REGINA – The Water Security Agency (WSA) released its April forecast for the spring runoff in Saskatchewan and the flood risk remains high north of Prince Albert.
The agency is forecasting a well above normal runoff in that area with above normal pockets in the Rosetown and Lloydminster areas.
Most of the province is predicted to have near normal runoff.
One thing that can’t be taken into account when making the forecast is precipitation.
“The Water Security Agency will be monitoring how much precipitation we receive going forward as this can be a major factor on how the runoff progresses,” said Ken Cheveldayoff, the minister responsible for the WSA.
Of equal concern to Cheveldayoff are high water levels in closed basins in the central part of Saskatchewan.
“We know there is a chance of flooding in certain areas across the province which is why we are launching another flood mitigation program this year,” said Cheveldayoff.
“This program has proven to be extremely valuable for the people of Saskatchewan. From an analysis done in 2011, we know that for every dollar we invest in flood mitigation efforts we save $20 in damages.”
Under the 2014 emergency flood damage reduction program, individuals can be reimbursed for 85 per cent of the cost of approved permanent flood protection works built to provide protection from imminent flooding this year.
Communities and businesses are eligible to recover 75 per cent of those costs.
The program will also cover 50 per cent of the cost for temporary flood protection measures like sand bags and pumping.
Projects must be approved in advance by the WSA in order to be eligible for funding.
Comments