River flow in Saskatoon set to hit highest level in six years

River flow in Saskatoon set to hit highest level in six years

South Saskatchewan River current expected to more than double next week

A surging South Saskatchewan River is expected to reach Saskatoon late next week, doubling the flow rate and prompting warnings.

The provincial Water Security Agency announced Wednesday it plans to open the spillway at the Gardiner Dam for the first time since 2020. That will increase the river flow from about 260 to 700 cubic metres per second, which would be the highest in six years.

The agency warned a current at this speed can pose safety risks and advised people to take precautions.

"It is a lot more flow than I've ever seen [since I've been] involved in the [canoe racing] club and I've been here a couple of years," said Ayla Tarasoff, who coaches canoe racers out of the Victoria Park boathouse. "So it just makes it a little bit harder on the athletes."

The Saskatoon fire department issued a news release Thursday afternoon suggesting only "expert paddlers with whitewater experience" should be on the river when the flow reaches between 600 and 800 cubic metres per second.

The release also said rescue divers are prohibited from operating in the river at flows above 450 cubic metres per second because of the safety threat. The fire department reminded people that swimming in the river is illegal inside city limits.

Lake Diefenbaker has risen due to heavy rainfall and above average mountain runoff in Alberta, which has prompted the need to release some water in the rivershed, the agency explained.

The current in Saskatoon is expected to increase to 365 cubic metres per second on June 11 before rising to 700 on June 13. The surge is expected to increase the river level by 60 centimetres, but is not expected to cause flooding.

"I think you can still get on the water as a recreational user," Tarasoff said in an interview Thursday at the boathouse. "You just have to be very wary. Like when you go onto the water, don't let go of your boat when you get to the dock."

Far from being wary, Randy Chapman is looking forward to the faster current, which will reduce the number and size of sandbars that have made paddling on the river challenging for the last few years.

Typical river flows at this time of year are about 160 cubic metres per second, the agency said.

Chapman, who has been paddling on the South Saskatchewan River since 1973, took a canoe out from the Victoria Park dock on Thursday.

"It's still quite placid, I think, at 700 cubic metres per second," Chapman said. "It's still quite safe. It's just there won't be any rocks along the edge like there are now. And it'll be a little faster coming downstream."

Both Chapman and Tarasoff offered the same advice for recreational paddlers and rowers: to head upstream to start their journey and let the current take them back to their starting point.

The river level is expected to rise by about 1.4 metres through Moon Lake, just south of Saskatoon.

More water could be released if it's needed, the agency added.

People are advised to be cautious around the Gardiner Dam and to stay away from the structure, the agency said.

The South Saskatchewan River flows from Alberta into Lake Diefenbaker and the dam helps control the water flowing into the river as it winds north of the lake.

Phil Tank is an award-winning journalist based in Saskatoon. He can be reached at phil.tank@cbc.ca.