Zelma Reservoir

Reservoir in Saskatchewan, Canada

51°49′56″N 105°50′14″W / 51.8321°N 105.8373°W / 51.8321; -105.8373TypeReservoirPrimary inflowsAqueduct originating at Lake DiefenbakerBasin countriesCanadaManaging agencySaskatchewan Water Security AgencyBuilt1967First flooded1967Max. width1.6 km (1 mi)Surface area376.2 ha (930 acres)Max. depth6.1 m (20 ft)Water volume14,555 dam3 (11,800 acre⋅ft)Shore length19.94 km (6.18 mi)Surface elevation512 m (1,680 ft)SettlementsNone1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Zelma Reservoir[1] is a reservoir in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the Rural Municipality of Morris No. 312. It is about 17 kilometres (11 mi) east-southeast of the town of Colonsay.[2] The reservoir was built in 1967 as part of South Saskatchewan River Project. That project, originating at Gardiner Dam of Lake Diefenbaker, involved the building of aqueducts, canals, and a series of reservoirs to supply water for irrigation, consumption, and industry. Other reservoirs in the system include Broderick Reservoir, Brightwater Reservoir, Indi Lake, Blackstrap Lake, Bradwell Reservoir, and Dellwood Reservoir.[3][4]

The BHP potash mine at Jansen gets its water supply from Zelma Reservoir through the Zelma East Non-Potable Water Supply.[5][6]

There are no communities along the reservoir's shores. Besides Colonsay, other nearby communities include Zelma and Young. There is a public boat launch at the north-east corner, near the dam[7] and access is from Highway 763.[8][9][10]

Zelma Dam

Zelma Dam (51°50′33″N 105°51′06″W / 51.8424°N 105.8516°W / 51.8424; -105.8516), which was built in 1967, contains the reservoir. The dam is 9.1 metres (30 ft) high and the reservoir has a capacity of 14,555 dam3 (11,800 acre⋅ft).[11] The dam and reservoir are owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency.[12]

Fish species

Fish commonly found in Zelma Reservoir include northern pike, yellow perch, and walleye. In 2019, Zelma Reservoir was stocked with 200,000 walleye fry.[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Zelma Reservoir". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Zelma Reservoir". Sask Lakes. SaskLakes.ca. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Your Partner in Water" (PDF). SaskWater. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Mid Sask Municipal Alliance District Plan" (PDF). RM of Leroy. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  5. ^ Long, Cheryl. "SaskWater – Zelma East Pipeline Project". Business Elite Canada. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  6. ^ Peckover, Pat (22 December 2010). "SaskWater explains BHP water supply to public". SaskToday. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Zelma Reservoir". BRMB Maps. Mussio Ventures Ltd. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Zelma Reservoir, Saskatchewan Map:". Geodata.us. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Zelma Reservoir, Saskatchewan, Canada". Mindat.org. mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Zelma Reservoir Fishing Map". GPS Nautical Charts. Bist LLC. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  11. ^ "South Saskatchewan River Project". Water Security Agency. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Dams and Reservoirs". Water Security Agency. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Zelma Reservoir". Angler's Atlas. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Zelma Reservoir". FishBrain. Retrieved 17 November 2023.