River levels should decline in central Saskatchewan from warmer temperatures, while northern communities hit their peak in the coming weeks. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

Rising and falling

Water levels peaking in the north, receding with heat

Jul 29, 2020 | 8:34 AM

Record highs for water levels in rivers and lakes have already occurred in communities like Prince Albert and the Battlefords, and flows further into Northern Saskatchewan are now on the same track and could be around for some time.

Flows in the Churchill River and water levels in places like Meeting Lake and Île-à-la-Crosse are being closely monitored by the Water Security Agency. Spokesperson Patrick Boyle said the peak is starting to occur for these areas and the forecast for warmer days can’t come soon enough.

“We’re really looking for that hot, dry weather right now to help that recession and those peaks to get those water levels to get down, as everything makes its way through the Northwest,” Boyle said.

Because future rainfall could add to delays in water receding, Boyle added the safety message around water activity rings true until lakes and rivers get back to a normal level.

“Which could be some time before that happens,” he said. “We could be high into the fall, some of these areas take a long time to decline.”

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The good news for communities experiencing their peak is the hot and dry conditions heading into August should help levels recede more quickly. Boyle said river flow through the Battlefords and Prince Albert should continue to decrease as they have since mid-July and this extended heat wave will have a big impact in other areas.

“That will really help to lower some of the lake levels.”

Heavy precipitation in Alberta could affect rivers and lakes in Saskatchewan, but Boyle doesn’t anticipate that trend.

“We’re not expecting that right now and I think we’re looking towards the other side of the hill for things declining in the Northwest area,” he said.

Of the affected areas, Meeting Lake is one Boyle hopes gets the full brunt of warm weather.

“That’s an area that would greatly benefit from a lot of evaporation right now.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports19