Water levels on the South Saskatchewan River have officially peaked according to the City of Saskatoon, with the river higher than it’s been in 100 years.
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.
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.
Curious citizens have flocked to River Landing and other areas along the river banks to get a good look at the high water, at times, completely ignoring signs warning to steer clear.
"When you start to get those types of flow rates you can get changes to the stability of your riverbanks. So as that begins to happen you can have people slipping and that is very much a concern. You know the innocent onlooker that gets close and, of course, we've had some rain so the conditions are slippery from those edges,” said Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services Chief Dan Paulsen.
Patrick Boyle of the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency told CTV Morning Live on Monday the river through Saskatoon was 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.
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.
However, some residential areas have been affected. Whiteswan Drive is shut down near the ravine, and a number of areas along the Meewasin Trail are closed.
"Stay away from the river," said Mayor Don Atchison. "Let's not put other people's lives in jeopardy by not obeying the signs."
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.
