SASKATOON – Despite massively eroded and undercut banks at Little Red River Park, just outside the city of Prince Albert, the North Saskatchewan River has yet to hit peak levels.
“I’ve never seen the river this swift and I’ve never seen it do so much damage to the bank. It’s bringing down 50, 60 year old trees that are 80 feet high,” said PA Mayor Greg Dionne.
Little Red River normally appears as a tranquil stream to hikers and nature enthusiasts who visit the park, but today the river has swollen.
Water released from the Anglin Lake Dam and an abundance of rain, have both contributed to the fast-paced flow.
A tree was even swept up by the current, slamming into two pillars supporting the Highway 55 East overpass beside the park. It has since been closed to heavy truck traffic, but area officials are working to fix the problem.
The Water Security Agency (WSA) expects the North Saskatchewan to hit its peak by Thursday at 3,000 cubic metres per second, which is six times as fast as it usually moves.
On Tuesday, the city of North Battleford issued a warning for people to steer clear of riverbanks, as peak flows are anticipated today at 3,800 cubic metres per second. As a precaution, Water Treatment Plant No. 1 has been shut down due to potential flooding.
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