The first ever winter release of water from Rafferty Dam Reservoir has led to thin ice concerns along the Souris River.
The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority issued an advisory Thursday to inform the public that it would begin the release Monday morning and warned that the already thin ice on the river could be weakened further, especially near bridges, culverts or crossings.
"The people that have used the river downstream, they might not be used to the ice conditions that will be different this year and should be careful of that," said John Fahlman of the watershed authority.
Since Rafferty was constructed in 1995, the SWA has not conducted a winter water release although releases throughout the spring and summer are commonplace.
Fahlman said Monday's release was necessary on two fronts - spring flood protection and to meet the water level requirements set out in their agreement with the United States.
"The landscape has a certain capacity to absorb water and then it dries out after awhile because we are an arid area," said Fahlman. "But it just hasn't happened in the last few cycles so the soil moisture is high, so anything new that comes goes to runoff pretty quick. So we are preparing by getting the reservoir down to our international obligation. We are higher than we are supposed to be at the start of spring runoff so we have to get it down to that before."
Although it is too early to predict with any certainty, Fahlman admitted last year's above average rainfall, coupled with the large amount of snow Saskatchewan has received thus far, does have them concerned about the possibility of flooding in the spring.
"The latest data we've got is telling us that the water that is in the snow that is out there right now it is about twice as much as usual for this time of year, so it is starting to set off some alarm bells. We were concerned about it in the fall but now that the snowpack is starting to develop and be reasonably significant so far, it's got us more concerned.
"There are three factors - the soil moisture conditions in the fall at freeze-up which we know was high, the snowpack development up until thaw which is going on at a higher rate than is usual and the last thing is how fast does (the snow) melt and that we won't know until it starts to melt. Last year we got away with it a little bit because because it froze a lot at night and drew it out over quite a longer time. But if we get a cold spring and it stretches into April before it melts and then all goes at once, it could be even worse."
Along with the release from Rafferty, the SWA is continuing its release from the Alameda Reservoir which began in November.
