REGINA (Staff) – Saskatchewan Water Corporation is forecasting flooding of low-lying agricultural land in the province’s southern areas this spring.
In the corporation’s first streamflow forecast for the 1994 spring runoff, officials say runoff potential is well above normal in the Qu’Appelle and Souris basins.
The highest runoff is forecast for the Wascana Creek and Moose Jaw and Souris River basins, where flows are expected to be the highest in 12 years. Flood control measures built over the last 20 years are expected to minimize flooding in urban areas.
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However, sandbagging in low-lying areas or monitoring of storm channels may be required in both Moose Jaw and Regina.
The Boundary reservoir near Estevan is expected to fill, with excess flows diverted to the Rafferty reservoir. Flows from the Yellow Grass marsh will also go into Rafferty, so the reservoir should have enough water to allow pumping of cooling water to the Shand power station.
Alameda reservoir will likely be operated for temporary flood control, and to store a limited amount of water after controlled releases, to meet apportionment commitments to North Dakota.
In the north, runoff is expected to be below normal.
