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possibilities, but information is insufficient to estimate
what heads might be concentrated.

Power Markets—No power markets of magnitude are
apparent in the Peace River basin. As already mentioned,
a small market, possibly about 2,000 horse-power, is in
view in the Nation River area to supply a mercury mine.
In the agricultural areas adjacent to the Peace, a number of
communities are served now with electric energy from
oilfuel plants totalling about 2,000 horse-power. These
plants are situated at Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Spirit
River, McLennan, and Peace River, and transmission lines
serve other communities. Large power-consuming industries
would need to be established in the region to warrant the
development of the sites on the Peace.

Athabaska River

The Athabaska River, with a total drainage area of
61,000 square miles, is the most southerly of the three main
tributaries of the Mackenzie drainage system. It rises in
the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and, after a
northeasterly and northerly course, flows into Lake

Athabaska.

Only the lower reach of 300 miles, or that portion north
of Township 70, is included in the studies pertaining to
the North Pacific Region. In the upper half of this reach,
numerous rapids are encountered, including Pelican Rapids,
with a fall of 12 feet, and Grand Rapids, with a fall of
32 feet. Between Grand Rapids and McMurray, the river
descends 375 feet in a series of heavy rapids. Below Mc-

| Murray, the rapids disappear, and the river flows smoothly

to Lake Athabaska. This portion is part of the Mackenzie

| Navigation route.

Water Supply.—The Athabaska, being a mountain-fed
stream, has the flow characteristics of such streams, low
flow in winter and high flows in June, July, and August.

Discharge records of the Athabaska River at Athabaska
(Drainage area 29,643 sq. mi.) are available continuously
for the period May, 1913, to Apvil, 1931. During this
period the maximum flow recorded was 108,640 c.f.s. in
June, 1914, and the minimum 1,660 c.f.s. in February,
1923; the average annual flow being 14,600 c.f.s.

From investigations of storage possibilities in the
Athabaska basin, effective regulation of the flow of the
river is reported to be not practicable.

Power Resources.—No water-power developments have
been undertaken on the Athabaska River.

In the reach of the river under consideration, power
surveys made by the Dominion Water and Power Bureau
in 1912 indicated that a development at Grand Rapids
would be feasible with a head of 45 feet. The power
available under this head would be 10,600 horse-power at
ordinary minimum flow, or 38,400 horsepower at ordinary
six months flow.

[78 }

Below Grand Rapids, the river is reported to have
a descent of 375 feet in a distance of 76 miles. No investi-
gations have been made to determine how this fall might be
developed, but, assuming that all of it could be utilized, the
power potentialities would be 88,600 horse-power at
ordinary minimum flow, or 320,000 horse-power at ordinary
six months flow.

Power Markets.—The City of Edmonton, some 200
miles from Grand Rapids, is the nearest power market of
any magnitude to sites on the Athabaska River, but investi-
gations indicated that power delivered in Edmonton from
this source would be too costly.

Having in mind the costly nature of developments on
the Athabaska, it is difficult to foresee a market for the
power resources of the Athabaska.

Slave River ) id

The Slave River is formed by the oe of the Peace
River and Riviére des Rochers, and flows into Great Slave
Lake. The river hasa length of about 285 miles, and receives
the run-off from an area of some 232,000 square miles. Navi-
gation in the Slave River is broken at Smith Rapids, which
extend over a distance of 18 miles and are caused by a spur of
the Canadian Shield which crosses the river in this reach.
Smith Rapids are in reality a series of rapids known individu-
ally as Cassette, Pelican, Mountain, and the Rapid of the
Drowned. They form the only barrier in the navigation route
from McMurray on the Athabaska to the mouth of the Mac-
kenzie. A wagon road, 16 miles in length, is maintained
from Fitzgerald to Fort Smith to overcome this barrier.
In Smith Rapids, the river spreads out to a width of two
miles and contains innumerable islands.

Water Supply.—The greater part of the water supply
of the Slave River is contributed by the Peace and Atha-
baska Rivers systems. Lake Athabaska, with an area of
3,100 square miles, acts as a huge reservoir to regulate the
flow of the Slave River.

Discharge records of the Slave are available for two
open-water seasons only, May to November, 1921, and
May to October, 1922. During these periods, the maximum
discharge recorded was 315,500 c.f.s. in June, 1921, and
the minimum 104,800 c.f.s. in September, 1922. For the
purpose of power estimates, ordinary minimum flow has

been estimated as 25,500 c.f.s. and ordinary six months
flow as 58,000 c.f.s.

Power Resources.—A reconnaissance survey of the
power possibilities of Smith Rapids was made by the
Dominion Water and Power Bureau in 1921. The rapids
were found to have a total descent of 111 feet, and the
survey indicated the possibility of developing the greater
portion of this fall at two sites; one at Pelican Rapids with
a head of 61-5 feet, and the other at Mountain Rapids
with a head of 34-5 feet. The estimated power possibilities
are as follows: