Alberta rain increases water levels in Saskatchewan; some farm land could flood

REGINA – Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency is warning that flooding is likely on low-lying agricultural land downstream of Gardiner Dam.

The agency says heavy rainfall in Alberta is now flowing into Saskatchewan and the outflow from the dam needs to increase so that Lake Diefenbaker doesn’t exceed the full supply level.

Flows on the South Saskatchewan River peaked in Medicine Hat over the weekend at roughly 3,000 cubic metres per second.

Peak inflows of 3,300 cubic metres per second are expected to arrive at Lake Diefenbaker today with the lake level peaking around July 3.

The Water Security Agency says the river downstream of Gardiner Dam will rise by about 0.3 metres above the current level, but the outflow will be less than last year.

The Alberta government says as many as 500 homes have experienced some sort of flooding because of heavy rains last week in the province’s southwest.