By Sarah Mills

Dyke needed to prevent Maple Creek from future flooding

Feb 7, 2011 | 4:14 PM

The massive flooding in Maple Creek last summer could happen again, which is why a new report is recommending a dyke built on the west side of town.

The best prevention is not have built Maple Creek where it is in the first place, at the bottom of the steep Cypress Hills and on the flood plain. But you can't go back in time so instead the report's author Ray Pentland, president of the Water Resource Consultants is recommending a kilometres-long dyke or earth mound be built.

“The creek runs by on the west side so the prevention needs to be there,” said Pentland, who rote the report for Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The flood last June was caused by a series of events. A heavy spring run-off that filled surrounding sloughs and reservoirs coupled with a massive rain storm that overwhelmed the system and sent water gushing into town.

With the snowfall seen already this winter, there is the fear of a repeat so the work needs to begin now.

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“It would be possible to do some emergency dyking with earth,” said Pentland. That would add to the building of a more permanent structure.

Pentland is also warning the town not to build and expand into those flood plains knowing the destruction and possibly even loss of life that could occur with another flood.