REGINA – Flooding concerns in the north central portion of Saskatchewan are getting the attention of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
SPSA reports that as of 11 a.m. April 23 they are responding to support requests from the Rural Municipality of Meadow Lake and is supporting local efforts with response personnel and flooding equipment.
The Agency is also supporting The SPSA is also providing support to Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation with flooding equipment. After a request for assistance came in to the SPSA on April 21, they provided a sand bagger to the community on April 22, and sand bags were also provided.
SPSA also says their Emergency Services Officers are also in contact with the communities of Foam Lake, Pierceland, and the RM of St. Louis.
According to their news release the Town of Foam Lake experienced some flooding on April 21 and submitted a Declaration of Local Emergency. The situation is being monitored.
SPSA also reports that on April 22, the Village of Pierceland announced it was dealing with ground water flooding its lift station.
SPSA also reports that on April 22, the RM of St. Louis #431 submitted a declaration of local emergency due to flooding. The Emergency Services Officer is in contact with the community.
In a media call Thursday afternoon Shawn Jaques,President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency, said the Water Security Agency had issued a high-flow advisory last week for a large area extending from northwestern Saskatchewan near Buffalo Narrows down to the southeastern area of the province near Yorkton.
He said several communities have experienced localized overland flooding and ice jamming because of this. This encompasses areas around Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, Buffalo Narrows, La Ronge, Prince Albert, Battleford, Foam Lake, Watrous, Melfort, Nipawin, Tisdale, Hudson Bay, and Yorkton.
“What's really occurred this year is we've seen an above-normal snowpack in the northern part of our province,” Jaques said.
“It was a cold, cooler, wet spring with slow melting, which allowed for perfect conditions. Then we saw some significant warm-ups, which created the flows. With the exception of a few isolated areas, we anticipate we've experienced peak flows in most systems impacting the communities."
Jaques said there are still some areas of concern in the northern end of the Saskatchewan River Basin and in the northwest part of the province.
“We are working closely with SPSA, the Ministry of Highways, and our officials are out working with communities. We see there's a lot of work going on to protect homes, water, and resources locally. We commend all of those who are out helping.”
Along with the high flow advisory, Jaques said the Water Security Agency has proactively spoken with 143 municipalities and impacted areas last week, and followed up with close to 300 email updates. He says people can go to their website, wsask.ca, where there is a runoff page, and also there an interactive map where people can click on and see flows into that localized area.
Bill Pacholka, with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, said that over the last several weeks they had been taking a lot of proactive measures to address the current and potential flooding resulting from the spring snow melt.
He said starting earlier this week, flooding incidents have been reported in various areas of the province. Ministry crews continue to closely monitor traditionally problematic areas as well as changing conditions across the province.
“We are fully prepared with equipment and personnel in place to respond to emerging concerns as needed. Motorists should be advised that highway conditions can change very quickly. We recommend motorists check the Highway Hotline before travelling and heading back to destinations.”
The latest available updates are at highwayhotline.gov.sk.ca. Pacholka said Highways will continue to have open lines of communication with our Ministry partners at Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and Water Security Agency.
Pacholka said as of noon today, “we have about 12 roads that do have water on the roads and then we do have a couple of roads that are closed. And so that is changing as flows come and go and as the evenings get a little cooler.”
