Glenmore Dam, Calgary, Alberta

Two mornings ago, a few of us went on our very first Botany outing of the year. Yes, it is still winter, but the winter of 2015/2016 has been so ridiculously mild for most of the time, that it feels like spring. It didn't matter that there were no flowers in bloom or buds bursting, as this walk was to look for lichens and mosses. The list of these for this area, Sandy Beach, needed to be updated and any new species added. I hadn't been down to this area for quite a few years.

"The Glenmore Reservoir is a large artificial reservoir on the Elbow River in the southwest quadrant of Calgary, Alberta. The Glenmore Dam is the concrete structure that holds back the reservoir. The reservoir is a primary source of drinking water to the city. Built in 1932, with a cost of $3.8 million, the dam controls the downstream flow of the Elbow River, thus allowing the city to develop property near the river's banks with less risk of flooding."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenmore_Reservoir

On 21 June 2013, for only the second time in the history of the Glenmore dam, the gates were open to relieve pressure. See YouTube video below.

youtu.be/FJ6EZ0QDi1U