Duncairn Dam

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Description: An overview of Duncairn Dam, located in Southwest Saskatchewan, just south of the City of Swift Current. This photo was taken on a RARE Saskatchewan day when the wind was low, and the reservoir (Reid Lake) was calm.

Description: Un aperçu du barrage de Duncairn, situé dans le sud-ouest de la Saskatchewan, juste au sud de la ville de Swift Current. Cette photo a été prise lors d'une journée RARE en Saskatchewan lorsque le vent était faible et que le réservoir (lac Reid) était calme.

Submitted By: Sydney James

City: Regina

Region: Saskatchewan


Benefits to society [Translate]

Duncairn Dam was constructed in 1942 by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) –Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA). The dam facilitated the formation of Reid Lake. Reid Lake supplies Rush Lake, Waldeck and Herbert irrigation projects, totaling over 8500 acres and serving 147 irrigators. Additionally, Reid Lake is used to provide water supply to the City of Swift Current, stock watering and other rural domestic users.

Reid Lake also provides flood protection for the surrounding area and downstream, including the City of Swift Current and the Village of Waldeck.

Finally, Reid Lake is home to the Duncairn Reservoir Migratory Bird Sanctuary. As Duncairn Dam is located in a semi-arid, drought prone region, Reid Lake acts as an important breeding, feeding and resting area for a variety of bird species, including mallards, geese and tundra swan; however, the area is also home to a variety of species at risk including Barn Swallow (threatened), Common Nighthawk (Threatened), Western Grebe (Species of Special Concern) and Northern Leopard Frog (Species of Special Concern).

Economic benefits [Translate]

Duncairn Dam was constructed in 1942 by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) –Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA). The dam facilitated the formation of Reid Lake. Reid Lake supplies Rush Lake, Waldeck and Herbert irrigation projects, totaling over 8500 acres and serving 147 irrigators. Additionally, Reid Lake is used to provide water supply to the City of Swift Current, stock watering and other rural domestic users.

Additionally, Duncairn Dam and Reid Lake are a considerable tourism draw for the City of Swift Current. The lake offers camp sites, boat launches, cottages and is regularly used for recreation, especially fishing.

Technical merits [Translate]

The original Duncairn Spillway was constructed in 1942 with a flip bucket chute; however, by 1946 there was already significant spalling of the chute slab concrete. During severe flooding in 1952, the spilling basin and chute were destroyed. The failure was caused by severe erosion around the wingwalls resulting from poor design of the original spillway, inadequate energy dissipater and poor slope protection. As a result of the seriousness of the failure, a complete redesign of the structure was necessitated.

The result was to provide a mass concrete chute section and hydraulic jump stilling basin to contain the extreme runoff flows anticipated. The adoption of the arrangement was chosen to address two primary concerns: reduce turbulent tailwater conditions and fill the scour hole left by the flood in the most economical and efficient way. The chute was constructed on a mass concrete section of lean mix concrete placed to refill the scour hole. The chute walls were constructed of reinforced concrete cantilever sections. The energy dissipation section consists of a standard hydraulic jump stilling basin. The basin walls are mass concrete, gravity section retaining walls.

Additionally, a concrete hinge was included to compensate for the differential settlement from the newly placed transport section and thrust from the control section. It consists of a 1.5 m long specially designed floor slab to allow flexibility of the slab and prevent damage should settlement occur. The objective was to allow for some settlement and yet provide an arrangement which would be self-sealing.

Historical background [Translate]

The original Duncairn Spillway was constructed in 1942 with a flip bucket chute; however, by 1946 there was already significant spalling of the chute slab concrete. During severe flooding in 1952, the entire spilling basin and chute were destroyed leaving the gated spillway intact. To pass the flows, prevent overtopping and to reduce flows through the failing spillway, an emergency earth spillway was excavated in the east abutment. After the reservoir receded the emergency spillway was backfilled, and auxiliary spilling facilities have not been required since.

Following the failure of the spillway chute, and a subsequent reassessment of hydraulic data, a high design discharge capacity was desired while utilizing the intact spillway. The redesigned spillway was completed in 1953. The spillway remained largely unchanged until 1970, when repairs were made to concrete deterioration downstream of the breastwall on all 10 bays, the gates, piers and gate seals.

From 1988 – 1997, a number of studies were conducted on Duncairn, including revisions to the PMF, alternatives for raising the FSL and studies on safety of the dam. In 1997 after funding was allocated for spillway improvement studies were conducted regarding the spillway capacity.

From 2002 to 2006 the spillway would undergo a number of upgrades including stilling basin rehab, crest rehab and spillway modifications such as installation of radial gates, stop logs and a stop log walkway.


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