Saskatoon Fire Department asks resident to ‘keep their distance’ from water’s edge
Once the Water Security Agency releases the water from Lake Diefenbaker through the Gardiner Dam on Sunday, Sean Thody, deputy Saskatoon fire chief, said the significant increase in water flow, along with the rising river levels means potential dangers in and around around the South Saskatchewan River.
Firefighters may not be able to rescue a person or pet, if they fall into the water.
“When we get to flow rates above that 500 (cubic metres per second) is when we can’t send in our divers into the water because the current is too strong and it becomes a safety issue,” explained deputy chief Sean Thody with the Saskatoon Fire Department.
He said there will also likely be significant debris in the river, including “dead heads” – logs that float just below the surface of the water and aren’t easily seen. Those logs can damage hulls, motors, propellers and other equipment.
The Fire Department is working with the Meewasin Valley Authority and will monitor the water flows and will advise everyone including recreational user groups of the greater flow rate. The following guidelines are suggested for those who plan to be on the river this weekend, and next week.
<250 m³/s – Novice paddler; flat water conditions
250–400 m³/s – Intermediate paddler; those with moving water experience
400–600 m³/s – Expert paddler; paddlers with moving water experience
600–800 m³/s – Only expert paddlers with whitewater experience
>800 m³/s – Dangerous – Stay off the water
He also offered a reminder that swimming in the river is prohibited and viewing the weir should be done from a safe distance.
Thody said if someone does get caught in the river, they should stay calm, try and keep their head above the water, remove any heavy or bulky clothes and move with the current rather than fighting against it while also trying to swim closer to shore.