Flows on the North Saskatchewan River are higher than officials expected as water from Alberta moves toward Saskatchewan.
Water Security Agency spokesperson Patrick Boyle said Tuesday that typical flows are around 500 cubic metres per second. The water is flowing at 2,600 m3/s and will hit about 3,000 m3/s when it peaks at North Battleford Wednesday and Prince Albert Thursday.
Flows on the South Saskatchewan River coming from the flood zone around Calgary are about the same as Monday. Agricultural land in an area around the provincial border and then downstream of Lake Diefenbaker is flooding but Boyle couldn’t say how many acres are affected.
Read Also
Federal agriculture committee chair Coteau says he’s eyed the ag file for years
Michael Coteau says he is excited to take on the role of Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food despite urban background.
The Alberta floodwater will not affect other river and lake systems.
“There is zero impact on the Qu’Appelle chain,” Boyle said.
Cumberland House downstream of the confluence of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers was evacuated as of 4 p.m. Monday because the highway leading to the community is expected to flood. About 100 people remain in the community for security and infrastructure maintenance.
Emergency management coordinator Duane McKay said about 2,200 people were affected.
About 1,000 have registered with the provincial government and are being accommodated in hotels in Prince Albert, Nipawin, Tisdale, Melfort and Saskatoon, as well as the Saskatoon Soccer Centre and SIAST campus in Prince Albert.
The remainder have self-evacuated and are staying with family and friends.
They are expected to be out of their homes for at least two weeks.
Meanwhile, six officials from Saskatchewan’s provincial disaster assistance program are going to Alberta for a week to help people with their claims. Government relations minister Jim Reiter said they could stay longer if Alberta still needs the help.
