As parts of Saskatchewan prepare for flooding, runoff in the southwestern corner is underway and expected to conclude without any problems.
Runoff on the north slopes of the Cypress Hills is nearly done, and is well underway on the south side through the Missouri River, Swift Current Creek and Old Wives Lake watersheds.
Water Security Agency officials said the Duncairn Reservoir on the Swift Current Creek is releasing 8.5 cubic metres per second and the Thomson Reservoir on the Wood River near Lafleche is releasing 42.5 m3/s.
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Flooding continues to be a concern elsewhere.
Releases from Boundary, Rafferty and Alameda reservoirs are currently at 10 m3/s, 40 m3/s and 20 m3/s, respectively.
The agency said there is sufficient flood storage in Rafferty to store inflow from the Souris River.
However, flows from Long Creek into Boundary will exceed storage capacity and diversion capacity into Rafferty. Boundary is considered a water supply reservoir with limited flood protection ability, said the agency’s April forecast. Spillway releases from Boundary are expected to increase to 80 m3/s to accommodate that flow. Low lying areas will flood.
The Qu’Appelle River basin is likely to see higher runoff than 2011 due to snow pack exceeding the record 1974 and 2011 levels.
The WSA is holding open houses in Regina April 11, Regina Beach and Fort Qu’Appelle April 13, Melville April 14 and Moose Jaw April 16 to help residents prepare.
The control structure on the Qu’Appelle River at Craven is fully open to allow outflow from Last Mountain Lake as runoff occurs.
Control structures on Echo, Crooked, Round and Katepwa lakes are also fully open.
The agency expects the Quill lakes to set new record water levels in 2013. Little Quill is currently one metre above natural spill elevation into Big Quill, which is expected to exceed last year’s record high water level by about 0.3 metres.
It is still too early to predict expected flows on the main Saskatchewan River system, officials said, as most inflow comes from mountain runoff later in the spring. The tributaries, including Carrot River, and the lakes along the system are also likely to see above normal or well above normal spring levels.
