 5, 27, 28, 81 discharge of 28 possible power sites on 27 power sites on 273 Whitemud fall, Clearwater river 232, 285 Whitemud fall, Hayes river ....116, 284 Whitemud fall. Nelson river 101, 103, 111, 283 Whitemud fall, Winnipeg river... 22 Whitemud rapid, Poplar river . .96, 276 Whitemud river 38, 64 White Rock chute, Pigeon river, 90, 275 Whitesand rapid, Reindeer river, 252, 289 Whitespruce rapid, Geikie river... 287 Wholdaia lake 266, 271 Wilber force fall, Hood river ..266, 292 Willow creek, Alta 169 discharge near Macleod 169 Wilson, F. D 241 Wilson lake 263 Wilson river 71 Windy lake, Hayes river 119 Winnipeg Lake basin, rivers in... 99 Winnipeg 3, 6, 25, 30, 32, 43 auxiliary steam plant at 19 municipal power plant 17, 18, 26 power market of 24 power engineers of 13 precipitation at 103, 294 Winnipeg, lake, 2, 6, 11, 12, 23, 31. 64, 81, 82, 83, 86. 87, 91, 92, 96, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 121, 124. 283 Winnipeg river 2, 3. 4, 5, 9, 11. 27, 81, 100 daily flow of 12 discharge measurements of ... . 13 evaporation on drainage area of. 9 metering stations on 5 power of 6 power of, future economic value 23 power sites developed 17 power sites on 27.^ precipitation in drainage area of 27 record of flow 13 storage on upper waters of .... 13 summary of power possibilities. 2J> timber in drainage area of . . . . 12 334 INDEX Page Winnipeg Electric Railway Co. 18. 19, 20 power house of 18 power plant of 26, 273 Winnipeg Street Railway Co 15 terminal station of 18 Winnipegosis, Man 274 Winnipegosis, lake 66, 68. 69, 70, 80 Winnipegosis branch, C. N. Ry. . . 72 Wintego rapid, Churchill river ..250, 288 Wolf chute, Berens river 94, 276 Wollaston lake 237, 238, 252 Wolverine rapid, Berens river . .92, 276 Wood fall, Manigotagan river . . . 81, 83, 84, 275 Woods, lake of the 9, 11, 12, 13, 36 storage on 13 Woody river 77 Wuskatasko (or Carrot) creek Page 114 YATHKYED lake 269, 271, 272 Yellowmud rapid, Hayes river 118, 284 York Factory, Man., precipitation at 295 Yukon 1, 257 monthly precipitation in 301 utilized water-powers in 293 Yukon Gold Co 293 development of 258 waterway of 259 Yukon river ...244, 257, 258, 259 Yukon River and Tribuaries, water- powers of 256 basin of 247, 262 discharge of at Eagle, Alaska . . 256 IU U/ /£7 FOURTEEN DAY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED Documents Dept This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. JAN 2 7 1361 MAK 1 5 1961 (B139s22)4<6 Berkeley 34888! UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY *£ . M ' A » ? « M - ..,♦,. .„-,^' *^,n *- - ^§K m •<5I • tHnrO : jm |i> L-- - : S r - :. ■ —$-. 35tr*J £J (fanmutsstim of ffittwrlrafimt fflmwoa WATER POWERS MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN. ALBERTA. YUKON AND NORTH WEST TERRITORIES § s . 1 ffl ; 1 > * I Wkm Wm ^H mm mSm .jj fcS j aM