Bearspaw dam, constructed in 1954, is the first of three dams along the Bow River west of Calgary

This dam was built at the same time as dikes in the central part of the city for the main purpose of controlling winter ice-jam floods, which occurred most frequently during the 1950s. Winter ice-jam floods can occur at any time during the winter when Chinook winds partially melt the surface ice, which subsequently breaks up and piles up against bridge abutments in the river. Since the construction of the Bearspaw dam and dikes through the central part of the city, this type of flooding has largely been controlled (Alberta Environment, 1996). However, because of the dam's small capacity, the threat of further winter flooding should not be overlooked. In 1966, 11 years after the dam's construction, dikes protecting Sunnyside were filled to the brim and Calgary narrowly avoided flooding.

-Nathan Kneisel-

Click on a dot to continue the tour: