Last days before the snow

This is one of the gorgeous Roses that were in bloom yesterday, 27 September 2017, in friend Gayle's garden. The photo was taken at the end of a day of exploring the Springbank to Allen Bill Pond area. Gayle is busy getting petition forms out to people, in connection with the proposed dam that will be built in one these two areas. She asked me if I would like to go with her to take a closer look at these totally different areas. The Springbank area would suffer greatly if a dam was built and another major flood occurs. A lot of farmland that has been in families for generations in some cases. The second photo I posted today shows farmland in this area. The second area that is being considered for a dam is not far from Bragg Creek, and would involve a lot of forested land. We drove as far as Allen Bill Pond on Highway 66/Elbow Falls Trail before turning round to go back to Bragg Creek. Allen Bill Pond used to be a very popular fishing spot, but it was totally destroyed by the dreadful flood of 2013, when it was filled with gravel deposited by the river.

I hadn't followed any of this dam business, though it has apparently been going on for quite a long time - maybe two or three years? I'm also not someone who deals with petitions, but it was really interesting to see the enormous stretch of land that could end up being affected by the construction of a dam.

"The Springbank Off-stream Reservoir, or Springbank Project, is a dry reservoir that will store water temporarily during a flood. It will work in tandem with the Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary. Together, the combined storage capacity would accommodate water volumes equal to the 2013 flood."

Springbank Off-stream Reservoir conceptual animation (August 2017)
youtu.be/lNP5dKTiJ0Y

www.transportation.alberta.ca/documents/Springbank-Locati...

Thanks so much for the trip, Gayle! I didn't know most of the Springbank area before, but I was quite familiar with the Bragg Creek area. Going for lunch was a good idea and nice to stop and have coffee before heading for home. It was such glorious weather, too, and the fall colours just amazing. With rain and snow in the forecast for four days, tomorrow is the last decent day. Loved your Roses, Gayle, and what a delight to see the clusters of mushrooms growing at the base of one of your trees! Many thanks for the tomatoes, carrots and apples from your garden, too - a real treat.