Adjustable wave is closer to reality for Southern Alberta river

KANANASKIS COUNTRY, Alta. – The Lower Kananaskis River has been a popular place for those who want to enjoy white water conditions and the river will soon be getting even better for surfers and kayakers.

A new project by the Alberta River Surfing Association and Alberta Whitewater Association will upgrade the infrastructure of the river and provide an adjustable wave environment that mimics what is currently only found in nature.

The Lower Kananaskis River has been dammed and dam-controlled for decades. Water levels range each day from no water in the river to 30 cubic metres per second of water.

“The reason they do that is because they generate the most electricity when its running at 30 cubic meters per second,” said Neil Egsgard, president of the Alberta River Surfing Association. “There isn’t enough water to have it running at that level.”

A whitewater park was created four decades ago in 1984 to take advantage of the waves created by the changing water level.

“Over the past 15 years or so, we realized we can make some incredible waves there and have been developing our abilities and that is culminating in this wave design,” Egsgard said.

The river already has a large river surfing scene, but it isn’t perfect for those who kayak or surf river waves.

“It has drawbacks that you can’t change it; it is a little bit shallow,” said Michael Holroyd, executive director of the Alberta Whitewater Association. “It is good for surfing, good for kayaking, but not perfect for either.”

The new adjustable wave system has taken 18 months to research and perfect, with help from Surf Anywhere and the University of Ottawa.

“The point of it is to be able to make different types of waves for kayakers and surfers and do it very precisely,” Egsgard said. “We can make waves that have only existed in nature before and have never been shaped by people.”

The plan is to alternate the river wave conditions using the adjustable wave system.

“For half of the time, it would be set up for perfect surfing conditions, and half the time for freestyle kayaking conditions,” Holroyd said.

So far, the project has received about 90 per cent of its funding. Along with $150,000 that came from the Alberta government, approximately $60,000 came from individuals and not-for-profits. A further $28,000 is needed for the project.

“We have people donating from $50 and $150 to thousands of dollars,” Egsgard said. “Right now, it is primarily individuals who are funding it.”

Money is available for the engineering and fabrication, and the last bit is needed for installation.

“We are expecting to submit the permit in September or October, and we hope to start fabricating in spring 2023,” Egsgard said. “Installation would be in the fall of 2023, or the spring of 2024.”

Since the river goes from zero flow to a significant flow every day, the environmental impact of the adjustable wave system would be minimal.

“There is always an environmental impact and that is all taken into account in order to do the project to ensure that it has a positive impact on the environment,” Egsgard said.

The on and off nature of the river makes it poor fish habitat, but measures will be in place to help fish navigate the river nonetheless.

“The Kananaskis River is an on and off river already. It is only on six hours a day, and off 18 hours a day,” Holroyd said. “It is a pretty terrible fish habitat. We will have a channel to one side for fish to get through if they need to.”

The adjustable wave system would likely bring in new tourists, looking to take advantage of the waves that have been tailored exactly to their needs.

“When the waves are set in conditions for you, you know you are going to get a perfect wave every time,” Holroyd said. “We would have the ability to make those micro-adjustments, so it is exactly what you want.”

“There will be people coming to use the waves,” Egsgard said. “There is no question about if you spend money to take your family to a river, will it be good for kayaking, or if I go to the ocean, will the swells be right?”

To help fund the rest of the project, you can visit https://give.crowdfunding.alberta.ca/kan-river-waves?ref=ab_9XMU3xQMswK9XMU3xQMswK.