By Brent Bosker

Flood preparation underway at Red Earth First Nation

Apr 7, 2011 | 6:22 AM

Flooding stories are starting to surface in Saskatchewan, but one of the biggest of the spring could come from a first nation that's already had its fair share.

The Red Earth First Nation, located about 225 kilometres east of Prince Albert is flood proofing itself to prevent a repeat of 2006 and 2007, when nearly the entire community had to be evacuated.

In the worst year, the rapidly rising waters of the Carrot River chased more than a 1,000 residents to higher ground.

With the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority predicting higher than normal run-off the community of 1,300 is determined to ward off the water this time.

“Our men, our women are coming together to minimize the impact of flooding,” said Chief Ian McKay.

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The reserve has begun to fill and stock pile sandbags, culverts are being flushed of debris and dikes have been reinforced.

“Everything that we can think of to the make the water flow more easily through our community is being done,” he said.

The potential is there for a big run-off, said Dwayne Rowlett, the regional manager with the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority in Nipawin.

We base our run-off forecast on fall precipitation, snow pack and how quickly it comes off, he said

“Right now, we would expect it to likely be less than the 2006 and 2007 events.”

However a sudden warm-up could cause waterways to swell because of fast melting snow.

The forecast is favorable right now, Rowlett said.

“It’s still continuing to freeze at night and what the freezing does it really moderates how fast flows come so from that perspective were having a nice melt.”

Colin King, deputy fire commissioner for the province, said the government has provided assistance in the form of heavy equipment such as sand bag machines.

We’re preparing generally for all sorts of flood responses added King.

The community is prone to flooding every year because of where it’s situated in relation to waterways and its low elevation.

“Everything tends to flow through our area,” McKay said.

bbosker@panow.com