South Saskatchewan River flows to spike beginning Thursday

Water levels on the South Saskatchewan River are expected to reach their highest level in six years. Keenan Sorokan reports.

The provincial Water Security Agency (WSA) is warning people to exercise caution around the South Saskatchewan River as it increases the outflows from Gardiner Dam on Thursday.

The agency says water levels could rise by up to 1.4 meters through Moon Lake and just over half a meter in Saskatoon, with flows increasing to about 700 cubic meters per second, up from around 280.

This comes at a time when outflows are already well above the seasonal average of 160 cubic meters per second, WSA says.

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“There could be further increases in outflows if the situation shifts and requires adjustments,” the agency said in a news release.

With an increase in flow, comes an increase in velocity.

This could pose a serious safety risk for residents around the water’s edge and recreational users on the river over the next week, according to the City of Saskatoon.

While the water won’t likely rise enough to flood low-lying portions of the Meewasin Valley Trail, Saskatoon Deputy Fire Chief Sean Thody, it is a “significant increase and with that, there’s an increase in the potential dangers around the river.”

“Although the river may provide a tempting option to cool down on hot days, the South Saskatchewan is unpredictable,” said Thody.

“Aside from the changing, dangerously fast currents and unstable bottom, it will have many additional hazards right now such as fallen branches, hidden material like broken concrete and floating debris that will pose a threat to anyone in or near the water.”

The deputy chief says the Saskatoon Fire Department is not even allowed to put rescue divers in the water when the flow rate exceeds 450 cubic meters per second, well below the anticipated peaks on parts of the South Saskatchewan over the next week.

WSA says the decision to increase the output from Gardiner Dam was made in anticipation of impacts from further rainfall in southern Alberta, where Environment Canada issued a warning this week, and inbound mountain runoff.

“WSA is taking a cautious approach to managing the reservoir after a large rainfall event in Alberta this week combined with a well above normal mountain runoff set to arrive the middle to end of June. Flows in the headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River in Alberta increased quickly in response to recent rainfall and warmer temperatures.”

With the spillway gates in use at the dam, WSA is asking people to stay a safe distance from the structure.

You can track updates from WSA on its operations at Lake Diefenbaker here.