Spring Runoff

Updated – May 22, 2026

• The satellite images indicate continued snowmelt in northern Saskatchewan; the melt progressing from NW to NE.
• The flows continue to steadily recede in Central Saskatchewan and increase in northern Saskatchewan.
• Above normal to well above normal flows are continued to be observed in upper portion of Red Deer River basin, Sturgeon River, Meadow Lake area and in the upper portions of the Churchill River basin.
• Recent precipitation in the southeast has resulted in bringing the Grant Devine reservoir about 7 cm above FSL. O&M Southeast and FFOP units worked together to initiate a release today to bring the reservoir below FSL in a timely manner.
• Less than 10 mm precipitation is forecast across the province with the exception of southeast where 10-20 mm precipitation is in the forecast in the next 3 days.
• Temperatures are expected to continue rising in the coming days across the province. Most of the province is expected to see +20C in the coming days.

Quill Lakes Basin 

• Flows on the northern tributaries have returned to their normal spring levels.   
• Southern tributary flows are near completion. 
• The Quill Lakes are at their peak. The current elevation of Big Quill Lake is around 520.30 m, while Little Quill is slightly lower at 520.22 m, leveling off. Although the lakes will tend to equalize over time, water levels are expected to stabilize at a level between the two elevations. 

Qu’Appelle River Basin 

In the Qu’Appelle River basin, flows are at near normal levels. 

• Flows have significantly receded from the peak at Lanigan Creek above Boulder Lake. The inflows are expected to balance with lake outflows in the coming days. The Craven Control structure will remain open to naturally pass the inflows and bring the lake level down to the normal summer operating range.  

Assiniboine River Basin 

• Flows have receded to near normal levels across all areas of the Assiniboine Basin.  
• The Fishing Lake and Good Spirit Lake elevations appear to start declining at approximately 530.71 m and 485.41 m, respectively. The wind and wave action will remain critical for these lakes in the coming days. 

Lake Winnipegosis Basin (Red Deer River, Swan River) 

• Flows in most areas of the Red Deer River Basin remain steady at or are declining from higher-than-normal levels.
• Swan and Overflowing rivers are gradually increasing, slightly above the normal range for this time of the year. 

Carrot River Basin 

• Flows have receded to near normal levels across the basin with the exception of Carrot River near Kinistino where the flow is above normal and receding slowly. 
• With a peak flow of 149 m³/s observed on May 15, flow at Carrot River near Turnberry is now slowly receding.   

Saskatchewan River 

• The Saskatchewan River below the Forks is steady.  Releases from Lake Diefenbaker are steady and flow in the North Saskatchewan are also steady.  
• Tobin Lake levels are stable near the FSL. Operations are going up to plan to remain in 600-800 cms range. 
• Upstream of Cumberland Lake, the Torch and White Fox Rivers and tributaries have been either receding or fluctuating around a steady value. A couple of tributaries had smaller peaks. Candle lake level has peaked and receding slowly 
• Cumberland Lake has peaked at 266.76 m and receding. 

Beaver River 

• Flows on the Beaver River at Dorintosh have peaked and gradually declining.  
• Tributaries to the Beaver River, including the Makwa River, Morin Creek, and Alcott Creek, have risen slightly due to recent rainfall and receding again.  
• Flows on the Beaver River below Waterhen River are gradually rising but are expected to be near the peak. 
• Meadow Lake levels have increased as result of the recent precipitation and are now stabilizing near the peak. 
• Meadow River below Meadow Lake flows have also increased and stabilized near the peak.  

Churchill River 

• Flows in the basin continue to increase. 
• Smoothstone River below Emmeline Lake  and Dillon River below Dillon Lake remains well above the normal range and stabilized near peak. 
• With rising water levels at Lac La Ronge, the outflows have been increased from 10 m3/s to 65 m3/s.  

North Saskatchewan River Basin in SK (North Battleford, Prince Albert) 

• Flows on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert continue to slowly decline to a steady rate.  
• Upstream of Prince Albert, flows on tributaries to the North Saskatchewan River have returned to normal levels for this time of year and continue receding. 
• Anglin Lake in the Spruce River basin has peaked and is receding slowly. 
• Sturgeon River and Garden River continue to slowly decline.  

Note: These observations are based on the best available hydrometric monitoring network data (which in some locations is limited) with provisional available record and are subject to uncertainty and/or change.   

Stream flow and water level data is collected at hydrometric gauging stations to monitor the current water resource conditions in Saskatchewan.

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