A dry fall and limited amount of snowfall over the winter has resulted in a quick melt and spring runoff in the Souris Watershed around Estevan was essentially over by April.
The Water Security Agency released an April spring runoff forecast last week. After the past few years have seen greater moisture, keeping an elevated water table in the region, the below normal precipitation levels are appreciated by most in the area.
Ken Cheveldayoff, minister responsible for the WSA, said in an interview over the phone with the Mercury last week the situation in the province is generally good and is particularly manageable in the southeast.
"I've seen some satellite images as well and it shows the vast majority of spring runoff in the Estevan area has been completed and it's moving north now," said Cheveldayoff. "Overall, we've got a pretty good situation in the province. There's some concern around the Prince Albert, Shellbrook, Waskesiu area."
In the WSA's April report, it shows that between Nov. 1, 2013 and March 30, Estevan and much of the southeast region saw between 75 and 100 millimetres of accumulated winter snow water equivalent, which is below normal for the area, receiving 60 and 85 per cent of typical accumulation. Those dry months are expected to help the region's reservoirs that have been under some stress for the last few years.
The dry fall saw precipitation well below normal in Estevan at between 40 and 60 per cent of normal from Oct. 13 to Nov. 11. The surrounding southeast region saw less than 40 per cent of normal precipitation.
"As far as Alameda goes, inflows into the Alameda reservoir are expected to fill the reservoir, and just (April 9) we started a small release of two cubic metres per second," said Cheveldayoff last week, noting the release was expected to increase over the weekend. "Any increase in water flowing on the Souris is moderate and well within the channel banks, so we're pleased with that."
Rafferty reservoir is not nearing it's full supply line and isn't expected to fill this year.
"It's going to be in the near normal level. It's more manageable. We've learned a lot over the last few years. The Water Security Agency has done an excellent job in managing, but it's nice to have a more normal year in that area."
The Water Security Agency is reporting the Boundary Dam reservoir is currently seeing water levels at full capacity, sitting at 560.8 metres above sea level.
"We're just still seeing small inflows coming into Boundary and we'll manage the inflows. I'm not sure if we'll have to divert anything over to Rafferty or not, but for right now it's very manageable."
A figure from Environment Canada in the report forecasted long-range temperatures and precipitation across Saskatchewan to be normal through April into June.
"The real variables going forward are how much precipitation we're going to get in the remainder of April," said the minister, hopeful the forecast would prove accurate.
