Alberta selects Ghost River for new Bow River Reservoir location

Alberta has chosen the Ghost River as the site for a new reservoir on the Bow River to protect communities from future floods and droughts. The decision follows a detailed assessment of several options, with the relocated Ghost Dam emerging as the most viable choice due to its lower cost, smaller environmental footprint, and better ability to mitigate extreme weather impacts.

The Bow River, which flows through Alberta’s most populous regions, has been the focus of flood control efforts since the 2013 floods, which caused over $5 billion in damage in Calgary and surrounding communities. The provincial government has been exploring ways to boost water storage capacity upstream of Calgary to reduce future risks.

“Increasing water storage capacity is critical to protecting Calgary and other communities along the Bow River from future floods and drought,” said Rebecca Schulz, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.

The relocated Ghost Dam, an expansion of the existing Ghost Reservoir, was selected over the Glenbow East option, which would have been built between Cochrane and the Bearspaw Dam. The Ghost Dam was preferred because of its reduced social and environmental impacts and its construction as a concrete gravity dam, which is more resistant to erosion and failure during large flood events.

The decision stems from a 2017 Bow River Working Group report, which recommended a conceptual assessment of three reservoir options: Ghost Dam, Glenbow East, and Morley, the latter of which was ruled out early due to its location on Stoney Nakoda Nations reserve land.

Alberta’s study found that no other alternatives could provide the required water storage to effectively address both flood and drought concerns without encountering significant environmental and regulatory challenges.

The Ghost Dam project is now moving into Phase 3, focusing on engineering and regulatory approvals, with further details to be shared in 2025. Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors will take over responsibility for the project’s next steps, which will lead to eventual procurement, construction, and commissioning.

In parallel, Alberta is also developing the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir to protect Calgary and other downstream communities along the Elbow River as part of the province’s comprehensive flood mitigation strategy.

This project underscores Alberta’s commitment to managing water levels on the Bow River and ensuring long-term resilience against extreme weather events.