The Bear Creek Reservoir has looked rather empty over the last several weeks due to recent extreme heat and limited rainfall (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Shaun Penner

"No issue at this time"

City official says no concerns with low water levels in Bear Creek Reservoir

Jul 21, 2021 | 11:16 AM

While it may look concerning, a city official says the low levels of water in the Bear Creek Reservoir in Muskoseepi Park is not something to worry about at this time.

This according to Development Engineer for the City of Grande Prairie Michael Harvard.

“We understand that it is not normal to see it this low, but there is no issue at this time,” said Harvard. “Once precipitation arrives, we will slowly bring the levels back up… That really is dependent on what we receive from upstream, and then what we receive locally in town.”

One of the main factors Harvard points to for why there are such low levels of water in the reservoir on the north end of the park is the recent hot weather.

“Evaporation does play a role, but the main factor influencing our levels in the reservoir is the amount of rain we receive,” said Harvard. “Both within the city, and upstream at the headwaters of Bear Creek.”

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A look at water levels on July 20 from the top of the Bear Creek spillway (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

Water levels from that same location in April of 2020 (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

While the recent heat wave brought with it record high temperatures and drought like conditions, recent rainfall in both the city and around Bear Lake (which is the main source of water for the reservoir and creek) will hopefully help fill the reservoir over the coming days.

Harvard says though the heat wave has really taken a toll on soil in the area, which was in desperate need of some precipitation.

“The land itself is absorbing a lot of that water, which means it doesn’t get transferred into the river at all,” said Harvard. “Or, not to the same extent that we would expect.”

Harvard calculates that between June and July of 2020, approximately 127 millimetres of rain fell in the Grande Prairie area. Over that same period in 2021, only around 40 mm has fallen.

He adds on top of those factors, the creek is not the only user of the water coming out of Bear Lake.

“There are other water licenses upstream. So, there are a few houses and farming operations that will have wells that draw from the same water that does feed the creek, so that can have a small impact on the amount of water that we would see within the creek itself.”

Harvard adds priority number one is to keep fish and wildfire healthy within the river valley. This is why he says the city will continue to send whatever water does come into the reservoir right down the spillway.

The city currently only has one half of the Bear Creek spillway open (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

“We do have to maintain water flowing downstream at all times to ensure the health and well-being of the rest of the aquatic environment.”

Creek levels just south of the spillway on July 20 (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

While he says creek levels are sustainable right now for fish, there are some areas of Bear Creek that have higher, or lower, levels of water than others.

Harvard says this is due to increased beaver activity this year, as the conditions are ripe for them to do what they do best.

“This year they have been able to put up a lot more dams than we are used to,” said Harvard.

“So, you’ll see regions within the river valley where the levels look normal, but they are being artificially altered due to beaver dams throughout the stream.”

Harvard also says while it may be tempting to want to walk out onto the bed of the reservoir, it is best to avoid it.

“I know the reservoir looks appealing… but it’s very soft silt and sediment, so just a warning to not venture out into there, as it is quite muddy and easy to get stuck in.”