Reid Lake,[1] also known as Duncairn Reservoir, is a man-made reservoir in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan.[2] Reid Lake was formed with the construction of the Duncairn Dam[3] in a glacial meltwater channel along the course of Swift Current Creek in 1942. The reservoir was originally built to supply water for the city of Swift Current,[4] for irrigation projects, and to regulate Swift Current Creek levels downstream. The entire lake is part of the Duncairn Reservoir Migratory Bird Sanctuary.[5]
| Reid Lake | |
|---|---|
  Reid Lake Location in Saskatchewan  Reid Lake Reid Lake (Canada) | |
| Location | RM of Webb No. 138,  Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 50°01′38″N 108°07′03″W / 50.0271°N 108.1175°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Swift Current Creek |
| Primary outflows | Swift Current Creek |
| Basin countries |  Canada |
| Managing agency | Saskatchewan Water Security Agency |
| Surface area | 1,430.2 ha (3,534 acres) |
| Max. depth | 10.4 m (34 ft) |
| Water volume | 105,000 dam3 (85,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Shore length1 | 60 km (37 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 823 m (2,700 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Reid Lake is Y-shaped and Swift Current Creek flows into Ferguson Bay at the southern end of the "Y". It flows out at Duncairn Dam at the north-eastern "Y" corner. Ferguson Bay is named after Thomas L. Ferguson, a former district sheriff.[6] From the dam, Swift Current Creek carries on northward past the city of Swift Current and into Lake Diefenbaker of the South Saskatchewan River.[7][8]
Duncairn Dam
editDuncairn Dam (50°04′27″N 108°02′46″W / 50.0743°N 108.0462°W) was constructed in 1942 by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) to supply water for the Rush Lake, Waldeck, and Herbert irrigation projects. The dam and reservoir are now owned and managed by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency. Located at the north-eastern part of the lake in the RM of Swift Current No. 137, it is 19 m (62 ft) high and 610 m (2,000 ft) long. At full supply, the reservoir holds 105,000 dam3 (85,000 acre⋅ft) of water.[9] The reservoir supplies water to 147 irrigators that irrigate about 3,440 ha (8,500 acres) of land. The community of Duncairn is about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) east of the dam and access to the dam and the community is from a gravel road off Highway 630.
Spillway
editThe original spillway was a flip bucket shoot. By 1946, it had already shown signs of spalling. In 1952, severe flooding destroyed the spilling basin and chute. The spillway was redesigned and rebuilt "provide a mass concrete chute section and hydraulic jump stilling basin to contain the extreme runoff flows anticipated." The rebuild was completed in 1953. The spillway remained unchanged until repairs were made due to concrete deterioration of the breastwall. Between 2002 and 2006, upgrades were done to the spillway that included a stilling basin rehab, crest rehab, and the installation of radial gates and stoplogs.[10]
Duncairn Reservoir (MBS)
editThe Duncairn Reservoir Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS)[11] encompasses the entirety of Reid Lake and is in the semi-arid region known as Palliser's Triangle. The area is susceptible to droughts and the stable lake levels provide reliable habitat for migrating birds. Duncairn MBS was one of five migratory bird sanctuaries created in 1948 in Saskatchewan.
Reid Lake lacks islands, which restricts the number of colonial-nesting water birds, and its steep sides limit the amount of riparian habitat. Due to these constraints, birds use it only as a stop-over on their migration. Tundra swans, ducks, and geese are birds that commonly use the reservoir on their migration. Other species found at the lake include the barn swallow, common nighthawk, western grebe, and northern leopard frog.[12]
Communities
editThere are three communities along the lake's shore. At the southern end of the lake on Ferguson Bay is Ferguson Bay Resort. About 5 km (3.1 mi) north of that on the eastern shore of Ferguson Bay is Sunridge Resort.[13] Rock Ridge Resort is located on the northern shore of the western arm. Access to the communities is from Highways 631 and 343.
Fish species
editFish species commonly found in Reid Lake include walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike. There are four boat launches located around the lake for access.[14][15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Reid Lake". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Reid Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada". Mindat.org. mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Major Dams and Reservoirs". WSask. Water Security Agency. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Swift Current". SCCWS. Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Map of Duncairn Reservoir Bird Sanctuary in Saskatchewan". Cartographic.info. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Duncairn Reservoir : Cottages and Camping". SCCWS. Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Reid Lake". Geoview. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Reid Lake (Duncairn Dam) Fishing Map". GPS Nautical Charts. Bist LLC. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Duncairn Dam". SCCWS. Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Duncairn Dam". CDA. Canadian Dam Association (CDA-ACB). Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Duncairn Reservoir Bird Sanctuary". Geoview.info. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Duncairn Reservoir Migratory Bird Sanctuary". ECCC. Government of Canada. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Sunridge Resort". Sunridge Lake Lots. Sunridge Developments LTD. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Reid Lake". Fishbrain. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Duncairn Reservoir". Angler's Atlas. Retrieved 21 May 2023.