The Rural Municipality of Weyburn is facing a one-in-10 year level of runoff this spring, and are planning accordingly to put whatever preventative measures they can in place.
The RM council was visited by Dwayne Siba of the Sask. Watershed Authority at their monthly meeting on Feb. 9, and he shared what their preliminary numbers are telling them at this point.
"They consider us to be in a one-in-10 year event for runoff, which is above-normal," said Reeve Carmen Sterling. "They've been in contact with the City of Weyburn as well regarding any releases from Nickle Lake."
With provincial funding recently announced in the amount of $22 million for flood prevention, there is an upcoming meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23, where more details will be spelled out about what municipalities and individuals can do and what funds they can apply for.
The council talked about some of the measures they could be doing, such as clearing of culverts and channels so there isn't any buildup of runoff.
Whether there will be any flooding in this area will depend on how fast the snowpack melts, and on how moist the soil is after a wet summer and fall last year.
"In some places, there's no place for the water to go, but they don't feel it's a tremendous risk here," said Reeve Sterling, adding their measurements show about a three-and-a-half inch rain-equivalent in the snowpack in the RM area.
She added there will be frequent updates once the runoff begins.
Conservation officer Lindsey Leko also stopped by to see council, and concerns over hunters in the area were raised.
"There are concerns with the amount of hunting that's going on, and changes in the season. As a result, the RM will be submitting a resolution to the SARM convention, asking that all hunters wear colours. Big game hunters wear colours, but those hunting coyotes don't have to, and with birds it's getting crowded out there," said Reeve Sterling.
The RM also touched base with Leko on the issue of garbage dumping in the ditches; as this impacts on the environment, it would be one of the conservation officers (on behalf of Sask. Environment) who would be issuing the tickets.
Reeve Sterling said if anyone sees someone dumping garbage outside of a landfill, they should get in contact with the conservation officers as soon as they possibly can.
MLA Dustin Duncan also was a visitor to the RM council, both as the local MLA and as Environment Minister. One of the top concerns raised with him was in regard to the Weyburn Golf Course.
The RM is lobbying for the golf course to at least receive a sub-class category (for tax purposes), as "that would help us immensely. It can apply to other recreational facilities. It would give us the ability to apply a recreational class and reduce the taxes," said Sterling.
"We also raised the concern that the school divisions were not working with us for some kind of agreement on this issue," said the reeve, adding the MLA said he would get back to them about the issues.
The RM issued five development permits in the past month, all of them residential.
With SARM's annual convention coming up on Mar. 8-10 in Saskatoon, there will be three members of council in attendance, along with administrator Kim McIvor, and they will be submitting the one resolution on hunters.
