The Bearspaw Reservoir Trilateral Task Force (“Task Force”) is a partnership between The City of Calgary, Rocky View County, and TransAlta Corporation (“TransAlta”) to develop a long-term management plan for the Bearspaw Reservoir.

 The Task Force is focused on:

• Developing a strategy to provide guidance on source water protection, public safety, development adjacent to the reservoir and regulations for recreational activities.
• Conducting public engagement to gather input from residents, landowners and community partners.
• Enhancing coordination among jurisdictional partners to ensure effective management of the reservoir.
• Exploring policy and enforcement options to support long-term sustainability and safety within the reservoir.

Originally formed in 2018, the Task Force’s mandate is to develop a long-term Bearspaw Reservoir Management Plan that identifies and provides solutions to risks, issues, and jurisdictional complexities within the reservoir.

After pausing discussions to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic response, the Task Force reconvened in 2025 with an updated Terms of Reference to address the current and future needs of the reservoir and surrounding region. To date, the Task Force has released the 2019 Bearspaw Reservoir Consensus Report which serves as the basis for current Task Force direction.

It is anticipated that it will take a minimum of two years to complete the Task Force’s mandate. City and County Councils will be responsible for approving the Bearspaw Reservoir Management Plan.

While exploring management and governance strategies to protect the Bearspaw Reservoir, the 2019 Consensus Report identified four key principles with which to guide the former and future work of the Task Force.

These principles of reservoir management are as follows:

• Collaborative Management: A comprehensive, integrated, collaborative approach is needed to effectively manage the Bearspaw Reservoir.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Decisions shall be proactive and forward-thinking, to avoid incremental impacts resulting in risks to public health and aquatic environments for future generations.
• Precautionary Approach: Where scientific uncertainty on the risk of harm from activities or land uses persist, a precautionary approach to risk management shall be applied.
• Accommodate Low Risk Users: Low risk uses that will not diminish source water quality will be examined in a balanced manner [where possible], in recognition of environmental, recreational, amenity, and hydropower values.

These principles coincide with the Task Force’s primary goals of water protection, public safety, and preserving hydroelectric electricity generation.

Bearspaw Reservoir and its surrounding lands are jurisdictionally complex. Rights and responsibilities for the reservoir are split between five major parties:

• The City of Calgary: Owns and operates the Haskayne and Bearspaw Legacy Parks adjacent to the reservoir, with City jurisdiction ending along the northeastern bank.
• Rocky View County: Primary municipality surrounding much of the reservoir, responsible for land-use planning, bylaw enforcement, and emergency response within the jurisdiction.
• TransAlta: Owns and operates the Bearspaw Dam and immediate surrounding lands, as well as the bed and shoreline of the reservoir through a legal agreement with the Government of Alberta.
• Government of Alberta: Governs the use, protection, and stewardship of water resources in the province via provincial strategies and acts.
• Government of Canada: Governs the use of navigable waterways in Canada, as well as legislates water and watershed protection for the country.

Bearspaw Reservoir and its surrounding lands are jurisdictionally complex. Rights and responsibilities for the reservoir are split between five major parties:

• The City of Calgary: Owns and operates the Haskayne and Bearspaw Legacy Parks adjacent to the reservoir, with City jurisdiction ending along the northeastern bank.
• Rocky View County: Primary municipality surrounding much of the reservoir, responsible for land-use planning, bylaw enforcement, and emergency response within the jurisdiction.
• TransAlta: Owns and operates the Bearspaw Dam and immediate surrounding lands, as well as the bed and shoreline of the reservoir through a legal agreement with the Government of Alberta.
• Government of Alberta: Governs the use, protection, and stewardship of water resources in the province via provincial strategies and acts.
• Government of Canada: Governs the use of navigable waterways in Canada, as well as legislates water and watershed protection for the country.

The City’s priorities for the reservoir include:

1. Managing risks to public safety associated with unauthorized access, emergency response limitations, and water hazards.
2. Storing an adequate supply of high-quality source water for the water treatment plant.
3. Protecting critical infrastructure that is essential for water and electricity supplies.
4. Reducing the impact of high river flows and sustaining environmental health.