Members of the Kistahpinanihk Paddling Club. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

RIVER FLOW

Dangerous river flow forces P.A. paddling club to cancel events

Jun 27, 2023 | 12:00 PM

The increased current on the North Saskatchewan River has put a stop to activities for a local paddling club.

Last week, the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) advised of increased flow due to large amounts of rain in the Edmonton area. Mix that with the amount of rain and hail from Sunday’s storm and the river current is at dangerous levels.

As a result, the Kistahpinanihk Paddling Club has postponed all its activity for at least the next week.

“Depending on what happens with the rate of water flow and the level of the water and all that kind of thing as a safety concern,” said Dwight Bergstrom with the club.

Among the events to be rescheduled was the participation day that was scheduled for Wednesday. The event has been tentatively rescheduled for July 5.

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Bergstrom recommends everyone stay off the river for now until the conditions improve.

“I would recommend staying off the river and staying away from the water’s edge. If somebody slips in there right now, or a kid goes in there right now, they’re going to get swept away quite quickly,” he said. “Looking at the flow rate, normally it’s like 400/500 cubic feet per second. Now we’re 1,000 and it’s supposed to go up to maybe 1,200 or 1,400 before it lets off.”

In the latest update from the Water Security Agency, the discharge at the river in Prince Albert jumped substantially from Monday to Tuesday, now sitting at 933 cm.

(Water Security Agency)

The city’s fire chief, Kris Olsen, issued a press release around noon on June 27 to state the dangerous river flow should be avoided. The public is advised to stay out of the water, stay away from low-lying areas until the river recedes, don’t let pets into the water, and keep watercraft off the river due to fast-moving water and excessive debris.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow