Lower Qu’Appelle River Watershed

The Lower Qu’Appelle River Watershed is located in southeastern Saskatchewan and is part of the Qu’Appelle River basin. It comprises the lower, or downstream, half of the Qu’Appelle River basin.

The area extends from the Manitoba border in the east to Craven in the west. The watershed covers approximately 17, 800 km². It includes six major lakes along the Qu’Appelle River: Pasqua, Echo, Mission, Katepwa (the four Fishing Lakes), Crooked and Round.  Major tributaries to the Lower Qu’Appelle River are the Loon, Jumping Deer, Pheasant, Kaposvar, Pearl, Indianhead, Redfox, Ekapo, Cutarm and Scissor Creeks.

The watershed is affected to a great extent from water diverted from Lake Diefenbaker to the Lower Qu’Appelle system via Qu’Appelle River dam. This high quality water is used to augment the natural water supply.

Major towns and villages include Punnichy, Ituna, Melville and Bredenbury in the northern part of the watershed, Southey, Fort Qu’Appelle, Lemberg and Esterhazy in the central part of the watershed and Indian Head, Wolseley, Broadview and Rocanville in the southern part of the watershed.

Many First Nations are present in the watershed including Kawacatoose, Gordon, Muskowekan, Piapot, Muscowpetung, Pasqua, Standing Buffalo, Peekeekisis, Okanese, Star Blanket, Little Black Bear, Sakimay, Cowessess, Kahkewistahaw, Ochapowace, and Carry the Kettle. Economic activities in the watershed include agriculture, tourism, potash, and oil and gas development.

For more information about the Lower Qu’Appelle Watershed Stewards Inc, please go to the website: http://www.lqws.ca/. Alternatively, you can contact:

Alice Davis, Watershed Coordinator
Lower Qu’Appelle Watershed Stewards
alice.davis@lqws.ca
306-745-9774

Click here to view the Lower Qu’Appelle River Watershed Plan