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The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency is urging everyone to be cautious around the South Saskatchewan River, as it plans to release a large volume of water from Lake Diefenbaker this weekend.
The agency said it plans to release water from the man-made lake using the spillway at the Gardiner Dam, which will increase the river’s flow from around 280 cubic metres per second up to about 700 cubic metres per second. The release is expected to cause the river to rise about 1.4 metres in the Moon Lake area and about 0.6 m in Saskatoon.
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The move to release water from the reservoir is a response to recent precipitation in Alberta, which the agency said has increased the flow of water coming into the lake.
“Typical flows for this time of year are around 160 m³/s, making these levels significantly above normal,” the agency said in a statement.
“There could be further increases in outflows if the situation shifts and requires adjustments. No out of bank flooding is expected because of the increase.”
The agency said it is taking “a cautious approach to managing the reservoir” due to the recent rainfall in Alberta, combined with a forecast showing runoff levels well above normal later this month.
With flow rates set to more than double this weekend, the agency urged caution around both the river and the Gardiner Dam.
“Flows at this level can pose a serious safety risk for residents and recreational users in and around the water at this time of year,” the agency said.
