The Bearspaw Reservoir

The Bearspaw Reservoir

The Bearspaw Reservoir, a segment of the Bow River adjacent to northwest Calgary, is a vital water source for Calgary and surrounding communities.

The reservoir plays a critical role in providing high-quality source water to the nearby water treatment plant, while also serving as an essential part of our region’s hydroelectric infrastructure.

The Bearspaw Reservoir is solely located outside the boundaries of The City of Calgary and The City does not have authority to regulate activities on it. The City's priorities for the reservoir are:

  1. Store an adequate supply of high-quality source water for the water treatment plant
  2. Manage risks to public safety associated with unauthorized access, emergency response limitations and water hazards
  3. Protect critical infrastructure that is essential for our water and electricity supplies
  4. Reduce the impact of high river flows and sustain environmental health.

The City is working with Rocky View County and TransAlta Corporation, the partners with jurisdictional responsibility for Bearspaw Reservoir, as part of a Trilateral Task Force to develop a strategy to provide guidance on source water protection, public safety, development adjacent to the reservoir and regulations for recreational activities.

Critical infrastructure on the Bearspaw Reservoir

The Bearspaw Reservoir is home to critical infrastructure that ensures the reliability of Calgary’s water and electricity supply:

The Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant and water intake structures

As one of Calgary’s water treatment facilities, the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant is responsible for the delivery of high-quality, safe drinking water to Calgarians and regional customers.

Several intake points exist in proximity to the reservoir and supply water to the Bearspaw Treatment Plant. 

Preventing the degradation and contamination of water entering these intakes is an important part of protecting Calgary’s water supply.

The Bearspaw Dam

Owned and operated by TransAlta Corporation, the Bearspaw Dam generates hydroelectric power for Calgary and its surrounding region.

Learn about the Bearspaw Dam

What are the risks of using the Bearspaw Reservoir?

Our exceptional drinking water is due in part to the high quality of our source water. 

The City does not currently support recreational activities in the Bearspaw Reservoir as water conditions pose significant safety risks, including strong currents, fluctuating water levels, cold water temperatures, and steep embankments.  The City has no ability to provide on-water emergency response on the reservoir.

The following activities are strongly discouraged on the Bearspaw Reservoir to protect source water quality and to ensure public safety:

  • Boating

    Use of motorized and non-motorized watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, is strongly discouraged. Water conditions pose significant safety risks, including strong currents, fluctuating water levels, cold water temperatures, and steep embankments. The City has no ability to provide on-water emergency response on the reservoir

  • Swimming and bodily contact with water

    To prevent drinking water contamination, direct human and pet contact with the reservoir is discouraged. Activities on the reservoir have the potential to pose contamination to the largest source of the city’s drinking water.

  • Unauthorized access to dam infrastructure

    Entry to critical infrastructure areas is strictly prohibited by TransAlta Corporation. Sudden changes in water levels can create strong currents and waves, including backflow effects that alter current speeds and water depths unexpectedly, posing significant safety hazards for the public, especially for recreational users such as boaters and swimmers.

Who has jurisdiction for Bearspaw Reservoir?

Bearspaw Reservoir and surrounding lands are jurisdictionally complex.

  • TransAlta – Owner of the Bearspaw Dam and the land surrounding the reservoir within the City of Calgary, and operator of the reservoir; overseeing hydroelectric power generation and shoreline management.
  • Rocky View County – The municipality surrounding much of the reservoir, responsible for land-use planning  and other bylaw enforcement within its jurisdiction.
  • Provincial and Federal Governments – Oversees water quality regulations, environmental protection, and navigation laws via various agencies. The Province owns the bed and shore of the reservoir and all water within the reservoir.

The Bearspaw Trilateral Task Force

The Bearspaw Trilateral Task Force is a partnership between The City of Calgary, Rocky View County, and TransAlta to address emerging concerns and develop a long-term management plan for the reservoir. The task force is focused on:

  • Developing a strategy to provide guidance on source water protection, public safety, development adjacent to the reservoir and regulations for recreational activities.
  • Conducting public engagement to gather input from residents, landowners and community partners.
  • Enhancing coordination among jurisdictional partners to ensure effective management of the reservoir.
  • Exploring policy and enforcement options to support long-term sustainability and safety within the reservoir.

Additional information

For more information on Bearspaw Reservoir and our critical water and hydroelectric infrastructure, please visit:

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