By Patrick Book

Rain water increasing the risk of more floods in Saskatchewan

Jun 1, 2011 | 5:23 PM

The province is keeping a close eye on two areas of Saskatchewan where another surge of flooding could be imminent.

Last week’s rain water is impacting the flood picture on two fronts, according to the latest briefing from the provincial government.

First, Lake Diefenbaker is expected to fill to its maximum capacity in the next two days.

John Fahlman with the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority (SWA) says up to 12 half a foot of rain water is plunging into the lake from Alberta, causing much higher flow rates than usual.

“We've got 2,400 (cubic metres a second) coming in, we've got 1,000 coming out, so what happens is Lake Diefenbaker rises,” said Fahlman.

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He says the influx of water will take the lake right to capacity. If it goes higher than that more water will need to be released.

“We're going to fill it right up. Our best estimates are we should be able to hold it but we could be out. We really don't want to go over (the water level) we're at right now, but if we do we're going to go over it and try to build up some storage again,” said Fahlman.

That could mean acres of farmland would be flooded southwest of Saskatoon in the Moon Lake area.

Meanwhile, the SWA is also paying attention to the water levels on the three reservoirs in the Estevan area.

Fahlman says all are essentially full and it could mean more flood water coming into the rural municipality of Estevan.

Homes in the area have already seen multiple floods this spring. Now there is a chance a new round of spillover, the result of recent rain, will likely come close to this spring's previous flood levels. That means more flooding for some who have already been hit.

Duane McKay, Saskatchewan’s director of emergency response, says staff are in the area trying to strengthen previous diversion efforts.

“The wet conditions and then the added rain are really trying for the people in the southeast area,” McKay admits. “We've done a fair amount of work down in that area with our crews during the spring flood season and of course we're continuing to be there to support the municipalities as required, shoring up some of the structures that were put into place and helping out people where needed,” said McKay.

The SWA is hoping recent rain won't push the flows above the peaks already seen this spring, but it is a possibility.

In both cases the full picture may not be clear until Thursday morning.