North Sask River
WATER RESOURCE COMMITTEE INC.

Projects

In 2005 application was made to the Canada Saskatchewan Water Supply Expansion Program (CSWEP) for funding to execute a feasibility study assessing surface water availability and evaluating water development alternatives along the North Saskatchewan River.

In late May of 2006, the NSRWRC was notified that the application for study funding was approved under the CSWEP. The funding provided 90% of the study costs, the remaining 10% required matching at the local level.

After an intense 5 week fundraising campaign, the matching funds were raised through contributions from the following municipalities and organizations in Northwest Saskatchewan and Northeast Alberta:

A Request for Proposals was issued in August after the Terms of Reference of the Study was developed. Proposals were received and the contract was awarded in October 2006 to Golder Associates.

The "North Saskatchewan Water Supply Feasibility Study"

• Phase 1: Initial Scoping
• Conceptual design of selected options:
• Status quo (no action)
• Non-structural investment (i.e. small-scale irrigation)
• Off-channel storage for irrigation
• Highgate Dam for irrigation, hydropower, recreation, flood control
• Preliminary estimates of benefits and costs
• Preliminary inventory of issues
• Comparison of options

• Phase 2: thoroughly evaluate one of these alternatives in greater detail, as determined by the NSRWRC Board of Directors

Public meetings were conducted in February 2007 to discuss the scope of the study and gain feedback on the priorities of the region. Phase 1 was completed in September and further public meetings were held to present the findings.

A decision was made to take the following action on Phase 2:

• Provide information to fill key data gaps (Highgate Dam)
• First Nations issues
• Road & rail crossing
• Design flood
• Next steps for environmental assessment
• Conceptual design & preliminary assessment of 1 new option
• Weir system
• Identify key issues
• Compare solutions

Phase 2 was completed in March of 2007 and results were presented at a Public Meeting on February 27, 2008 at the Legion Hall in Maidstone, SK.

Final Report

Appendix A Enviro Social Issues

Appendix B Benefits and costs

Appendix C Hydropower assessment

Appendix D1 Highgate Dam Investigations

Appendix E1 Regional economic assessment

Appendix E2 Addendum

Appendix F Highgate Dam alignment sheets

Appendix G Public consultation presentation Maidstone

Appendix H Initial Consultation Summary

Appendix I Phase 1 consultation Lloydminster

Appendix I Phase 1 consultation North Battleford

Appendix I Phase 1 consultation Turtleford

Appendix J1 Phase 2 consultation Maidstone

Appendix J2 Highgate FN letter

Figures

NSR REPORT 080430

Tables

Google Earth Locations - NSR_Apr2008