SASK WATER TO CONTROL WATER FLOW OUT OF LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE

Released on May 30, 1997

Sask Water will be controlling the flow of water out of Last Mountain

Lake to reduce the high water levels on the Qu'Appelle River

downstream from the lake.



The 1997 spring runoff resulted in Last Mountain Lake reaching levels

similar to those experienced in 1996. The water flowing out of the

lake, combined with water from the Moose Jaw River and Wascana Creek,

is keeping the Qu'Appelle River at a high level. The river continues

to spill over its banks and flood the agricultural land in the

Qu'Appelle Valley downstream from Craven.



Sask Water has asked the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration,

owners of the structure that controls Last Mountain Lake, to operate

the structure to reduce the outflow of water from the lake. This will

allow the Qu'Appelle River downstream from Craven to stay within its

banks.



Last Mountain Lake has a normal operating range of between 489.36

metres and 490.27 metres. It is currently at about 490.95 metres, or

0.68 metres above the top of the desired operating range.



Due to the high water levels caused by the runoff, cottage owners can

expect the lake to gradually recede but to remain above normal for the

majority of the summer. Controlling the water flow from the lake will

not increase the water level of the lake.



It is expected the lake will return to within its normal range by

the first week of September, two to three weeks later than if the

water were allowed to flow uncontrolled.



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For more information, contact:



Jim Waggoner

Sask Water

Yorkton

Phone: (306) 786-1494