Exercise Gopher When the Department of National Defence acquired property west of the Battle River in the 50’s expansion, it included several municipal roads servicing a few scattered farms south and east of Irma. The Provincial Government’s steel bridge spanning the Battle River in this area, had previously collapsed due to flooding of the river, and roads leading to it had become overgrown from lack of use. Plans for a permanent bridge were prepared by the Camp Engineer Officer. In July 1953, construction equipment, bridging materials and provisions were delivered to the site south and west of Betty Lake. On July 20, 1 Airborne Troop RCE parachuted into the area to begin Exercise Gopher. The Troop set up bivouac in a clearing on the west side of the river and began work immediately. Construction began at 7:45 AM. The east bank of the river had to be reshaped to provide a suitable bank - seat. Sappers prepared a foundation for the bridge under its launching nose which projected over the Battle River as others secured the Bailey beams and supports. They worked feverishly around the clock, and by 4:00 PM the next day, the 90 foot Single Class 9 Bridge had been launched and the crew were putting the finishing touches to their job. Red Route stretched on either side of the new bridge for use during BUFFALO IV, the end-of-summer training exercise. (this bridge collapsed under ice in 1969 and was replaced by the Royal Green Jackets, British Engineer Squadron). Betty Lake Water Tower The newest landmark at the Camp in early 1953 was the recently constructed water tower about three miles west of camp and about half way to Betty Lake. This was the last stage in the long awaited completion of an adequate water supply for Camp Wainwright. Water is pumped during the summer months from the Battle River up over the escarpment into Betty Lake raising the level as high as possible to provide sufficient water for camp use throughout the winter. It is then pumped from the lake through the filtration and treatment building on the lakeshore, and into 16 inch transite water main to the underground million gallon capacity storage tank near the base of the tower. This tank is made of pretest steel and concrete and cleverly disguised as just another hump in the naturally rolling terrain in this area. As necessary, water is boosted to the 250,000 gallon overhead tank and gravity fed to distribution mains in the barrack area. The new water tower is level with, and works in conjunction with the old tank, within the camp. This latest addition to the training ranges will no doubt be a reliable marker for aircraft and manoeuvring troops, and of course the fall duck hunters after training exercises are over for the season.