Released on July 17, 2013
Today, Minister responsible for Water Security Agency Ken Cheveldayoff and the Reeve of the Rural Municipality (RM) of Buckland Don Fyrk announced that the RM is constructing a channel that will drain water flooding Highway 2 into the Little Red River.
“The Water Security Agency completed a survey of the area last Friday and proposed this solution for the RM’s consideration,” Cheveldayoff said. “Now that we are proceeding with the work, we expect it will be about 10 days for the water to drain off the highway.”
“We declared a state of emergency last week, which let us move ahead with this project rapidly,” said Reeve Fyrk . “We began work to construct the ditch and install a larger culvert Monday and we are optimistic water will be flowing later today.”
The RM has also hired the consulting firm AMEC who is looking at a longer term solution to take water from Sand Lake to the Shell River. In the interim, the new channel will take the water to a tributary of the Little Red River, which has sufficient capacity to handle the inflow.
Rainfall in July caused Sand Lake to spill in a southeastward direction, causing flooding to a depth of about 0.5 metres and the closure of Highway 2 north of Prince Albert. In addition, flooding threatened three homes and yard sites. Under the Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program, the Water Security Agency and the Ministry of Government Relations worked with these landowners and the RM.
The Water Security Agency was created to lead implementation of the 25 Year Saskatchewan Water Security Plan. It will improve water management capacity and service to individuals, businesses and communities across Saskatchewan. This new agency brings together, for the first time, all of the major responsibilities related to water quality and quantity.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Patrick Boyle
Water Security Agency
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-8914
Email: patrick.boyle@wsask.ca
Cell: 306-631-6997