The Raffery Reservoir lies about 29 miles north of the North Dakota / Saskatchewan border and stretches out for about 55 kilometers (35 miles) in a northwest / southeast direction between Weyburn & Estevan.
  • The Rafferty is by far the largest body of water in the southeast corner of the province
  • The Souris River, the Roughbark River and the Jewell River are the main supply sources that flow into the Rafferty. That point at which these rivers all join is right at Mainprize Park, located on the northwest shoreline of the lake.

    There is also a man made canal joining the Rafferty Reservoir with Boundary Dam, which is filled by the Long Creek River. When Boundary reaches full supply, they will open the canal to Rafferty rather than release the extra water downstream.
The objective of the Raffery Dam Project
  • For flood control and storage to protect the city of Minot, North Dakota
  • The Shand Power Plant located east of Estevan uses water from Rafferty to produce steam and cool generators.
  • Recreational opportunities
  • Because the American Government contributed financially to the Rafferty / Alameda Project, they have the right to a percentage of the yearly runoff that enters this system every spring in Saskatchewan. In the agreement, they must call for that allotment to be released to them by a certain date in the fall. If they do not call, the water remains in Saskatchewan, If they do call, the American allotment is satisfied by a release from the Alameda Reservoir.

Reservoir Specs at Full Supply

  • Full supply is reached at 549.5 meters of elevation
  • 55 kilometers (35 miles) long and 1.2 kilometers (3/4 of a mile) wide at the maximum
  • Varies in depth for 7.5 meters (25 feet) at the source end by the Park to 15.4 meters (50 feet) close to the dam site near Estevan
  • Area covered by water is 4800 hectares (12000 acres)
  • Storage capacity 439,600,000 cubic meters (97 billion gallons)

Direction of Flow

  • Water released from the Rafferty Dam flows east down the Souris River and joins with the southerly flow from Moose Mountain River that has been released out of the Alameda Dam
  • The combined flow of these two rivers flows south across the Canadian / USA border as the Mouse River, through Lake Darling and on to the city of Minot, N.D.
  • After passing through Minot, the Mouse takes a hook north and back up into the province of Manitoba where is eventually winds its way north and empties into the Hudson Bay.

The reservoir, the river systems that enter it and the numerous forged bays and inlets have not only created a get-away for adventure seekers but also a sanctuary for many species of water fowl and wildlife. Canoeists that have made day trips back into the shallows, claimed the have "literally touched nature by the hand".

Access for Anglers & Recreational Boaters

  • Boat launch at Maniprize Regional Park
    • concrete 4 place launch with piers
    • Large gravel parking lot
    • Bathrooms
    • Filleting shack
    • Store with all amenities
  • Boat launch west of Dam site at Estevan
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