The Editor,
I can't for the life of me fathom why people are sending kudos, in area newspapers, to the Sask. Watershed Authority for flooding them! People were flooded over a month ago just from the releases out of Boundary Dam alone, before the excuse of a winter snowstorm and two inches of rain. The diversion channel to Rafferty is too small to handle the required flows to prevent flooding. Right then I knew we were doomed when the Souris River runoff started to flow.
Sask. Watershed Authority flowed the river at only 50 cubes for two weeks prior to the "100 year event," which is another fallacy. The river is capable of a flow of 100 cubes without flooding anyone. The coal haul road east of us is another factor in the flooding of the valley residents. Sask. Watershed Authority determines the size of culverts installed on these roads and they are responsible for the inadequate size of the culverts.
Sask. Watershed Authority does not know what the accurate flows in or out of our water systems are. They even gave incorrect flows to another jurisdiction, namely Brandon, Manitoba, which resulted in a major problem there.
Rafferty Dam was built for flood protection but it's only as effective as those in charge of it. I have lost all confidence in Sask. Watershed Authority's ability to do the job they are mandated to do.
Evelyn Sandquist,
Estevan, Sask.
