Wet snow that fell in southeastern Saskatchewan last weekend has caused increased flow into Boundary and Rafferty reservoirs.
As a result, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority will be increasing the flow out of Rafferty beginning May 5.
The current flow of 65 cubic metres per second will rise to at least 100 m3/s, which is as high as the levels experienced earlier this spring.
Rafferty is typically used to reduce downstream flooding, but the large volume of runoff this year has filled the reservoir.
John Fahlman, acting director of basin operations for SWA, said there is no storage left in the reservoir and the outflow must be increased in order to handle the snow melt.
Boundary reservoir is also full, and flows from it into the Rafferty diversion channel have already been increased from 18 m3/s to 50 m3/s.
People who live downstream and residents in Estevan, the Rural Municipality of Estevan and Roche Percee have been notified and are reminded to stay away from fast moving water. Low lying land and roads will be affected.
Flows will remain high until the inflow drops, Fahlman said.
Meanwhile, Alameda reservoir, the other major storage facility in the southeast, still has a couple of metres of storage left.
Fahlman said the level rose 30 centimetres overnight May 3-4 and releases of 24 m3/s are still occurring.
