By Samantha Maciag

City of Regina preparing for the crest of Wascana Creek

Apr 19, 2011 | 6:46 AM

The City of Regina is throwing down more sandbags and building dams higher as it gets closer to what could be the crest of Wascana Creek this coming weekend.

It follows a new report from the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority on Thursday that showed the original estimates were on the low side. The city is now expecting another half a metre on the lake from what was originally anticipated, which is also above the lake's supply level.

“We're adding about a foot of sandbagging to most of our sandbag locations, and of course with that there comes some new sandbag locations where before it wasn't a problem now it could be,” said Jay O'Connor with the city's flood response unit.

So far 40,000 sandbags have already been deployed, 20,000 more are ready to go, and O'Connor says they'll be building another 20,000 just in case.

The city is also filling up 2,000 feet of Tiger Dams — inflatable orange booms filled with water that will act as flood barriers in Rotary and Empress parks.

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The city has brought in summer park staff early this year — those who usually are responsible for the maintenance of green spaces — to handle the sandbagging. As a result, O'Connor says at this point, there's no need for volunteers.

“We have had some people calling, saying 'I'm willing to volunteer, can you use us?' Certainly if it gets to that point we'll let the public know but we started well enough in advance that we think we have a good handle on things for now.”

While the crest may only take a day or so to get through the city, O'Connor says there will probably be standing water for a week or two.

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