Some Dam History CCARS10 Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

kristaandgeoff: The CPR has built a fence that stretches along the train line and access to the park is no longer possible (nor legal). Despite appeals to the company and the local politicians, this beautiful dog park, bike path and river access has closed permanently. It's a shame as it was a great place to take the family and ride our bikes along a flat path without any vehicles. We were going to try to find another location for this cache, but given that it was about the History of the Dam, any place other than near the dam, doesn't make sense.

Thanks to all that have visited.

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Hidden : 8/22/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache has been placed for the CCARS10 event, held August 28-29, 2010. This cache was released to the public on August 26, but should not be located prior to noon, August 28. The caches for the event are released early so that the caching community has an opportunity to solve puzzles and plan their routes prior to the event start.

Construction was completed on Bearspaw Dam in 1954.

The dam is owned and operated by TransAlta and is used to generate hydroelectricity for the City of Calgary and produces a maximum of 16MW. Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy. Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably lower output level of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) than fossil fuel powered energy plants. The dam is built on land originally owned by John Hextall, who is credited with founding Bowness when he submitted subdivision plans of his ranch in 1911.

In the real estate boom of 1911, Bowness was founded here. While no one is certain where the name Bowness came from, there was a ranch nearby with this name in the late 1800s. Hextall, who has a bridge in Calgary named after him, developed treed lots and built a golf and country club in the hopes of attracting wealthy investors. He realized that Bowness would need a transportation link, so in that same year (1911) he signed an agreement with the City of Calgary where the city took over responsibility for Bowness in exchange for streetcar service. The area did not flourish immediately, so when Hextall died in 1915, there were only 5 houses built. The Bearspaw Dam has been a major factor in fisheries improvement. The Bearspaw Dam stabilizes the river flow downstream and helps to create 100 km of highly productive trout fishing. This cache has been submitted for the History category of the Summer 2010 CCAR event.


The cache is a camo'd LnL. This park is very popular with dog owners and may have heavy muggle traffic at times. Be stealthy. This cache is located about 800m from the closest parking. Travel to the cache site is mostly on paved road, a gravel trail for about 50m and a small amount of bushwhacking. Please take the time to visit all the wonderful caches in the park as they are all of high quality (and you're here anyway).

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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