Overview
The Springbank Off-stream Reservoir is located within Rocky View County, approximately 15 km west of Calgary at the junction of Highway 22 and Springbank Road. The project lands cover an area of approximately 1,566 hectares (3,870 acres). The Springbank Off-stream Reservoir is currently under construction.
During flood events, the diversion infrastructure will divert Elbow River floodwater flows through the diversion channel into the dry reservoir and the earthen dam structure will hold the water. The dry reservoir will only contain water during flood emergencies. After the floodwater flows decrease, a gated outlet will control the release of the floodwaters back to the Elbow River, connecting through an existing unnamed creek channel.
Specific regulatory conditions attached to the approval of this project requires that when the project lands are not being used for flood mitigation or operational activities, First Nations will have priority access for the exercise of treaty rights and traditional uses. Public access and other uses, such as non-motorized recreational activities, will also be permitted.
About the land use plan
The land use plan for the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir project promotes safe access and the appropriate use of the project lands, including the dry reservoir, diversion infrastructure, diversion channel and earthen dam structure.
The plan includes:
- the location and context of the project lands
- access management to:
- identify restricted access areas within the project lands and project infrastructure to ensure safety and the successful operation of the flood water management infrastructure
- describe closure scenarios to restrict access and use during periods of increased risk to public safety, during operational management activities or for managing environmental sensitivities
- policy direction for:
- project operations and land management for flood mitigation, including access for maintenance and other operational activities and additional land and vegetation management to ensure the dry reservoir is ready for use during a flood event
- First Nations’ priority access and use of the project lands, ensuring reasonable access to the project lands to support the exercise of treaty rights and traditional uses where compatible with operational and safety requirements
- public access and use of the project lands for limited year-round non-motorized recreational and regulated recreational activities
Input into the land use plan
Land use committees
The land use plan was informed by Indigenous communities and organizations, local municipalities, community organizations, local landowners and other stakeholders through participation in 2 land use committees. The committees started meeting in early 2022.
Public engagement
Albertans shared feedback on the draft land use plan through an online survey from February 12 to March 17, 2024.
Indigenous engagement
Indigenous communities and organizations shared feedback on the draft land use plan for the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir project through an online survey from February 12 to April 14, 2024. Additional feedback was shared through one-on-one meetings.
All feedback received through engagement activities was considered in the Springbank Off-stream reservoir land use plan.
Learn more about what we heard from Albertans through the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir Land Use Plan Engagement.
Project and land management
Several Alberta government ministries share responsibilities for the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir project and project lands:
- Transportation and Economic Corridors led the initial application and approval process and continues to oversee the construction of the project infrastructure.
- Environment and Protected Areas is responsible for leading land use planning for the project lands.
- Agriculture and Irrigation will assume operational and management responsibilities of the infrastructure and project lands.
- Forestry and Parks will support responsible management of the project lands.
Learn more about the project:
Contact
Connect with the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir Land Use Planning team:
Email: sr1landuse@gov.ab.ca