Shellmouth Reservoir, Parkland Region Travel Guide

Shellmouth Reservoir, also known as Lake of the Prairies, is a significant man-made reservoir stretching across the Assiniboine River in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The reservoir was formed by the construction of the Shellmouth Dam, a multi-purpose embankment dam completed in 1972 by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA).The primary purpose of the Shellmouth Reservoir is to reduce flood damage for Winnipeg and other communities along the Assiniboine River. During the 1997 Red River flood, the reservoir's inflow peaked at 10,000 cubic feet per second, but the outflow was limited to 1,700 cu ft/s, significantly mitigating downstream flooding. The reservoir also supplements river flows during dry periods, ensuring a consistent water supply for irrigation, industries, and municipalities like Brandon and Portage la Prairie.The Shellmouth Dam is approximately 21.3 meters (70 feet) high and 1,270 meters (4,166 feet) long. The reservoir can store approximately 477,365 dam3 of water at the spillway crest elevation. Asessippi Provincial Park, located on the reservoir's southern arm, provides recreational opportunities such as camping, hiking, fishing, and boating. The lake is known for its walleye, northern pike, and perch, making it a popular destination for anglers.