UPDATE: The Sask. Water Security Agency is further reducing the outflow from Gardiner Dam starting June 30
SASKATOON – The water levels on Lake Diefenbaker are low. The current level of the lake is at 553.24 metres, below the average of 553.5 metres for this time of year.
According to Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency (WSA) officials, levels in the lake are not expected rise back to normal levels unless there is a major rainfall.
The reason is lack of moisture – an early melt of a below normal snowpack combined with a lack of rainfall in the Alberta foothills.
It prompted the WSA to reduce the flow from the Gardiner Dam on June 15 from 100 cubic metres per second (m3/s) t0 80 m3/s to conserve water on the lake. The current inflow into the lake is 130 m3/s, but that is expected to drop by 10 m3/s over the next few days.
The current flow rate of the river through Saskatoon is 80 m3/s, with the river level expected to drop 0.08 metres above the weir and 0.17 metres below the weir.
READ MORE: Water quality concerns raised at Katepwa Lake
The low level has revealed more sandbars on the South Saskatchewan River, but it isn’t affecting ferry service. Officials say issues for ferry’s start when the flows drop to 60 cubic metres per second.
- Premier Moe responds to Trudeau’s ‘good luck with that’ comment
- Drumheller hoping to break record for ‘largest gathering of people dressed as dinosaurs’
- As Canada’s tax deadline nears, what happens if you don’t file your return?
- Planning a summer trip to Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine? You’ll have to pay up
It is affecting agriculture producers, who have had to move pumps in order to irrigate farm land.
For water sport lovers using Douglas provincial park near Elbow, the low water level on Lake Diefenbaker may cause issues as the year progresses. Currently, the boat launch is not in use, which is typical for June, said Sask. Park representative Janice Crawford.
With the lack of runoff and rainfall, however, Crawford said it’s not 100 per cent if the launch will open this year, however she stated the renovated launch at Elbow Harbour, roughly 10 kilometres north of the park, is functioning.
There are no issues for the boat launch at Danielson provincial park, but Crawford said that could change if there is a severe drop in water levels.
The lake is expected to rise by roughly two metres from its current level of 553.24 metres by late summer. The full supply level for Lake Diefenbaker is 556.86 metres.
Comments