Waterton Lakes snow and water warning

 With fire bans in effect and most people out mowing their lawns, it’s hard to imagine that Waterton Lakes National Park still has snow in some areas up to 8 feet deep.

Park officials have been keeping a close eye on snow fall levels all winter for avalanche prevention… And now spring runoff.

“Last year we had a lot of snow and this year is another near record for snow fall,” says Dennis Madsen, Resource Conservation Manager Waterton Lakes National Park.

Crews at Waterton Lakes National Park are hard at work removing all the snow. At Cameron lake the snow is still over 8 feet deep.

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“The snow is 4 meters deep on the ridge, that’s about 12 feet deep,”  says Madsen.

All of the water that flows from Waterton lake ends up in the old man river- officials say the amount of snow this year will effect river levels.

Madsen says, “The river levels won’t get to high, but they will stay higher for longer.”

Madsen says even though there is a significant amount of snow it shouldn’t cause flooding unless the area also sees rain.

Even though the town site is green- visitors say they can tell the snowpack is deep.

“I’ve been coming to Waterton for years and I’ve never seen so much water coming down Cameron Falls,” says Arleen Read of Lethbridge.

For the most part, all this snow seems to be a welcomed sign.

“It’s called Waterton Lakes, we need the water to fill the lakes!”

Parks Canada asks that all hikers heading to the upper trails to be careful and use extra caution when crossing snow covered areas, and always check what’s below you.