Spring breakup (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Hello Spring

River ice will be gone soon

Apr 22, 2022 | 3:00 PM

It may not seem like it, but the ice will soon be gone from the North Saskatchewan River next to the city.

Communications manager Sean Osmar of the Water Security Agency said the river will be free in the next few days.

“We do expect into this weekend or early next week that the ice along the North Sask, particularly around Prince Albert, will start to break up and move along,” Osmar said.

They do not expect too many issues with flooding at the moment.

“With those cooler temperatures, that kind of helps pump the brakes on the melting and it will help control the melt and makes sure it stays in the river,” Osmar explained.

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Weather conditions can affect the thickness of the ice and the Water Security Agency normally sees varying ice depths across Saskatchewan.

“We monitor these conditions, particularly at this time of year to watch for potential ice jamming which could lead to flooding,” said Osmar.

Besides reducing the chance of ice jams, another benefit to a cool wet spring is that it helps return moisture to the soil.

“The slower melt is actually really helping the runoff across the province from what we’re seeing. It’s good for the farmers and producers to get the water back into the soil for them,” said Osmar.

The spring runoff also helps replenish reservoirs, much needed in the south.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow