McGregor Lake
Encyclopedia
McGregor Lake is an elongated (40 km by 2 km) reservoir
in Southern Alberta
. McGregor Lake was created in 1920 by the completion of two dams bracketing Snake Lake in Snake Valley. It is situated 100 km southeast of the Calgary
in the County of Vulcan
.
The reservoir is part of the Carseland-Bow River Headworks System that is owned and operated by Alberta Environment and delivers water to the Bow River Irrigation District. McGregor Lake is in the Oldman River
drainage basin, but most water in it is arrives via canals from the Bow River
. The reservoir was built by British-owned Canada Land and Irrigation Company and named after J. D. McGregor
, the company's Canadian manager who became Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
in 1929.
Confederacy. The first European settlers arrived mid-nineteenth century.
Ranching was well established by the 1880s. Shortly after, homesteading and farming were prevalent in the valley. The rich soil and dry climate led to an interest in irrigation. Construction began in 1909 on a major reservoir.
Two dams were built - one in the north near Milo, Alberta and a second, south dam. McGregor Lake was created when the Canada Land and Irrigation Company completed the South and North McGregor dams. Some of the water in the reservoir comes from the Old Man River, but a canal was also constructed to bring water from the Bow River near Carseland. Construction was a ten year project, the reservoir began filling in 1920. It was administered as a private company until 1950, when the federal Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
assumed control and modified the dam into a zoned earthfill structure from its previously homogeneous state. In 1973, McGregor Lake and its control structures were transferred to Alberta Environment.
site with camping facilities at the northwest corner of the lake. Amenities include a boat launch, playgrounds,
and picnic shelters. Small boats can also be launched at Lomond Crossing, where Secondary Road 531 crosses the lake.
Sport fishing yields Walleye
, Yellow Perch
, Lake Whitefish
, Rainbow Trout
, and Northern Pike
(Jackfish). Spawning lake whitefish can be seen in October at the sluice gate on the northwest corner of the lake. Local residents have reported catching up to 10 kilogram (22 lb) northern pike.
A campground, picnic area, and boat launch are provided at the north end of the lake.
McGregor Lake has attractive, clear water. Algal concentrations are usually low and do not interfere with recreational use.
Activities enjoyed at the lake include picnicking, swimming, fishing, wind surfing, canoeing, water skiing and power boating. A major cottage development has formed in recent years on the east shore of the lake near the village of Milo.
American white pelicans and double-crested cormorants often forage on this large prairie reservoir from April to September.
In spring and fall, the lake is an important staging area for waterfowl, including snow geese, Canada geese and greater white-fronted geese. Blue-winged teals and northern shovelers can be seen in spring and summer. The surrounding dry prairie uplands offer opportunities to observe marbled godwits and long-billed curlews. Prairie plants include such exotic species as the cushion cactus with its burgundy blooms and the prickly pear cactus with its prominent yellow blossoms; both flower in June.
Since at least 1938, McGregor Lake was fished commercially for northern pike. The lake has been fished commercially for lake whitefish since about 1948. During the 1980s,, the mean annual commercial catch was a total annual average of 85,964.3 kg of lake whitefish and northern pike fish. This is 200,000 pounds worth close to a million dollars. A 1982 investigation of pesticide and PCB levels in McGregor Lake fish found that concentrations were low and well below safe consumption limits.
The area around McGregor Lake has significant oil and gas discoveries with many large resource companies active, including Husky, Encana, and Total. On June 13, 2007 a day-long session for observing water-born spill mitigation was held at the south end of McGregor Lake. Alberta Energy and Utilities Board required all companies operating in the area to attend. About one hundred workers watched from behind a roped-off area as crews laid out yellow containment booms and demonstrated methods of containing potential lake spills.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Southern Alberta
Southern Alberta
Southern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of the year 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017. The primary cities are Lethbridge and Medicine Hat...
. McGregor Lake was created in 1920 by the completion of two dams bracketing Snake Lake in Snake Valley. It is situated 100 km southeast of the Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in the County of Vulcan
Vulcan County, Alberta
Vulcan County is a municipal district in Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 6. The current boundaries of the municipality were set in 1951...
.
