Improved Bossano Dam -- Govt of Alberta photo

By Dori Modney with files from The Canadian Press

Bassano Dam: Protecting against flood incidents while maintaining water supply

Oct 30, 2019 | 4:32 PM

BOSSANO — Officials in southern Alberta celebrated the completion of measures to protect the Bassano Dam last week.

A second emergency spillway was built at a cost of 45 million dollars, including 30 million of provincial grants and another 15 million by the Eastern Irrigation District.

It would allow the dam operators to open a section of the earthen dam to quickly bring down water levels that might overwhelm the bank and potentially lead to general failure.

During a 2013 flood, E-I-D officials reported that the level of water in the dam crested just inches below critical points.

The Bassano Dam’s new emergency spillway is 119 metres wide and features 10 radial gates, each measuring 10.5 metres.

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At maximum water levels, the combined capacity of the new and existing spillways is 7,300 cubic metres per second.

The Bassano Dam has helped ensure a reliable supply of water is available to meet agricultural, industrial and household needs throughout the region, since 1914.