North Sask River
WATER RESOURCE COMMITTEE INC.

North Sask River Water Resource Committee

The North Sask River Water Resource Committee, a federally incorporated non-profit organization, has commissioned an investigation into the feasibility of developing a water storage project along the portion of the North Saskatchewan River that is located in Saskatchewan. The alternatives examined in the study include the status quo (no investment), non-structural investment (small farm irrigation), off channel storage, a series of weirs, and the Highgate dam. View the final report

The North Saskatchewan River Water Supply - Feasibility Study was completed by Golder Associates in March 2008. The study was funded under the Canada - Saskatchewan Water Supply Expansion Program (CSWEP). The program provided 90% of the study costs, the remaining 10% came from local contributions.

The concept of building a Dam on the North Saskatchewan River at a site known as the Highgate Dam Site was identified in the Saskatchewan-Nelson Basin Board Studies (SNBB) completed in 1972. A Report was prepared as part of the SNBB Study in 1969, entitled "Storage Sites on the North Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan." The 1969 report made the recommendation that more detailed investigations be undertaken of the practicality and cost of constructing a dam and reservoir at the High Gate Site."

An Engineering Feasibility study was undertaken by PFRA and a report prepared in 1972 entitled "Highgate Dam Investigations, North Saskatchewan River." The report summarized the results of the hydrology studies, the geology and foundation studies, the reservoir and dam site mapping, the preliminary engineering design and costing of the dam and related works, as well as the assessment and costing of land requirements and reservoir damages.

Although the SNBB studies did not undertake environmental impact assessments of the numerous projects studied, it was recognized that the effects on fish, wildlife, recreation, groundwater, water quality and river regime need to be assessed.

The North Saskatchewan River Water Supply - Feasibility Study was conducted to provide an update to the study including the effects on issues that were not addressed in the earlier studies.