The reservoir is part of the Carseland-Bow River Headworks System that is owned and operated by Alberta Environment and delivers water to the Bow River Irrigation District. McGregor Lake is in the Oldman River
Oldman River
The Oldman River is a river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake, where it joins with the Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into...
drainage basin, but most water in it is arrives via canals from the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
. The reservoir was built by British-owned Canada Land and Irrigation Company and named after J. D. McGregor
James Duncan McGregor
James Duncan McGregor was a Canadian agricultural pioneer and office holder. He served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba between 1929 and 1934....
, the company's Canadian manager who became Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
in 1929.
History
The reservoir occupies part of the Snake Valley, prehistorically, a thoroughfare for members of the BlackfootBlackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
Confederacy. The first European settlers arrived mid-nineteenth century.
Ranching was well established by the 1880s. Shortly after, homesteading and farming were prevalent in the valley. The rich soil and dry climate led to an interest in irrigation. Construction began in 1909 on a major reservoir.
Two dams were built - one in the north near Milo, Alberta and a second, south dam. McGregor Lake was created when the Canada Land and Irrigation Company completed the South and North McGregor dams. Some of the water in the reservoir comes from the Old Man River, but a canal was also constructed to bring water from the Bow River near Carseland. Construction was a ten year project, the reservoir began filling in 1920. It was administered as a private company until 1950, when the federal Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration is a branch under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, a department of the Federal Government of Canada....
assumed control and modified the dam into a zoned earthfill structure from its previously homogeneous state. In 1973, McGregor Lake and its control structures were transferred to Alberta Environment.
Sports and recreation
Swimming and boating access is at McGregor Lake Recreation Area (formerly Milo Campground), an Alberta Provincial Parksite with camping facilities at the northwest corner of the lake. Amenities include a boat launch, playgrounds,
and picnic shelters. Small boats can also be launched at Lomond Crossing, where Secondary Road 531 crosses the lake.
Sport fishing yields Walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, Yellow Perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, Lake Whitefish
Lake whitefish
The lake whitefish , also called the Sault whitefish or gizzard fish, is a species of freshwater whitefish from North America. Lake whitefish are found throughout much of Canada and parts of the northern United States, including all of the Great Lakes. A valuable commercial fish, they are also...
, Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, and Northern Pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
(Jackfish). Spawning lake whitefish can be seen in October at the sluice gate on the northwest corner of the lake. Local residents have reported catching up to 10 kilogram (22 lb) northern pike.
A campground, picnic area, and boat launch are provided at the north end of the lake.
McGregor Lake has attractive, clear water. Algal concentrations are usually low and do not interfere with recreational use.
Activities enjoyed at the lake include picnicking, swimming, fishing, wind surfing, canoeing, water skiing and power boating. A major cottage development has formed in recent years on the east shore of the lake near the village of Milo.
American white pelicans and double-crested cormorants often forage on this large prairie reservoir from April to September.
In spring and fall, the lake is an important staging area for waterfowl, including snow geese, Canada geese and greater white-fronted geese. Blue-winged teals and northern shovelers can be seen in spring and summer. The surrounding dry prairie uplands offer opportunities to observe marbled godwits and long-billed curlews. Prairie plants include such exotic species as the cushion cactus with its burgundy blooms and the prickly pear cactus with its prominent yellow blossoms; both flower in June.
Agriculture and industry
The lake was built for irrigation of farmland. In 2000, the lake had 250000 acre.ft of reserves and was at 85% of maximum capacity. This is enough water to provide almost 200 square miles (518 km²) with a typical 24 inches (610 mm) of watering. Most of the irrigation cropland is alfalfa and clover for hay, with canola, corn, and specialty crops also supplied. The land up to the full supply level of the reservoir is Crown, or government-controlled land - plus the Crown also owns about 30% of the land above the full supply level, most of which is leased for grazing.Since at least 1938, McGregor Lake was fished commercially for northern pike. The lake has been fished commercially for lake whitefish since about 1948. During the 1980s,, the mean annual commercial catch was a total annual average of 85,964.3 kg of lake whitefish and northern pike fish. This is 200,000 pounds worth close to a million dollars. A 1982 investigation of pesticide and PCB levels in McGregor Lake fish found that concentrations were low and well below safe consumption limits.
The area around McGregor Lake has significant oil and gas discoveries with many large resource companies active, including Husky, Encana, and Total. On June 13, 2007 a day-long session for observing water-born spill mitigation was held at the south end of McGregor Lake. Alberta Energy and Utilities Board required all companies operating in the area to attend. About one hundred workers watched from behind a roped-off area as crews laid out yellow containment booms and demonstrated methods of containing potential lake spills.