Calgary Bow River Weir Project (Harvie Passage)
Connecting communities, parks and facilities on the Bow River
“It has been almost 100 years since the Bow River flowed freely through the City of Calgary. Since 1904, a weir to divert water for irrigation has blocked passage on the Bow. The current structure, built in 1975 near Inglewood, performs the important function of diverting water into a canal for use by farmers in the Western Irrigation District.
Called Harvie Passage in honour of Calgary philanthropist Don Harvie, the multi-million dollar project will see the hazardous weir structure in Inglewood reconstructed with a series of pools and rapids that will be safer for people and improve natural movement of fish along the river.
The objective is to eliminate the dangerous condition created by the current structure and develop a design that is suitable for downstream passage by small boats and improve fish passage. Just as importantly, the intent is to make the river look and behave more like a natural rapid so it would enhance the park values of adjacent lands. No motorized boats are allowed on the Bow River in Calgary except for those of the Aquatic Rescue Service of the Fire Department. This modification to the weir would eliminate one of their most hazardous duties by allowing their boats to pass up and down through the area. In addition to river safety, the principal benefit is considered to be the improvement to the appearance of the natural river shoreline along Pearce Estate Park.
The project is not finished and is not safe- the river will not be open to the public until after all construction is complete and its performance has been thoroughly tested and approved. Opening date is expected in the fall of 2011.”
