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An expert is warning that river conditions are more dangerous than they appear, after a personal watercraft went over the weir in Saskatoon’s river on Saturday.
Linda Mushanski, a co-ordinator with the Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers, says a stronger current in the South Saskatchewan River risks pushing people into the low-head dam.
“You may not realize that you’re at the weir until you’re really close and can’t get out of that current, and also with this higher water level, the current tends to be stronger, so it just makes it more dangerous,” she said in an interview with CBC’s Saskatoon Morning.
At 4:49 p.m. CST Saturday, authorities got multiple reports of a personal watercraft rider in distress near the weir.
A statement from the City of Saskatoon said there were no buoys across the river because of the increase in water pressure.
“Usually there are buoys across the river downstream of the University Bridge; but the river boom was recently damaged during the ongoing rapid water flow event. The city continues its efforts to have the boom safely reinstalled as soon as possible.”
A view of the weir on the South Saskatchewan River on June 22, 2026. The City of Saskatoon says a safety boom that normally could be seen here was damaged due to increase water pressure. (Don Somers/CBC)
The city said there were signs on University Bridge and people should not participate in recreational activity on the water.
The Saskatoon Fire Department has since announced that the operation has shifted from a rescue to a recovery mission. On Monday, it was using sonar to search the river.
Saskatoon police are also investigating the incident.
The search for a watercraft rider that went missing has shifted from a rescue to a recovery mission now, according to the Saskatoon fire department. (Don Somers/CBC)
Mushanski said if someone gets caught in the weir it’s difficult to break out.
“It’s that washing machine effect that’s very dangerous. It’s very strong and it’s very hard to get yourself out of that if you get caught in it.”
Mushanski recommends monitoring safety announcements, wearing a lifejacket and signing up for safety classes at local recreational clubs.
WATCH | Water safety expert explains why the weir on Saskatoon’s river is so dangerous:
Water safety expert explains why the weir on Saskatoon’s river is so dangerous
Saskatoon emergency crews responded on Saturday afternoon to reports of a personal watercraft rider going over the weir on the South Saskatchewan River. The fire department has since announced that the operation has shifted from a rescue to a recovery mission. Linda Mushanski joins Saskatoon Morning to talk about river safety.’Stay away from that weir,’ witness says
Mattia Salis said he was fishing on the rocks on the shore when he saw someone in distress.
“I see a person on a boat or or a Jet Ski just coming down the middle of the river towards the weir and in a second [they] fell down and were in the water. And that’s when I called 911 and waited for the first responders to come,” he said.
Salis was unable to reach the person, who was in the middle of the river. Police have not confirmed the identity of the victim, but Salis said they looked like a young man.
“It’s a really dangerous place to be. And if you have a boat or a jet ski or anything and you want to be on the water, just stay away from that weir,” he said.