By Sheri Monk

Even though ground hasn’t been broken on a proposed dam to be located near Mantario, the Great Sandhills Wildlife organization has been hard at work to create a new fishing spot.
“We looked at a lot of sites,” said Norman Rubbelke, a past-past president and current member of the organization.
After four years of research and learning several other locales would cost as much as $400,000 to construct a dam at, the group decided on the Mantario location.
The site where the dam will be built is owned by Dennis Hyland, who is also a member of the organization. He has given the project his blessing. A smaller dam already exists at the site, which will reduce the cost of construction. The resulting body of water created from increasing the size of the dam will be entirely fed by run-off water.
The newly-created body of water will likely be stocked with trout and will also provide habitat for bird species.
“We wanted to do something wildlife wise, to provide some wildlife experiences and a nesting ground for birds,” explained Rubbelke, a Burstall resident who has been a member of the association for decades.
The group is currently waiting blueprints for the dam, which are anticipated to arrive in the near future. Once received, the plans will be submitted to the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority for approval.
While construction is ever-closer, it has cost over $13,000 to get the project as far as it has come. The Grand Ole Opry has donated $9,000 toward the dam to date, which has helped tremendously to fund surveys, feasibility studies, a geotechnical investigation and design plans. The group was able to save $11,000 on the geotechnical investigation by working closely with Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.
Construction of the dam is anticipated to cost less than $100,000.
“Once we get approval, we will be trying to raise some money and possibly partner with someone. We are hoping to get some of the earthmoving work contributed by the RM up there as some of the farmers do make use of that water,” said Rubbelke.