While the threat continues from the 2013 spring runoff, some Northwest communities appeared to be gaining the upper hand in their battles against flood waters Saturday.
The communities of Radisson and Borden continued to operate under declarations of emergency as of Saturday, but the flow of water from nearby streams had been steadily going down by the end of the week, allowing volunteers to gain ground.
In Radisson, an evacuation order on about 50 homes considered at-risk had been lifted as of Saturday - a piece of welcome news for that community.
As well, the seven-day emergency declaration in Maidstone had expired. At the daily conference call with reporters on the flood situation Saturday, commissioner of emergency services Duane McKay said Maidstone officials were assessing whether to seek an extension of the seven-day emergency declaration there.
Maidstone was the first community in Saskatchewan to issue an emergency declaration due to the flooding.
Officials on Saturday confirmed some good news for those evacuated from Poundmaker First Nation. About 73 residents there had been evacuated to hotels in nearby small communities due to flood concerns, but all but one family had been allowed to return e as of Saturday, said McKay.
Onion Lake First Nation was also still operating under an emergency declaration. About 200 homes in the community remain on alert, however. McKay says a reception centre in Lloydminster is still being maintained in the meantime, although they will continue to reevaluate on a day-to-day basis.
One family in Maidstone had left their home, said McKay, who told reporters they were staying with another family.
In all, it seemed to be a more stable situation overall by the end of last week with respect to the melt, due to the arrival of some cooler temperatures in the middle of the week.
A total of 13 municipalities or First Nations declared emergencies. Additions on Saturday included the James Smith First Nation, Cowessess First Nation and the RM of Fish Creek.
The arrival of warmer temperatures was anticipated to produce more runoff in the days ahead. Spokesman Patrick Boyle of the Water Security Agency reported "things are beginning to happen where the snow still remains."
He told reporters that as the snow melts "you're going to see those peaks moving through."
As well, Boyle noted that as of Friday night, their staff was noting that water levels in Radisson had dropped four inches, which was considered good news.
"We're hoping we've seen the worst of that situation," Boyle told, who adds the town "has done a lot of mitigation work to facilitate the flow of water away from that community in Radisson."
He also noted the water levels were decreasing in Borden. They intend to continue to watch that situation in the next few days.
)fficials are watching closely other areas of the province, particularly Wascana Creek and other streams and lakes.
