The South Saskatchewan River flowing through Saskatoon continued to rise on Sunday, with provincial officials saying the river is expected to peak sometime Monday or Tuesday.
On Saturday, the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency began releasing water from Gardiner Dam at a rate of 2,000 cubic metres per second to deal with inflows into Lake Diefenbaker that are 12 times the normal rate of 500 cubic metres per second.
By mid-afternoon Sunday the river through Saskatoon had risen about 30 centimetres above the level seen during 2005.
Patrick Boyle of the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency told CTV Morning Live on Monday the river through Saskatoon is expected peak Monday or Tuesday at two metres higher than normal and stabilize at that level as water releases continue from the dam.
Boyle said it could take several days before the water flow coming from Alberta passes through the South Saskatchewan and the river level begins to drop.
Such levels haven’t been seen on the South Saskatchewan in more than 100 years.
Mayor Don Atchison said Monday morning the latest information he received indicated water releases from Gardiner Dam could increase to as high as 2,200 cubic metres per second by Thursday.
City of Saskatoon officials say no homes are expected to flood despite the rush of water and the city's drinking water supply system remains safe.
“We are going to have flooding along the low-lying area, like Whiteswan (Drive) that you have seen already … and River Landing is already under water," Atchison said.
The city is cautioning people to stay off the river and away from its banks as the water continues to rise but not everyone has heeded the warning as a trio of kayakers were spotted late Sunday at the weir, testing their skill against the raging water.
The city has closed public access to several locations until further notice:
• Spadina Crescent and the Meewasin Valley Trail at Ravine Drive, and just south of the entrance to the Meewasin Park North shelter. Access to the parking lot will be maintained.
• The lower trail at the Mendel Art Gallery where it connects to the upper trail, including access to the Shearwater Tours dock and the Mendel Lookout.
• River Landing lower trail between the Traffic Bridge and the Sid Buckwold Bridge.
• The public boat launch in Kiwanis Park, north of the Broadway Bridge.
• Spadina Crescent underneath the Broadway Bridge.
"Stay away from the river," Atchison said. "Let's not put other people's lives in jeopardy by not obeying the signs."
The next area of concern is down river where the South Saskatchewan joins up with the North Saskatchewan River near Prince Albert.
A high water flow advisory on North Saskatchewan, combined with the water flowing through the southern branch of the river, means water flows will increase dramatically, prompting the evacuation of residents of Cumberland House and the nearby first nation.
“At Cumberland House we are normally looking at 500 to 600 cubic metres per second and now it is going to be 3,000 to 3,500,” Boyle said. “As soon as you go over 3,000 in that area we do expect to see some flooding in Cumberland House and the highway and possible loss of access and you are seeing the response to that."
Many of the estimated 2,000 evacuees are headed to Prince Albert while others will be temporarily housed in the Kinsmen Henk Ruys Soccer Centre in Saskatoon.