What is happening? The provincial government is considering flooding six parks, including the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park and the recently completed Haskayne Legacy Park to build a new dam and reservoir between Calgary and Cochrane.

This new “Glenbow East” dam would not only catastrophically impact our parks, but negatively affect recreational opportunities, wildlife, environment, and property values.

Calgary and Cochrane are rapidly growing communities with limited large natural public park spaces. The Bow River Valley and the development of parks along this corridor provide year-round local recreational opportunities. In 2009 the Alberta Government developed a Plan for Parks. The vision for this plan was to “inspire people to discover, value, protect and enjoy the natural world and the benefits it provides for current and future generations”. A dam at this location threatens to destroy this vision.

In 2006, the Harvie family contributed 3247 acres to the Provincial Government to create the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, fulfilling Eric Harvie’s son Neil’s promise that the land would never be developed. The ranch was officially designated a Provincial Park in 2008.

“To all future visitors to Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, my wish is this: that you feast your mind and senses, and enjoy” – Tim Harvie

IMPACTS TO PARKS

The six parks that would be impacted by this dam include:

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
This 3247 acre park is run by the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (GRPF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. The foundation demonstrates a unique partnership with the government to conserve its endangered grassland ecosystem and its important cultural heritage. The dam will remove one third of the park, 800-1100 acres.

Haskayne Legacy Park
This 360 acre City of Calgary regional park was donated by Dick and Lois Haskayne. The park has significant ecological and human heritage. It includes a recently built two million dollar “net zero” pavilion, and pathways that connect to the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. The dam will remove 80 percent of the land, the new pavilion, trails, and parking.

The trails that connect the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park and the Haskayne Park are part of a long-term vision of a regional pathway connecting Calgary to Cochrane, and eventually to Canmore and Banff National Park as part of the National TransCanada Trail network.

Bearspaw Legacy Park
Now owned by the City of Calgary, this park was originally owned by the Devonian Foundation on lands donated by the Harvie Family Foundation. The park is part of the ENMAX Park Program, a long term multi-million-dollar vision for local citizens. It features rolling hillsides of native prairie grasses, wetlands, forested shorelines, and sandstone cliffs that provide nesting sites for Great Horned Owls. The site will be completely lost to the dam as this is the location for the spillway structure.

Klippert Shoreline Park.
This future 160 acre park presently serves Kilppert Sand and Gravel. Once the gravel operation is complete, the land will become part of the Bearspaw Legacy Park. This park will eventually serve as a day-use park for Calgary with access to the Bow River for low-impact recreation. It will be underwater with the dam.

Springbank Heights Park
Owned by the county of Rocky View, this 20 acre river access municipal reserve park is visited by dog walkers, cyclists, fishermen, and other recreational users. It will be underwater.

Bow River Ranch
This 2000 acre parcel was purchased by the provincial government in 2021 for sixty-two million dollars. Alberta Transportation expects to use a portion of this land for mining gravel, with the expectation that it will be reclaimed and developed as a park. This property houses a famous western film set and location. Also underwater.

Watch an animation and drone footage of the Glenbow East Dam option here (4:10 minutes)