Oldman River

The Oldman River (362 km, mean annual flow rate 95 m³/s), rises near Mount Lyall in the Rockies of southwestern Alberta and flows south then east to join the BOW RIVER and form the South SASKATCHEWAN RIVER in Alberta. The Oldman River's name may come from the Cree term for "old man's playground." It receives tributaries from the US (St Mary River) and WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK. One of few major nonglacial-fed rivers in Alberta, it drains 26 700 km² of mountains, foothills and prairie. Important as a water supply for FORT MACLEOD and LETHBRIDGE, it has numerous dams and diversions for irrigation in the Lethbridge Irrigation District and St Mary and Milk River developments.

The Oldman River Dam (1991) upstream of Pincher Creek supplies irrigation and municipal water supplies to Lethbridge and adjacent areas of southern Alberta. The dam has aroused considerable controversy, with opponents claiming serious adverse effects on river habitat, archaeological sites and trout fishing. Proponents view the expansion of irrigation development and increased surety of water supplies as benefits that outweigh environmental concerns.

Author IAN A. CAMPBELL

Links to Other Sites
Riparian
A basic introduction to the ecology and management of riparian areas in Canada. From the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society.