2011 Saskatchewan flood watch: Rising water levels impacting Crooked Lake homes, cabins

Around 100 homes and cabins around Crooked Lake north of Grenfell, Sask. are being impacted by rising water levels.

The normally quiet cottage area was a flurry of activity on Sunday as residents were out sandbagging their properties to keep water out.

“It’s unfortunate,” resident Jeff Welke said. “This is usually a calm spot, and it’s pretty much been a hype of activity for the better part of a week with people sandbagging and doing what they can do get prepared.”

Some residents put their furniture on stilts in preparation for even higher water levels.

Ray Crozier knows he is in a battle against nature, but luckily, so far he is winning.

“Our sub-pump is running in the basement, but so far it’s keeping up quite easily though,” he said.

He has owned a cottage on the south shore of Crooked Lake for 30 years and says he’s never seen water like this before.

“It came up about two feet over about a 20 hour period,” he said.

Indian Point on the north shore of Crooked Lake was one of the hardest hit. Residents had to travel by boat to reach their cabins and save what they could. Water levels were a foot deep on the main floor of the homes.