Anticipating 5,600 cubic metres entering Lake Diefenbaker, a record volume of water of 2,000 cubic metres per second is being released from Saskatchewan’s Gardiner Dam.
The last record was set in 1995 with 1,900 cubic meters per second, followed closely in 2005 at 1,875 cubic metres per second.
Outside of any further rainfall, it’s expected to remain at this flow over the next week, according to Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency.
Over the next week, the lake’s water levels are expected to rise 2.7 metres.
Patrick Boyle, manager of corporate communications at the provincial agency, said the peak water flow is expected to reach the Saskatchewan-Alberta border late today.
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“We don’t believe we’ll have to increase anymore at 2,000 cubic metres per second. That can all change with rainfall events, as we all know in a matter of minutes.
If we saw 6,000 cubic metres per second, there’s a chance that we would have to increase the releases to 2,200 cubic metres per second.… We can adjust accordingly,” he said.
He said the flow has dropped from 6,000 to 5,600 cubic metres per second because the Red Deer River has come in behind the Old Man and Bow River peaks.
He said Saskatoon has peaked because of these releases and will remain at the level for at least the next week, two metres higher than normal.
There are no reports of agricultural land being flooded, but the potential is there, particularly near the two borders.
Agricultural land in low lying areas of Corman Park is also expected to flood.
Boyle pointed out there is no flooding expected on the Qu’Appelle system.
Water flows are monitored daily, and he said the Water Security Agency’s website is continually updated.
Outflow from Lake Diefenbaker went from 800 cubic metres per second on June 20 to 1,000 on June 21 and then 2,000 on June 22.
