Thunder Rapids Campground
Campbell Dam - Friday, August 12, 2011
Images by: Judy and Timothy Shire
The development of hydro-electrical generation on the Saskatchewan River took place during and just after the Prime Ministership of Prince Albert’s John Diefenbaker. One of the important achievements of this man was his passion for development in northern Saskatchewan and the northern portion of Canada in general which at the time was pretty much empty. He campaigned advocating “roads to resources” and put money into the development in Saskatchewan of the Hansen Lake Road and in cooperation with the province of Saskatchewan the construction of dams on the Saskatchewan River to generate electrical power.
In recognition of his efforts the massive lake created in Southern Saskatchewan is named after the former prime minister.
The Gardiner Dam south of Saskatoon, near Outlook was begun in 1957 and completed ten years later. The E.B. Campbell dam was constructed about the same time officially opening in 1963 the year John Diefenbaker left office. The Gardiner Dam is one of the largest earth filled dams in the world creating the seventy-five mile long Lake Diefenbaker.
The E.B. Campbell dam produced Tobin Lake which is one fifth the land mass of Lake Diefenbaker but is not stretched out as far. There are some dramatic differences in these to man made bodies of water. Lake Diefenbaker fills the naturally shaped old valley walls of the Saskatchewan River from North of Swift Current to Outlook but is grass land. Tobin Lake form in a heavily wooded forest and for decades after its development was littered with the trees of the forest that floated to its surface and a major operation was to remove this materials year after year. Ecologically both projects had a profound affect on the climate and wildlife of the area and there was a $15,000,000 settlement to First Nations people of Cumberland House for the disruption created by the E.B. Campbell dam.
Though the E.B. Campbell dam was constructed in 1963 the first six turbines were installed between 1963 and 1964 each capable of producing 34 megawatts. Two larger 42 megawatt generators were added in 1966. These last two are in the process of being refurbished and that work should conclude this month.
During construction of the dam and power station required a lot of workers and a village of sorts was laid out north of the power station on the east side of the river fitted with electrical service, fire hydrants and road ways. When you walk around the area you come across concrete foundations and floors for buildings that were part of the construction site. That site is today one of the best campgrounds in the province.
The campground called Thunder Rapids has been handed over to a private operator to run and maintain and they are doing an outstanding job of making this just a great place to visit and stay a while. The main attraction is what’s in the water. The fishing is awesome and since it is river fishing there is no need for a boat you can just walk down to the shore of the river and throw in your line. We did not do any fishing on our visit but campers on both sides of us were harvesting outstanding catches every day. The fish are abundant.
It is important to note that the area where Tobin Lake is located is on the southern edge of one of North America’s unique ecological and geographical areas, the largest inland delta in Canada consisting of more that 10,000 square kilometres. The Saskatchewan River Delta extends north toward Cumberland House and east north of the communities of Red Earth and Shoal Lake. It is a really big area and though you can get an idea of what a huge marsh land of this type is like it is really an awesome sight when seen from above. Wetlands, swamps, braided streams and a host of both plants and animals that are unique to the area.
Three weeks ago a mechanic from Tisdale told me about his visit to Thunder Rapids. He said the campgrounds were great and the fishing even greater so based on his recommendation we headed up to Carrot River then north toward Cumberland house to the Thunder Rapids Lodge. We were truly impressed. The place is as advertised and then some. The lodge operators have installed a swimming pool, there were lots of campers and the scenery is breathtaking. The mosquitos are only trying to reproduce but their need for blood made me feel at times as though I would need a transfusion. So if you decide to visit this great camping spot take along some bug spray or whatever you use to make life comfortable. I didn’t do that and I think I am still a little anemic.
The camp sites are large enough for any sized camper and there are amazing tenting sites tucked into the forest. Behind our site a workman was clearing undergrowth and was burning off the stuff he was cleaning up. We saw several long term camp sites and there is a small portable sawmill set up in the area.