Water Security Agency Increases Outflow from Alameda Reservoir
Thin Ice Hazard
Feb. 3, 2017 – The Water Security Agency (WSA) is advising the public that they will be increasing the outflow from Alameda Reservoir this week. This release has the potential to make the ice unsafe on Moose Mountain Creek below Alameda Dam, and on the Souris River downstream of Oxbow. The ice cover on Alameda Reservoir will also drop in response to this operation and ice that was previously safe to access may become unsafe.
Winter stream flow is an extremely serious thin ice hazard. Any person on, or near, a lake or river, should use extreme caution when crossing. It is up to the individual to ensure that ice on a river or lake is safe for crossing or winter time activities. The Ministry of Environment recommends the following ice thickness levels when crossing a water body:
•at least four inches thick to walk on;
•six inches to drive a snowmobile or ATV on;
•eight inches for a car or light truck; and
•12 inches for a heavy truck.
WSA is releasing water from Alameda Reservoir to make additional storage available as a precaution before spring runoff. The combination of wet soil moisture conditions at freeze up and higher-than-normal snowfall above Alameda Reservoir has resulted in an inflow forecast requiring this precautionary additional storage.
Outflows from Alameda Reservoir will increase from 1.3 cubic metres per second (m3/s) to 2.0 m3/s this week, with further increases possible over the coming weeks.
The Water Security Agency is a unique organization in Canada – bringing together all of government’s core water management responsibilities in one place. We manage the province’s water supply, protect water quality, ensure safe drinking water and treatment of wastewater, own and manage 49 dams and related water supply channels, reduce flood and drought damage, protect aquatic habitat, and provide information about water. The Water Security Agency also represents Saskatchewan on transboundary water issues. For more information on water flows and spring runoff visit www.wsask.ca
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For more information, contact:
Patrick Boyle
Water Security Agency
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-8914
Email: Patrick.Boyle@wsask.ca
Cell: 306-631-6997